Luxury retailer Fortnum & Mason has partnered with temperature-controlled and refrigerated vehicle specialist CoolKit to develop a new van conversion to support its order-to-door premium goods delivery service, operating across Central London.
The decision to develop this new van was spurred by a determination to find a vehicle that could both navigate the streets of London efficiently and prioritise environmental performance.
The result was a fully-electric refrigerated van, designed bespoke for Fortnum & Mason’s needs by CoolKit and collaborator FordPro. It features a ‘pioneering’ under-slung refrigeration system, discreetly mounted beneath the Ford E-Transit Custom.
CoolKit explains that this design removes the need for bulky roof units or visible condensers, maximising internal load space while preserving the iconic retailer’s refined and unmistakable visual identity.
The design process was not without challenges, CoolKit admits, noting that early plans for a larger, long-wheelbase van were ruled out due to physical and charging restrictions.
Gordon Clark, logistics lead at Fortnum & Mason, said: “What you think you want at the start isn’t always what you actually need.
“CoolKit helped us explore what the best outcomes for us would be and delivered something remarkable – not just for Fortnum & Mason, but potentially for city logistics across the board.”
