Stephen O’Keeffe & Margarete Morski

O’Keeffe’s Bakery, a family-run business in Ballincollig, County Cork, was established in 1984 and is now well into its second generation. They handcraft a variety of popular products, including breads, scones, and donuts, all with a rustic, authentic touch. Prioritising quality, they source key ingredients such as butter, flour, milk, and buttermilk locally from Ireland.

As a wholesale manufacturer and distributor, O’Keeffe’s supplies retailers such as Dunnes Stores, SuperValu, and independent shops. Their factory adheres to high standards, holding an A-grade BRC hygiene certification. They’ve also built one of Europe’s most advanced product development centers, continuously innovating through R&D. Notably, in partnership with Odlums and Bakel Ingredients, they developed a method to extend the shelf life of yeast in frozen dough, keeping innovation at the core of their business to consistently add value for customers.

Before adopting Herbst software, O’Keeffe’s Bakery had no system in place, resulting in a lack of visibility into stock and production. When Margarete Morski, the production manager, joined in 2022, she recommended Herbst Software, having used it successfully at a previous company.

O’Keeffe’s arranged a demo with Herbst Software and quickly realised it was the solution they needed. The software integrated all their existing processes into one streamlined system, optimising their operations across the board.

The implementation process was smooth, thanks to extensive support from Herbst’s professional services and continuous customer care team, who were always available when needed. Today, every department at O’Keeffe’s uses Herbst, giving management full visibility into customer data, financials and stock control with just the click of a button.

Initially, Herbst was rolled out in the production department, where visibility was most crucial. Previously, the team struggled with tracking ingredients, stock levels, and making data-driven decisions. Now, with Herbst, the production team has real-time access to stock, sales orders, and available ingredients any time they require.

Traceability, which is critical in the food industry, has improved significantly for O’Keeffe’s Bakery as. Herbst provides full visibility into products, ingredients, production dates, and dispatch dates, ensuring easy tracking if any issues arise.

A major addition for production was the implementation of Herbst Kiosks, which feature simple touchscreen interfaces. These kiosks allow workers on the factory floor to efficiently manage goods intake, stock-taking, production, and dispatch procedures. Operators can easily view their production plan, the ingredients to use, and the specific batch required for the day.

Additionally, O’Keeffe’s benefited from Herbst’s Hosting application. This eliminated concerns about backups, security, updates, or potential server breakdowns, providing peace of mind that their data is safe and secure.

Herbst Software has allowed O’Keeffe’s to grow steadily, enhancing their lean practices and giving them full visibility into their operations. The software has made their business more flexible, improved customer service levels, and reduced their overall costs. It’s user-friendly, reliable, and supports the company as they continue to expand.