The Heart of England Co-operative has implemented the solution from UK-based Cybake in its 38 stores to improve the freshness and availably of goods in its in-store bakery and food-to-go operations. The regional independent affiliate of the Co-operative Group in the UK plans with Cybake ISB the optimal production using forecasting and real-time sales data in multiple waves throughout each day.
Cybake ISB notifies store employees which items to prepare or bake, when to produce them, and how to do so thanks to detailed, step-by-step instructions. By combining forecasting with real-time sales data, the system therefore plans optimal production schedules for each store throughout the day.
Delivered via a cloud-based, multilingual interface, Cybake ISB is readily accessible to store teams on mobile devices. At the same time, the head office benefits from full visibility of multi-wave production across the estate, supported by clear reporting and key performance indicators.
Driving sales while reducing waste
The solution is designed to enhance product freshness and availability, thereby increasing sales while reducing waste. “Our hot food-to-go sales increased by 20 per cent within weeks of deploying Cybake ISB” said Paul Strong, Chief Operating Officer at Heart of England Co-operative.
The platform also provides up-to-date product data, including recipes and ingredient lists, with comprehensive allergen, nutritional and dietary information, such as vegan and gluten-free classifications. In addition, Cybake ISB manages shelf-life coding for opened packaging, an essential feature in bakery environments where products are exposed to ambient conditions.
Growth beyond its home market
Cybake’s instore bakery production planning solution is used by several grocery retailers, forecourt store operators and retail bakery chains. Its domestic client base includes major retailers such as Marks & Spencer, as well as bakery chains including Cooplands and Wenzel’s. The bakery optimisation specialist has been expanding beyond its home market as well, with a particular focus on North America over the past years.
