York-based Choc Affair has bought a high-tech labelling machine funded through a £20k grant from Made Smarter via the York & North Yorkshire Growth Hub.
The new machine has increased production capacity at the company from 600k bars a day to 1.5m.
Before the investment Choc Affair could label only 600k bars per year, which limited their growth potential. Recognising the need for more efficiency, MD Julian Barrie attended the first York Manufacturing Roundtable event in March 2023, where he met Mike Pennington, Business Relationship Manager at the York & North Yorkshire Growth Hub.
After a referral from Mike, Julian completed a Made Smarter digital roadmap with Neil Harriman, Digital Manufacturing Advisor for Made Smarter. This helped to map out Choc Affair’s journey to a smart and efficient future.
Following the roadmap, Choc Affair secured funding through Made Smarter to acquire a new labelling machine. This upped their capacity to a staggering 1.5 million bars daily. The improvement translates to faster turnaround times, reduced costs, and enhanced competitiveness without the need to hire staff.
Julian said: “The process with Made Smarter was really easy. “The support and financial assistance have been invaluable. We’re excited to scale up our business and secure our future thanks to this investment.”
Mike Pennington added: “It’s inspiring to see this York chocolatier flourish with Made Smarter support. This is a perfect example of how digital transformation empowers local businesses to compete and thrive in today’s market.”
