Overview 

FareShare Yorkshire, the regional arm of the national FareShare network, depends on a fleet of temperature-controlled vans to serve over 400 charities, including school breakfast clubs, older people’s lunch clubs, homeless shelters, refuges and community centres.  

In addition to providing tailored fridge vans and freezer vans, CoolKit’s aftersales support is a vital part of keeping the operation running smoothly. 

“Every servicing or repair we need is completed in a manner that makes us feel like we’re CoolKit’s number one customer. For us, the speed in which they respond makes a huge difference to our service levels and reputation, especially when a van is offroad and chilled food isn’t getting to frontline charities.”
Jonathan Williams, CEO, FareShare Yorkshire
 

The Background 

For 27 years, the charity has redistributed high-quality surplus from the food industry to frontline charities and community groups across Yorkshire, so they can give it to those who need it the most. Every week, the FareShare network provides enough food to create almost a million meals for vulnerable people. 

FareShare Yorkshire scaled its operations significantly as demand surged through the pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis. Operating across a vast region with limited resources, FareShare Yorkshire faced critical logistical challenges. 

The Challenge 

With fresh and chilled food often arriving with short shelf lives, the ability to quickly and safely distribute food was essential. Any downtime in their fleet of 12 vehicles – including 10 vans and two 7.5-tonne lorries – could mean: 

• Wasted food (millions of meals lost annually). 
• Missed deliveries to charities relying on timely support. 
• Increased strain on community organisations already stretched thin. 

The Outcomes 

CoolKit’s commitment to long-term aftersales support ensures FareShare Yorkshire’s operations remain efficient, reliable, and impactful: 

• Reliable Aftersales Support: Responsive, practical service from a team that understands the pressures of charity logistics. 
• Three-year Servicing Commitment: Full fleet maintenance every spring, preparing vehicles for summer’s cooling demands. 
• Emergency Response: Engineers are often on-site the next morning to minimise disruption. 
• Preventative Care: Proactive checks to reduce unexpected breakdowns. 

CoolKit don’t just fix issues with our vans – the team works through a problem until it’s properly resolved.”
Jonathan Williams, CEO, FareShare Yorkshire 

Aftersales Service That Makes the Difference 

The standout in this partnership is CoolKit’s aftersales support.  According to FareShare Yorkshire’s CEO Jonathan Williams, this support is nothing short of ‘mission critical’ for the charity. 

“CoolKit has really bought into our mission. They know we’re a charity and that there are real people in severe hardship who are depending on these vans. That responsiveness – we feel it.”
Jonathan Williams, CEO, FareShare Yorkshire 

To support FareShare in its mission, each year, CoolKit donates 1% of FareShare’s net spend on new vehicle orders back to the charity, totalling £11,000 last year.  This helps to fund its vital food distribution work. 

“Supporting FareShare Yorkshire isn’t just a job — it’s a responsibility we’re proud to carry. Our aftersales team knows how crucial every van is to their operation, and we make it our priority to keep them on the road.” 

Sarah Belshaw, Aftersales Manager, CoolKit
 

Results That Matter 

• £7.4 million worth of food redistributed in the past year alone. 
• 400+ charities supported across Yorkshire. 
• 10,000 miles per van annually, delivering chilled food to up to eight charities per day. 

“CoolKit quietly plays a critical role in what we do. Without dependable vans and fast, responsive servicing, we wouldn’t be able to do our job. They’re more than a supplier — they’re a vital part of how we ensure food isn’t wasted and gets to where it is needed most so 42,000 people can be fed on a weekly basis.”
Jonathan Williams, CEO, FareShare Yorkshire

How Can CoolKit Help Your Business? 

FareShare chose CoolKit as both their van conversion specialist and ongoing aftersales support partner for several reasons: 

• High-quality conversions designed for dependable chilled and frozen transport. 
• Rapid turnaround times, for both conversions and repairs 
• Industry-leading aftersales and maintenance support 
• Value-led partnerships that go the extra mile.  

Call us on 01282 688 045 or use our live chat to get started.