A leading Melbourne fresh fruit business has expanded its Toyota Material Handling fleet by winning the door prize at the annual Vic Fresh dinner.
Scicluna's of Mentone won a BT hand pallet lift truck as a door prize at the dinner.
Vic Fresh Dinner sponsor Toyota Material Handling donated the pallet truck as part of its on-going association with the Melbourne Markets and the Victorian produce industry.
Toyota Material Handling is a one-stop shop for the full range of Toyota forklifts, the BT Lift Truck and Raymond ranges of warehouse equipment, and the full Toyota Skid-Steer Loader and tow tractor ranges.
The Vic Fresh dinner sees 1100 people gather in a "Who's Who" of Victoria's greengrocers.
Scicluna's Of Mentone was one of ten finalists from across Victoria in the 2006 Victorian Fruit and Vegetable Markets Retailer of the Year Awards.
Company principal Chris Scicluna opened the Mentone store in 2003. He now has four retail fruit outlets in greater metropolitan Melbourne and warehouse space at the Melbourne Markets.
His company operates three Toyota forklift trucks - including one at the Mentone store and two at the Melbourne Markets.
Chris Scicluna said the attributes he appreciates in Toyota's material handling products are the same qualities he strives to provide in his retail outlets.
"Our customers expect quality produce, reliability and good service," he said.
"My experience with Toyota machines is that they're the best for reliability and good service. The new hand pallet truck will be a handy addition to our fleet."
One of the fruiterers at Scicluna's of Mentone, Pat Morello, accepted the pallet truck on behalf of the store at the Vic Fresh dinner.
Pat Morello has extensive fresh produce industry experience, as a grower, retail business owner and in recent times a staff member at Chris Scicluna's Mentone store.