CHOC AFFAIR TRIUMPHS WITH INAUGURAL MADE SMARTER ADOPTION AWARD

Published 11 July 2024 at 11:29am

Choc Affair, the celebrated chocolatier based in York, has been honoured at a national level with the inaugural Made Smarter Adoption Award, following their previous triumph as winners of the Yorkshire and Humber region. This accolade underscores Choc Affair's commitment to digital transformation and innovation within the manufacturing sector.

Known for its ethical and award-winning creations, Choc Affair achieved a huge leap in capacity to produce their handmade delights thanks to their new secret ingredient – a high-tech labelling machine funded by a £20k grant from Made Smarter Yorkshire & Humber, delivered regionally through the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA), and locally via the York & North Yorkshire Growth Hub. The machine has led to an increase in capacity from labelling 600k bars annually to a staggering 1.5m.

The Made Smarter Adoption Awards, launched to recognise and celebrate SME manufacturers who have embraced technology and skills to digitalise, decarbonise, and drive growth, saw regional winners from across the UK compete for the national title at an awards show in Liverpool. Choc Affair emerged victorious, showcasing the significant strides they have made in leveraging digital technologies to enhance their operations and sustainability.

Oliver Coppard, South Yorkshire’s Mayor, who leads SYMCA on the delivery of the Made Smarter programme across the Yorkshire & Humber region, said: "The Made Smarter programme is making a huge difference, not just across Barnsley, Rotherham, Doncaster and Sheffield, but across every part of Yorkshire.

"Programmes like Made Smarter are helping us to future proof industry for manufacturers, and helping us to create a bigger and better economy across our whole region.

"Congratulations to Choc Affair for their continued growth, their work and their thoroughly deserved win, and for now being recognised as outstanding ambassadors for driving digital change."

David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, said: “Congratulations to Choc Affair for their innovative and dedicated approach to success. We are immensely proud of their achievements and their contribution to the vibrant economy of York and North Yorkshire.

“The support from the Growth Hub and Made Smarter has been invaluable in their success and I encourage all businesses to engage with their local Growth Hub to explore available support.

“Choc Affair's recognition at the Made Smarter Adoption Awards underscores the strength and diversity of our business community in York and North Yorkshire, which we are eager to reflect in the recruitment drive for our new Business Board.”

Brian Holliday, Co-Chair of the Made Smarter Commission, commented on the success of the awards:“The Made Smarter Awards celebrate digital transformation among SME manufacturers, and it is with great pride to see these inaugural awards taking place this year. I would like to congratulate all winners and nominees, from across all the regions, as we collectively celebrate the successes the Made Smarter adoption programme has helped support in each of the individual manufacturing businesses.”

Julian Barrie, Managing Director of Choc Affair, expressed his gratitude:“We are delighted to receive this national award in recognition of our success and innovation this year. The process with Made Smarter was really easy. The support and financial assistance have been invaluable. We’re excited to scale up our business and secure our future thanks to this investment.”

Choc Affair’s success story is a testament to the impact of the Made Smarter programme on businesses in York and North Yorkshire. As the national winner, Choc Affair not only celebrates their achievements but also serves as an inspiration to other SMEs looking to innovate and grow through digital transformation.

Explore how Made Smarter Yorkshire & Humber supports manufacturing at https://business.southyorkshire-ca.gov.uk/made-smarter and https://www.ynygrowthhub.com/business-support-programmes/#madesmarter.