Baking in better efficiency fuels Cleone Foods’ sustainability recipe
Published: 06 August 2025
Creating a recipe for sustainability
Cleone Foods Limited is a family-run bakery located in central Birmingham, known for its popular “Island Delight” Caribbean food brand.
Operating within the highly competitive FMCG retail sector, Cleone Foods faced significant challenges maintaining profitability against rising operational costs. With major supermarket chains as primary customers, the business had to find effective methods to maintain margins while addressing the increasing costs of energy and resources.
Building a future of efficiency and responsibility
To address these challenges, Cleone Foods worked with Aston and the Business Energy Advice Service (BEAS). The detailed energy assessment provided by BEAS clearly identified opportunities for substantial efficiency improvements.
With grant assistance, Cleone Foods replaced their large, outdated steam generator with two smaller, state-of-the-art units. This new technology promised an impressive 20% reduction in gas usage, cutting the company’s annual carbon emissions
Results in numbers
Match funded grant*:
£220,000 (£ exc. VAT)
Estimated payback period*:
5.1 Years
Estimated annual energy saving*:
204,882kWh
Estimated annual carbon saving*:
46.1tCO2e
*based upon full assessment report implementation
A reflection of success
Implementation of the new cooking technology provided immediate financial and environmental returns. The reduction in gas consumption has significantly decreased operational costs, directly enhancing the bakery’s profitability and competitiveness.
These savings are reinvested into the business, safeguarding employment in an economically disadvantaged area and positioning the company for sustained future growth. Cleone Foods, an early adopter of sustainable practices for over two decades, continues to demonstrate leadership in environmental responsibility.
The BEAS programme initiative has strengthened this commitment, ensuring ongoing improvements in sustainability and efficiency.
"The support from the DNZ programme was crucial. The energy assessment provided clarity and confidence in our decision-making. We highly recommend other businesses to participate - external expertise can uncover significant opportunities you may never have identified internally."
- Simon Noble, Cleone Foods Limited Managing Director
Find out more about BEAS
Business Energy Advice Service (BEAS) is one of the key support programmes delivered through Business Growth West Midlands (BGWM), designed to help businesses across the West Midlands, Staffordshire, Worcestershire, and Warwickshire reduce energy costs and improve sustainability.
BEAS provides FREE energy assessments and potential funding of £1,000 to £100,000 to make energy improvements to businesses.
Could your business benefit from BEAS? Click the links below to learn more.
