The Pudding Compartment, based in Flint, won the ‘Manufacturing and Digital Transformation’ award at the UK Food & Drink Federation Awards held in the iconic Roundhouse, London, in September 2025, beating off stiff competition from the other finalists in the category including multinationals such as Mondelez and Weetabix.
This win also represents a great example of how an SME working with government (Welsh Assembly Government), Industry Leaders (EBS Automation, CAD-IT, Siemens), and academia (Advanced Manufacturing, Research Centre Cymru, University of Wales Trinity Saint Davids) can collaborate to deliver digital transformation and business sustainability.
The Pudding Compartment bakery is advancing its ambition to become a model “SME factory of the future” by integrating digital technology such as real-time energy/freezer temperature monitoring, robotics, and digital process data insights to enhance sustainability, business performance, and workforce skills. Collaborating with local partners and leveraging automation, Internet of Things (IoT) systems, and cloud-based traceability, the North Wales bakery has implemented automation alongside real-time digital monitoring, resulting in transformational insights and opportunities for continuous improvement.
Managing Director Steve West said:
‘We’re delighted our SME bakery has won an FDF Award when up against some incredible industry leaders. Like a lot of small businesses, we have had to battle to survive the recent challenges – Covid, food and energy inflation, NI increases and more. It is fantastic to see some light at the end of the tunnel, and embracing technology is key to success for businesses of all sizes.’
