Computer programmer gets stuck in at famous Geordie bakery
YORK, ENGLAND – December 1st, 2008 – CyBake software designer Andrew Throup has been getting stuck in to do some real-world work at famous Geordie bakers Thompsons.
Throup, who has installed RedBlack Software's CyBake business management software at bakers all over the UK, was invited to join a couple of nightshifts in November and was soon busy helping to make sourdough and prepping the next day's orders.
"At RedBlack, we know how the software works and what it does for bakers, but that's just one side of the coin," says Throup. "To go and work at a bakery and see how they actually use the records that we produce and to have some hands-on experience of their processes helps enormously. When I am talking about setting up a new CyBake installation to a baker I have more of an idea when they are talking about things down in the prover and the other ovens. You get more of an idea of how you might tailor your software to suit them."
Thompsons Bakery was established in 1956 and is based in Westerhope Village, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. The business has passed down two generations and has been run by husband and wife team Ian and Jan Thompson since 1979.
The retail/wholesale company employs 15 full-time staff and is best known for its speciality breads such as Newcastle "Broon Ale" Bread, Genuine Geordie Stotties (a local oven bottom bread), Sunflower and Lemon Bread and Italian Stonecuts. Its famous fare has earned the Thompsons numerous TV appearances on programmes like Rhodes Around Britain and Ready Steady Cook.
Master Baker Ian Thompson says: "Making bread at home had prepared Andrew for his bread making experience in our bakery. He showed a natural aptitude and enthusiasm for handling the fermented doughs and a natural skill for using his sensory perception during the processing of fermented doughs. Andrew was involved at every stage of the production and understands the different stages and how they can be controlled and recorded."
Even with his knowledge of the baking industry, Throup's time at Thompsons produced some surprises. "I didn't realise there was so much effort in making fancies; little cakes that go in the shop window – chocolate covered ones with a few sprinkles on. A lot of time goes into making one of those things and they only cost about 60 pence."
"In the baking process, every stage from receiving goods to customer service relies on each stage delivering the right product to the next stage," says Thompson. "Our CyBake software is developed in a similar way, always relying on the information we entered previously. We have recently gained SALSA accreditation and received four stars for the 'Scores on the Doors' scheme. There is no doubt that CyBake played a large part in making the whole process easy and realistic by allowing the assessors easy access to the information required.
"Each month, we see more of our customers – and ourselves – using electronic mail to order and communicate. One of our larger customers uses an EDI system for payment, and Andrew created a facility in CyBake so we could do this.
"Working closely with Andrew on CyBake has allowed us to have and record complete traceability of ingredients and products, most of which are ordered by email via CyBake, and can show us how much the order is worth and the total weight.
"CyBake also helps us with the control of processes, an area that bakers traditionally changed to suit themselves or the production run then invariably did not record or mention the changes to management. Now the management team is aware of the changes and can control them.
"Resale and wholesale is the way forward for our company. CyBake has enabled us to generate specific price lists and specification sheets for potential and existing customers. This is essential information for customers’ requiring a breakdown of ingredients or allergens. It is becoming more common for pressure to be put on some of our present customers to provide product information. Through CyBake, we can help and provide a fuller customer service to secure our business with them."
For further information, contact:
Seamus Quinn
Cue Communications
seamusquinn1@yahoo.co.uk
07846 102 192
or
Jane Tyler
RedBlack Software Ltd
jane.tyler@redblacksoftware.co.uk
01904 622888