Smarter Solutions for Growth
See how AAK BD Foods saved over 820 hours and cut costs with Dawsongroup tcs
When AAK BD Foods faced rising operational challenges, they turned to Dawsongroup tcs for solutions that would protect efficiency and their customers.
By consolidating separate sites into one purpose-built facility, they:
- Saved over 820 hours of cross-site time
- Brought teams together under one roof
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Improved efficiency and reduced costs
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Maintained seamless service for their customers
AAk bd Foods
Based in Hastings, the company has specialised in a high-quality range of sauces, condiments, and more for over 20 years. With sites and operations around the world, producing around 1.5 million units of products each month, their overall goal is to make their operations even more sustainable.
With the aims of the partnership being to lower CO2 and cost, while improving health and safety and efficiency.
Growing with a Trusted Partner
Dawsongroup tcs have been working with the customer for 10 years, but as the company has grown, alongside BD foods being acquired by the AAK company, they needed a bigger storage capacity to cater to their long-term growth. As a company whose ethos is “making better happen,” AAK BD Foods needed a solution to meet this, and that’s where Dawsongroup came in with cold stores and blast freezers to quickly bring their product temperature down.
After being presented with the benefits of CO2 use, it worked perfectly for the customer’s carbon reduction goal. The low CO2 used by our low GWP refrigeration, ensures an expected reduction of 86 tonnes in a year. AAK BD Foods discovered that Dawsongroup are market leaders in providing this, making them the ideal option for green benefits and cheaper electricity bills.
“Don't let the maths drive you to specifically look at the wider picture. Look at the impact of CO2. Look at the servicing intervals. Look at all the benefits that CO2 can offer. Speak to Dawsons”
Health and Safety is Key
Being involved in the process from start to finish, another key goal that Dawsongroup tcs met was the improvement of health and safety. Due to previously having different site locations, team members had to cross the road every day, which was a major challenge from a health and safety perspective.
By partnering with Dawsongroup tcs to create a local storage facility and consolidating the cold storage facilities, it reduces the risk of drivers crossing the road by 95%, benefitting product flow, while improving efficiency by bringing teams together. Not only does this maintain product quality, but it has kept the sites in localised areas, ensuring that existing employees can keep their jobs.
“We're not transferring products, so it's very linear now with no environmental factors. If it's raining, we can transfer things across easily”
Bespoke Products Need Bespoke Solutions
With AAK BD Foods producing bespoke products, they need stock available when it’s ready. The freezer and chiller provided by Dawsongroup has been a great step in having more goods ready. Additional space has now been secured through this partnership, helping to reduce the volatility with securing stock in the market.
With shifting requirements and changing needs, Dawsongroup have been able to adapt the solution designs throughout the entire journey using the Smarter Asset Strategy. Dawsongroup’s expertise from the team, including Adam Wheatcroft and David Quinn have been significant for the customer. Now, they can hold more frozen and chilled stock, from a raw material and finished goods perspective, meaning they can better service their customers on time and as required.
“With the new facilities, we've increased our capacity to cover us, to secure us for the next ten years” Shaun Noakes, Site Director at AAK BD Foods.
Contact Dawsongroup today to see how we can help your business with bigger scale builds, while maintaining them in a localised area.
Building a Sustainable Future
Discover how they reduced CO₂ by 860 tonnes and future-proofed operations
Beyond efficiency, sustainability is at the heart of AAK BD Foods’ long-term vision. Working with Dawsongroup tcs, they transitioned from mobile units to a low-carbon, purpose-built facility designed for the future..
This partnership has delivered:
- 860 tonnes CO₂ saved over 10 years
- Transition from mobile units to permanent facility
- Ability to enter new markets with a stronger offer
- A future-proofed business built on sustainable foundations
