Established in 1934, The Village Bakery Group has grown from a single family-run bakery into one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of breads, pies, and baked goods. Operating across multiple state-of-the-art production facilities in North Wales, the business combines traditional baking expertise with innovative manufacturing technologies to deliver high-quality products sustainably. As the business continued to grow, it sought more effective cleaning procurement solutions to improve consistency, control costs, and support operational efficiencies across multiple sites.
The Problem
Before partnering with Arrow, The Village Bakery Group faced several challenges in managing cleaning and janitorial supplies across its sites. Individual locations were sourcing products from different suppliers, resulting in inconsistencies in product usage, duplicated spending, and rising operational costs.
The lack of a standardised approach made it difficult to control purchasing, maintain product compliance, and achieve efficiencies across the group. Manual ordering processes also added unnecessary administration and reduced visibility over procurement activity.
Inconsistent product ranges
Uncontrolled procurement
Missed efficiency opportunities
Products were being sourced from multiple suppliers across different sites, creating inconsistencies in cleaning standards, stock control, and purchasing decisions.
Manual ordering processes and unrestricted purchasing led to unnecessary product variation, reduced visibility, and increased operational costs.
Legacy dispenser systems, fragmented PPE purchasing, and varying product selections prevented the business from benefiting from group-wide economies of scale.
The Solution
Arrow adopted a strategic and consultative approach to help The Village Bakery Group achieve greater control over cleaning and janitorial procurement.
As part of the onboarding process, Arrow conducted detailed onsite assessments at each bakery location, reviewing existing cleaning operations and identifying opportunities to standardise products, improve efficiencies, and reduce costs. Key areas of focus included:
Dispenser Systems
Upgrading and standardising dispensers to improve performance and minimise waste.
PPE Products
Streamlining product selection and ensuring a consistent supply of essential protective equipment.
Order Management
Replacing manual ordering processes with a controlled procurement solution.
Arrow worked closely with site managers to standardise cleaning and janitorial products across all locations, reducing unnecessary product variation and improving purchasing consistency. The introduction of the ARROW CONNECT ordering portal further streamlined procurement, giving sites access to approved product ranges while improving control, compliance, and visibility across the group.
The Outcome
By partnering with Arrow, The Village Bakery Group successfully transformed its approach to cleaning and janitorial procurement through tailored cleaning procurement solutions, creating a more streamlined, cost-effective, and compliant operation across all sites.
The combination of product standardisation, improved procurement controls, and digital ordering delivered measurable savings while supporting consistently high hygiene standards throughout the business.
£45,000 annual cost savings
Streamlined procurement processes and consolidated product purchasing significantly reduced overall expenditure across the group.
37% reduction in product variety
The product range was successfully consolidated from more than 200 product lines to just 130, improving efficiency and reducing unnecessary spend.
100% product compliance
Restricted site catalogues within ARROW CONNECT ensured approved products were used consistently across every bakery location.
