Intermarché Chooses Carrier Transicold Vector™ 1950MT Trailer Units for Refrigerated Transport Operations

Intermarché Group, one of France's leading supermarket chains, has chosen Carrier's Vector™ 1950MT trailer unit to support its daily refrigerated transport operations. Intermarché's extensive distribution system, consisting of 650 refrigerated trailers that deliver fresh and frozen goods daily to more than 2,000 outlets throughout France, requires strict specifications for sustainability and flexibility. These requirements are successfully met by the Vector 1950 unit's versatility to transport frozen and fresh goods within the same trailer and through Carrier Transicold's high value-added services. Carrier Transicold, operating in France as Carrier Transicold France, is a part of UTC Climate, Controls & Security, a unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX).

The Vector 1950 MT unit's combination of high refrigeration capacity with a flexible compartment configuration makes it well-suited to meet the intensive operating requirements of Intermarché, as both a manufacturer and a distributor of fresh and frozen goods. Intermarché's annual transport is at least 140 million kilometres, with delivery stops approximately every 17 kilometers. Today, 20 percent of Intermarché's frozen foods are transported using refrigerated trailers and the goal is to increase this to 50 percent by the end of 2016.

Intermarché also selected the Vector 1950 as part of their focus on sustainable transport refrigeration. The Vector 1950 unit, with a high refrigeration capacity of 18,875 watts, is equipped with Carrier's patented E-Drive™ all-electric technology, which removes mechanical transmissions found in belt-driven systems and transforms engine power into electricity through a generator, thus reducing risks of leaks and emissions. It has been shown to significantly reduce fuel consumption and refrigerant leaks and results in a lower carbon footprint and quiet operation, compared to diesel engine noise.

"When it comes to service and technological requirements - the key levers to our long lasting relationship over the last 15 years - we are perfectly in-tune,” said Eric Wittkowsky, head of technical aspects, international logistics department, Intermarché Group. “Today more than ever, we work hand-in-hand with Carrier Transicold to successfully meet new environmental requirements.”

Intermarché also uses a Carrier Transicold telematics solution to access real-time and historical reports, set-point visualization, real-time GPS positioning information, and alarm code information (ex. door openings, temperature variations) via text and email. Their entire fleet is equipped with Carrier Transicold telematics to help reduce downtime, optimize maintenance, manage trailer routes and improve service to customers. This solution ensures the safety and security of Intermarche's cold chain, and gives it the ability to identify and trace any break in the cold chain from the warehouse to the point of sale.

In order to maximize its fleet availability, Intermarché has selected Carrier Transicold's everCOLD™ full-service repair and maintenance package for all of its refrigeration equipment, which includes on-site servicing carried out by manufacturer-trained technicians using genuine performance parts. EverCOLD also provides full access to oneCall™ 24/7 year-round incident management service, providing breakdown assistance from Carrier Transicold's extensive service network in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, which features more than 600 service centers.

"The everCOLD maintenance contract is an essential service to avoid immobilization of our vehicles,” said Eric Fouquet, head of methods and maintenance, internal logistics department, Intermarché Group. “It all runs smoothly because we combine the maintenance visits of our semi-trailers with the Carrier Transicold visits. Pushing the business relationship this far in terms of service allows us to operate a large number of deliveries with great confidence. Having experienced Carrier Transicold's professionalism for a long time, along with its telematics and maintenance contracts, we can say that suits us perfectly.”

According to TNS Sofres 2015, Intermarché group is the third largest supermarket chain in France and ranks second in terms of attractiveness. Highly consumer-oriented, Intermarché positions itself as "the only producer-retailer chain" servicing its extensive network of supermarkets throughout France.

For more information on Carrier Transicold and its products and services, visit www.carriertransicold.fr or follow @SmartColdChain on Twitter.

About Carrier Transicold
Carrier Transicold helps improve transport and shipping of temperature controlled cargoes with a complete line of equipment and services for refrigerated transport and cold chain visibility. For more than 45 years, Carrier Transicold has been an industry leader, providing customers around the world with advanced, energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable container refrigeration systems and generator sets, direct-drive and diesel truck units, and trailer refrigeration systems. Carrier Transicold is a part of UTC Climate, Controls & Security, a unit of United Technologies Corp., a leading provider to the aerospace and building systems industries worldwide. For more information, visit www.transicold.carrier.com. Follow Carrier on Twitter: @SmartColdChain.