Murdoch Allan uses Cybake to manage orders, production and EDI
Murdoch Allan is a third-generation, family-run bakery based in the North East of Scotland.
The business is currently led by husband-and-wife team Paul and Katrina Allan, continuing a family baking legacy that spans three generations, from Paul’s grandfather through to his father, who established the foundations of the business in 1991.
Growth followed with the acquisition of the former Simmers biscuit factory in Hatton in 2002, which remains the company’s head office and main production site today. This expansion was later strengthened in 2015 with the acquisition of the well-known Thains bakery in Aberdeen, bringing another established local name into the Murdoch Allan family.
From this base, Murdoch Allan has built a strong reputation across Scotland, supplying hundreds of wholesale customers nationwide. Alongside this, the business operates six retail shops in Peterhead, Hatton, Turriff, Mintlaw, Fraserburgh and Aberdeen, giving it a strong local presence as well as wide distribution.
The bakery is known for producing traditional Scottish products such as its Aberdeen buttery, a rich, flaky regional roll, and its well-fired rolls, which are baked longer for a darker crust and distinctive texture.
Its pies, produced at its ex-Thains site in Aberdeen, are particularly well regarded. As finance and systems manager Stuart Forbes explains: “We have won awards for our steak pie, our macaroni pie, and, of course, the famous Pittodrie Pie.”
Named after Aberdeen Football Club’s stadium, the Pittodrie Pie is a staple for fans on matchdays and a product closely tied to the local community.
As Murdoch Allan expanded its legacy, its systems began to hold it back. Its previous bakery software had reached end of life and, as Stuart puts it, “wasn’t keeping up with the fast-paced movement of technology.”
Manual processes, particularly around reporting, were becoming increasingly time-consuming. The business needed a modern, flexible solution and began looking for a cloud-based system, ultimately selecting Cybake.
Operations
Since implementing Cybake, Murdoch Allan has seen significant improvements across its operations.
“Cybake has really improved operations here at Murdoch Allan,” says Stuart. “It’s streamlined a lot of the manual work that had to be done previously, particularly the reporting function.”
The impact is especially clear in order management. With Cybake’s sales order processing module, the business has removed duplication and simplified workflows across teams. As Stuart explains, “From one source of data entry, you then produce all the paperwork required for the bakers, the packing people and the drivers.”
Cost control has also improved, giving the business far greater visibility over margins. Using Cybake’s recipe costing module, Murdoch Allan can accurately track product costs and understand spend more clearly.
“It gives real clarity on the cost and the spend within the business,” Stuart says.
Handling large supermarket orders is now faster and far less manual. Cybake’s EDI module has streamlined the entire process, reducing admin and improving accuracy.
Stuart says: “We can just drag CSV files into Cybake, creating a really easy and seamless process.”
Across logistics, paperwork has been reduced and processes simplified. Cybake’s driver’s module supports delivery tracking and proof of delivery, helping cut down on manual tasks.
Traceability has also been strengthened, giving the business full visibility across production. With Cybake, Murdoch Allan can track products from raw ingredients through to finished goods. As Stuart explains, it “allows full traceability from ingredient input to product output.”
Retail
In retail, better data is driving better decisions. By using sales data to forecast demand, the business can plan more effectively and reduce waste. Stuart highlights that Cybake helps ensure “the correct product at the correct time.”
The result across all areas is a noticeable saving in time and effort. Day-to-day tasks that once took significant manual input are now far more efficient.
“One of the biggest positive things we’ve noticed, is the day-to-day time saving,” says Stuart, with processes now “significantly faster than the previous system.”
Today, Cybake plays a central role in Murdoch Allan’s operations, supporting its continued growth while maintaining the quality and tradition it is known for.
Stuart concludes: “Cybake has been a great tool for the business. I would absolutely recommend Cybake for anybody who’s looking to introduce a new ERP system.”
Catherine Thomas is the digital marketing executive at Cybake.
