NATIONAL Car Rental has signed an exclusive agreement with food, drink and leisure company Whitbread for the annual supply of 13,000 vehicles over three years. National secured the agreement by creating a 'unique' business package for Whitbread which is based on the rental firm's 'working in partnership' scheme and involves the development of cost-saving initiatives benefiting both parties.

Through the agreement, National operates an in-house service dedicated to the Whitbread account, 24-hours a day, seven days a week. The service will be co-ordinated by three members of staff from National's Luton branch which provides Whitbread with all its rental needs, including replacement and breakdown recovery from anywhere in the UK.

The cost-saving initiatives include reducing collection and delivery charges by trying to ensure vehicles come on and off fleet at the same time and even making Whitbread employees take the cars back to their local National branch and walk to their office. On any one day there are about 150 rental vehicles being used by Whitbread all over the country with a peak around Christmas of approximately 200.