Memory Lane Cakes, based in Cardiff, introduced Formul8 in 1997 following a management buy-out. Since then, the system has helped to increase the efficiency and growth of the company, including the successful integration of sister companies - Nicholas and Harris, United Central Bakeries and Campbells Cake Company. Formul8 is a food software solution from Sanderson Australia .
According to Gary Evans, Systems Projects Manager, Memory Lane Cakes, Formul8 was introduced to implement recipe weighing, such as the central management of recipes, real-time monitoring against production planning, real-time access to weighing recipes and visibility of aborted mixes. However, some unexpected benefits became apparent, particularly within material usage.
Centralised recipes meant that the recipes weighed were now the same as those on their financial systems and the system allowed tighter controls on tolerances. The system always knows the point, when users are at in a recipe, ingredients can never be unintentionally forgotten or weighed twice. This has proved particularly helpful at shift changeover, staff breaks and at points when plans change and other recipes take priority.