Scaling Craft Production with Confidence
Helping GingerBeard’s Preserves unlock efficient miniature-jar manufacturing
GingerBeard’s Preserves is an award-winning Bristol producer of craft condiments, sauces and pickles. Since 2014, it’s grown from a home-business setup to making more than 200,000 jars a year in professional production unit across 50+ products - with popular brewery collaborations including Arbor Ales, Bristol Beer Factory and Lost & Grounded.
But as the range expanded, complexity increased. Batch sizes varied widely, and miniature 40g jars were becoming a favourite with customers. While earlier equipment investment (via WEMCA funding) included a 100L boiling pan and semi-automatic filler, the filler couldn’t cope with the smaller jars. That meant the team was hand-filling each one - slowing production, increasing labour, and limiting their ability to take on new white-label work.
The solution - targeted support through Made Smarter and NCC
GingerBeard’s Preserves had first looked into the Made Smarter programme in 2023. By 2025, they returned ready to focus on a specific operational challenge. Working with NCC - a Made Smarter delivery partner - they took part in a structured Digital Acceleration session.
With support from an NCC advisor, the team was able to:
- Review digital tools for recording and tracking production
- Compare equipment options for miniature-jar filling
- Quantify expected time, labour and cost savings
- Build a clear case for investment
The process gave the business clarity and practical options - with engineering expertise and independent insight they wouldn’t normally have access to.
The outcome - speed, flexibility, and headroom to grow
Following the session, GingerBeard’s Preserves secured a Made Smarter grant to invest in a semi-automated depositor designed specifically for 40–50g jars. It integrates with the existing setup and replaces the manual piston-funnel work that had been holding production back.
The new equipment is expected to deliver:
- Faster and more consistent filling of miniature jars
- Reduced labour input and manual handling
- Lower unit costs on smaller batches
- Greater flexibility to respond to seasonal and wholesale demand
- Confidence to take on new private and white-label work
Why it matters
This wasn’t about overhauling the whole business. It was about solving one high-friction problem with the right tools and the right advice.
For GingerBeard’s Preserves, the Made Smarter programme - with support from NCC - helped turn a production bottleneck into a strategic opportunity. It made modernisation accessible, practical, and aligned with how the business actually works.