Thomas the Baker has collaborated with RedBlack Software as part of a £200,000 investment in overhauling its current IT infrastructure.

The North Yorkshire bakery firm will install CyBake Touch shop control software throughout its 33 shops, three cafés and a butcher delicatessen during a 12-month roll-out. York-based RedBlack, one of this year’s BB75 sponsors, will also upload its CyBake 3 bakery management software at the firm’s Helmsley head office.

Simon Thomas, director and general manager of Thomas the Baker, said: “Ultimately, we are looking at reconciliation with the new technology. We can look right from the beginning, from our raw materials right through to the end product, and account for it.

"We also hope to gain a few other things like ease-of-use and improving our control of waste. We will get a lot more information that should allow us to optimise upselling and achieve better product availability.”

Thomas the Baker has also invested in new EPOS till hardware from RedBlack Software’s industry partner EPOS Group, replacing a mixture of conventional cash registers and computerised tills.

Jane Tyler, managing director of RedBlack Software, said: “As long-time fans, it’s great to be working with Thomas the Baker. While we have customers all over the UK, working on a sizeable local project like this has been really beneficial. Thomas is the kind of independent bakery that fits our own profile perfectly and our developers have gained good insight by having them right on our doorstep.”