Food and Drink TechHUB
Helping food and drink producers and supply chain businesses in the Highland Council area with access to expert advice, funding, events and networking opportunities.
Case study
Miele’s Gelateria
Scooping up TechHUB support: How Miele’s Gelateria transformed operations
In the heart of the Scottish Highlands, Miele’s Gelateria is proving that heritage and innovation can work hand in hand to build a thriving business. The family-owned company, founded by brothers David and Michael Miele, first opened its doors in Inverness in 2016 and has built a strong reputation for serving traditional Italian gelato using 90-year-old family recipes.
Operating five locations across a vast and remote region, along with three mobile gelato parlours on wheels, the business needed to ramp up production while retaining the quality of their artisan gelato – and they needed the freezer storage to support this growth. The team was spending more time travelling between sites to monitor and fix equipment than focusing on expansion and so the need for a smarter, more sustainable way to oversee operations became clear. That’s when they turned to Food and Drink TechHUB, part of the Northern Innovation Hub (NIH) delivered by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).
It’s helped us streamline operations, improve quality and expand our market reach. We’re better equipped to meet the demands of our business and can continue to grow with confidence.Michael Miele, Founder, Miele’s Gelateria
Expert support helps increase turnover
Working closely with Food and Drink TechHUB technology partner Intelligens, Miele’s Gelateria identified the need for an integrated freezer system that provides real-time monitoring data across all locations, from Aviemore to Fort Augustus, helping them detect issues early and avoid costly production disruptions. Over £25,000 from the specialist Food and Drink TechHUB Technology Advice, plus the Capital Grant and Net Zero support helped fund the implementation of the new equipment, allowing the business to increase production capacity by 100% while retaining the same quality taste Miele’s is known for.
A full audit of Miele’s existing processes and infrastructure was also conducted to identify how best to transition the business to a digital-first approach. Now, the business can:
- Spot issues before they escalate
- Reduce unnecessary travel and maintenance costs
- Maintain product quality and food safety standards across all locations
- Focus on continued growth and customer service
With the expert support and funding received through Food and Drink TechHUB - and with the upgrades underway - the business is now expected to increase its turnover by six figures over the next three years.
About the Northern Innovation Hub
The Food and Drink TechHUB (formally the Highland Food and Drink Innovation Network) is delivered through the Northern Innovation Hub, a funding programme designed to build on and accelerate business innovation.
The Northern Innovation Hub was awarded £11m from the UK Government as part of the Inverness and Highland City-Region Deal. The deal is a joint initiative supported by £315m investment from the UK and Scottish governments, Highland Council, HIE and the University of the Highlands and Islands. This programme also receives financial support through the European Regional Development Fund Scotland Programme.
Explore all business support delivered through the Northern Innovation Hub.
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