Toyota the premier forklift
for fresh produce supplier
One of Australia’s largest fresh produce companies relies on a fleet of 60 Toyota forklifts
located across central markets and its warehouses in all five mainland capitals.
Premier Fruits Group is one of only a few
vertically integrated companies in Australia
with a supply chain that spans from farm
to retailer, including packing, transport and
distribution, warehousing, cold storage, value-
adding and marketing, and has developed into
an industry leader managing categories within
the fresh produce sector both in Australia and
internationally.
Toyota Material Handling Australia (TMHA)
uses the resources of its national branch
network to supply and service the company’s
fleet of Toyota rental forklifts at the central
markets in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne,
Sydney and Perth.
Almost all of Premier Fruits Group’s fleet
consists of 1.8-tonne payload Toyota 8FG18
forklifts, the favoured forklift in produce
markets nationally. The company also uses
Toyota BT powered pallet movers.
The 8FG18 forklift combines Toyota’s industry
leading safety features with ease of operation
and high reliability, productivity, durability and
efficiency.
Premier Fruits Group co-founder and director
Joe Petroro praised the reliability of his forklifts
and the back-up he receives from Toyota.
“We’re very happy with the service and
support we get from Toyota in the central
markets and at our warehouses,” he said.
“We have always had a good relationship with
Toyota and that continues with (Melbourne
area sales manager) Scott Bocksette.
“Fresh produce is an industry where certain
things have to be done yesterday, so to speak.
Breakdowns have to be sorted as quickly
and efficiently as possible so you have the
required number of forklifts for the job.
“Toyota has always been very good for us in
that regard.”
Scott Bocksette said TMHA has had a
relationship with Premier Fruits Group for
more than 15 years.
“Their use of rental forklifts provides
flexibility and allows Premier Fruits Group to
concentrate on its business strengths,” he
said.
“Their forklifts in the central markets are all
serviced by our on-site technicians, while
mobile service vans from our branches service
the forklifts at the company’s warehouses. We
attend to all their forklift requirements.”
Mr Bocksette said Toyota 8FG18 forklifts make
up nearly all of the Premier Fruits Group’s
forklift fleet.
“Toyota forklifts are renowned as being the
best forklifts on the market. The gas-powered
Toyota 8FG18 is the number one forklift in
Australia according to the latest sales statistics
and is hugely popular among customers and
operators in produce markets.
“Put an operator on something else and they’ll
gravitate back to the Toyota,” he said.
Toyota’s award-winning 8-Series forklift range
includes internal combustion and battery
electric models, with payloads of up to eight
tonnes for IC models.
The 8-Series forklifts offer superior operator
comfort thanks to features like the fully-
adjustable Operator Restraint Suspension
seat with lumbar support and a spacious
operator compartment that provides excellent
forward visibility.
Safety and stability is covered on all 8-Series
forklifts by Toyota’s exclusive System of Active
Stability (SAS) which includes the advanced
Active Swing Lock Cylinder to help improve
forklift stability and reduce the potential for tip-
overs, and the exclusive Operator Presence
System (OPS) that prevents the forklift from
being used if the operator is not seated
correctly.
TMH Torque
I
5
1800 425 438
Premier Fruits Group co-founder
and director Joe Petroro
