LONDON'S NEW MILK SERVICE.
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From the Farm to the Breakfast Table by Motorvan.
WHAT IS CLAIMED to be the first motor delivery service of fresh milk, direct from the farm to the consumer, has just been inaugurated by the Express Dairy Co. As is well known, the Express Dairy Co. have a number of model farms in the immediate neighbourhood of London, and they have a large number of milk distribution centres in various parts of the Metropolis. Houseto-house distribution by motorvan however, quite a new departure, and the: initial service has been started from the College•Fartn at Finchley. The great advantage of this service is that householders are enabled to have on their breakfast tables bottled milk which has come from, the cows the same morning, and the sffricess, which has already attended its introduction, is such that it is quite probable that they motorservice will gradual i ir be developed and extended. At present this method of distribution 15 confined Grade A milk, which is supplied under licence from the Ministry of Health in accordance with regulations which were issuedlast March.
A fleet of Ford vans is einployed and, as will be seen from the photograph, an attractive design has been chosen for the bodies.
The daily programme at present is as follows :—The cows are milked at about 4 o'clock' in the morning, and the milk is then cooled and bottled. The vans start at. 5.30 and deliver bottles in Galleys Green, Hampstead, Highgate, Willesden Green, G'ricklewood, then acrosi the
Harrow Road to Notting Hill Gate, Holland Park, then from llolland Park,, Avenue to High Street, South Kensington, and the district bordering on. Earl's Court, Sloane Squire, Baker Street, Bayswater, and hack to Finchley, thus practically the whole of the West End is served.
The bottles are carded in crates, and the driver of the van delivers them at the house door and accounts I for them. Orders are booked by postcard or teephone and each driver, when starting on his morning run, is provided with a list of the houses at which heAs to call.
It is estimated that, by the use of motor vehicles, from 130 to'150 different houses can be served by each van in four hours, over the wide area to which reference has been made.
The institution of this service is a striking example of the utility of the inotorvan, and of the revolution which it is brining about in business methods and in the distribution of essential commodities>
The probability is that it will ultimately be extended considerably.