Mr. Kettinger from the Kettinger bakery

1. how long has the Kettinger bakery been around and what characterizes the bakery?

The Kettinger bakery has been around since 1953. In our almost 20 branches, we attach great importance to freshness and regionality: the proximity to our head office means we keep transport routes short, which our customers greatly appreciate. What makes us special is that we bake the entire range of bread rolls and pretzels on site in every branch - in traditional stone ovens and without any frozen goods.

2 What were the original challenges in your company?

We have known for a long time that our returns are higher than they should be. However, we found it difficult to recognize clear patterns. Our orders were originally planned rather roughly, without detailed analysis. We only checked the returns quantities occasionally and then made selective adjustments. As a result, items were often sold out too early and we always had to deal with a certain amount of returns. 

3. what were your objectives when you approached foodforecast ?

We constantly monitor technical developments and check how we can use them sensibly. We regularly invest in modern systems, particularly in production, in order to reduce the workload on our employees and become more efficient at the same time. With this in mind, I was very interested in the topic of AI - especially the potential to optimize processes and also generate financial benefits. After our first meeting with your team at the end of 2022, I was immediately convinced by the solution and felt that I was in very good hands with you.

4. what has changed in your company since the introduction of foodforecast ?

We have been using the AI solution from foodforecast for 1.5 years now and are extremely satisfied with the results. The forecasts are accurate and we can clearly see how the AI helps us to improve our processes.

In the past, we simply prepared larger quantities of each recipe without knowing exactly how much was actually needed. This meant that we either produced too much or, in some cases, came up empty. Now we can ensure that we prepare exactly the 330 nut buns that we sell - no more or less. This has not only made our planning more precise and efficient, but also more economical.

5. what is the greatest added value of the software for you?

For me, the greatest added value of the software is the lead time that the AI forecasts give us. Thanks to the precise predictions, we already know what quantities we will need in 1-2 weeks. This is particularly important for our production, which relies on long preparation times. For example, we have to prepare the sourdough in good time, and in the confectionery department, sponge bases and orders for special ingredients have to be planned well in advance.

In addition, production is now much more precise. The AI takes into account relevant external factors such as vacation periods or public holidays in advance, which we didn't always have on our radar in good time before. With the AI from foodforecast , we can plan very specifically and prepare the appropriate fillings or dough quantities.

The detailed data analysis provided by foodforecast is also particularly exciting for us. For example, variety-specific forecasts were previously too complicated for us to make. For example, we treated our Danish pastry varieties - five in total - as a single item and simply split the orders evenly, i.e. 1/5 per variety. With AI, we were able to see exactly which varieties were selling better for the first time. Surprisingly, it turned out that the quark snack, a supposed standard product, was significantly less popular than the nut snail, which sells twice as well. Based on these findings, we removed the quark snack from the range and increased the production of nut snails. We can now plan orders precisely for each store, which we were previously unable to do with such accuracy.

6. would you recommend foodforecast to other customers and if so, why?

I would definitely recommend foodforecast to others and have already done so. Many bakers from the region have approached me about it and I have shared our experiences with them.

As bakers, we all have different challenges - be it due to specific structures, a complex product range or the need for qualified baking staff. And this is precisely where the strength of foodforecast and AI lies, as it can provide support for the various challenges.

For me, one of the main arguments in favor of foodforecast is also the ability to use existing data effectively, because we all have the figures in our POS systems. However, we often don't know how to evaluate them in a meaningful way or we don't have the time to analyze the data ourselves. Hiring extra analysts for this is not realistic for most bakeries. The introduction of AI really makes our work easier, because foodforecast takes over this task and automatically prepares the figures for us.

7. has the Kettinger bakery become more sustainable thanks to foodforecast ?

Yes, our bakery has definitely become more sustainable, because at the end of the day we not only have fewer returns, but also fewer products that need to be refrigerated unnecessarily. This saves energy and reduces the workload considerably. In addition, the use of raw materials is improved because we waste less flour, energy and other resources. There are also certainly positive effects in terms of deliveries. If we plan more precise quantities, less is transported and employees need less time to unload the goods.

8. how have your key figures improved?

Our key figures have improved significantly since the introduction of foodforecast . One particularly big advantage is the reduction in returns: we used to have around 30%, but now we have been able to reduce this figure to 20% thanks to AI. This means a 10% reduction in returns, which is a significant step forward for us both economically and sustainably.

9. what is the feedback from employees on the introduction of the software?

The feedback from our employees is positive overall. As they were not previously responsible for the orders, not much has changed for them on a day-to-day basis. However, they appreciate that they have to tidy up less because there are fewer products left over at the end of the day. They also see the positive aspect of sustainability, which has become more of a focus thanks to the optimized ordering process. The improved availability of goods has also made itself felt.

10. do you have any suggestions for improvement? What else would you like to see?

Everything is currently running smoothly and we feel well looked after thanks to the regular four-weekly appointments. If something does come up, we know that we can contact the team at any time.