Question: Hi Richard, what is your role within McConaghy Refrigerated Distribution please?
Answer: I am the managing director of McConaghy Refrigerated Distribution Ltd. That does mean I sit aloof from others in the Company, I am hands on in respect of the business, and whilst I retain strategic control of the company I still am actively involved, if required, in all aspects of the business from planning to driving.
Question: How did you get into the temperature-controlled distribution sector?
Answer: To use that overused cliche “I saw a niche in the market”, and set up a small business delivering small, temperature controlled, consignments throughout the island of Ireland.
Question: Can you firstly tell us what temperature-controlled services McConaghy Refrigerated Distribution offers please.
Answer: We offer, chilled, frozen, and ambient services. Our trailers are all dual evaporator and can offer mixed temperature loads.
Question: Can you tell us what temperature-controlled vehicles McConaghy Refrigerated Distribution operates please.
Answer: We operate with 55 twin evaporated refrigerated trailers, the vast majority of which are under five years of age. We also run one 20′ Rigid temperature controlled vehicle and two temperature controlled vans for those last minute one pallet deliveries!
Question: What has been the most important technical development in your temperature-controlled trailers and refrigeration systems in recent years and how has it impacted on your operations McConaghy Refrigerated Distribution?
Answer: We only buy new equipment in respect of trucks and trailers, so we only buy the most up to date environmental friendly equipment. This ensures fuel usage is optimised and breakdowns are so few and far between, they do not affect delivery schedules.
Question: Are you using telematics across your fleet currently? If so, what advantages do you see this gives your clients?
Answer: Of course we do! We can, and do, monitor locations of units, the temperature the trailers are running at, locations of units, driver hours available, and more. This means we deliver on time with product at its correct temperature and we can keep customers updated at all times as to delivery times etc if required.
Question: Customer needs are constantly changing, so what are you finding is now the biggest request from your customers?
Answer: “Just in time deliveries”. We work with a number of customers who require short dated product deliveries to be made on time, each day, every day, 365 days a year! Customers are under pressure to ensure shelves are stocked so they need to know, at all times, where their goods are. We deliver.
Question: What environmental measures does McConaghy Refrigerated Distribution incorporate to ensure best practice?
Answer: As I said earlier, we only purchase trucks that are brand new complying with the most recent environmental regulations. In respect of trailers, again, all are purchased from the production line.
Wherever possible trailers are run from electric points to ensure they are not running on diesel.
Question: If you could give one piece of advice to a newcomer to our industry, what would it be?
Answer: Ensure you have adequate financial backing to allow you to purchase top class equipment and run it! Second hand equipment only brings headaches and additional financial costs.
Question: Lastly, would you like to share any news about your company that you feel would benefit the TCS&D readers?
Answer: Yes! We operate a second to none efficient groupage import system from Mainland UK to the Island of Ireland.
We operate a temperature controlled depot in Lancashire where product may be dropped off in small numbers, or full loads if you wish. We then organise Customs Documentation, Veterinary Certification with a swift transit from the Mainland to Ireland then ensuing! This is on top of all of our full load and groupage loads within Ireland and UK, delivered safely in a timely manner by our well trained and reliable driving operatives.
