BACARDI is to invest in 22 new Toyota forklift trucks from Locators.

The trucks will be used in the company's 180,000 square foot warehouse facility in Southampton.

They will be expected to handle 7,500 tons of drinks each week to be transported to 1,087 customer delivery points in the UK and Ireland. The Bacardi facility is a bonded warehouse for wines and spirits and is the largest in the region.

The truck order with Loca-tors, is valued at more than £262,000.

It marks the latest chapter in a relationship between the two companies dating from 1985, when Bacardi selected Loca-tors.

The new forklifts consisting of ten gas trucks, eight three-wheel electric trucks and four power pallet trucks, brings the total Toyota fleet on site to around 50 trucks.

To ensure the fleet is working smoothly and has the minimum downtime, Locators' own docks-based field service engineer, Steve Emery, will be on hand to provide immediate support when needed.

In addition to providing new forklift trucks, Locators Storage Systems, has supplied and installed new pallet racking systems to optimise storage capacity and efficiency.

Gavin Mitchell, warehousing and distribution manager, Bac-ardi UK said: "The Toyota has provided us with reliable service and productivity for the past 15 years.

"It has been backed by excellent after sales service from Locators and the consistent performance of its local field service engineer has been instrumental in our continuing our long association with the company."