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.
Heading to Advanced Engineering 2026? Pop by Stand T175 to speak to the team and learn more about how we can help.