12/03/2025
T Freemantle’s automated solutions adding a little love to Heck’s end of line packing efficiency
Sausage culture shift
Since Heck’s launch in 2012 they have earnt their reputation in the sausage & burger category as the positive ‘disruptor brand,’ claiming majority share and abolishing stereotyped sausage eating customer bases and targeting a new younger, more health conscious consumer. Heck were one of the first brands to look at the market differently, squashing the dullness of category norms and shaking it up by bringing a refreshed, confident pastel coloured sleeved aesthetic to the shelf, that merits attention and stirs customer intrigue. The brand sends out a bold spontaneous message, no gimmicks just attractive innovation that aims to be real and delicious.
Innovation & Investment
One may ask how Andrew Keeble has taken his family run ( husband, wife & 4 children team) from nothing but a mere idea back in 2012, to 130 employees and a turnover of 30 million this year, well Andrew had this to say:
‘It’s all customer led and data driven. We are all about efficiency here at Heck. We want a range that delivers and we also want a process that is always forward thinking. Reinvesting is a vital part of driving the family business and growing our brand ’
Heck don’t do fads and only believe in looking for the next big thing with regards to innovation, and as demonstrated by the previous launch of their chicken Chipolatas and the recent success of the sausage rashers, it’s always about keeping innovation focused and sku counts tight. In the production area this keeps line changes to a minimum which in turn increases efficiency.
Customer led innovation always means Heck have a market for what they produce. Their innovation has a direction. When plant based eating rocketed, Heck tapped into this market without forgetting the importance of their main offering. Whether it be plant based, high protein, high meat content , lean meat content or GF across the whole range …at Heck there is something for everyone. It’s inclusive and it’s expanding in more ways than one, especially with their end of line packing and their drive to be the most efficient they can be.
Efficiency -Automated solutions partner T Freemantle
High speed packing solutions for sleeved products haven’t been mastered by many British manufactures but T Freemantle managed to guide Heck towards a solution that fitted perfectly with their efficiency initiatives and the footprint available in Heck’s end of line packing area. When Andrew was asked why he chose T Freemantle this is what he had to say:
‘It’s important that you like who you are working with. From meeting Freemantle at a trade show we easily struck up a relationship and they were instantly amenable. Roddy and myself both felt the machines were mechanical enough for us without being too robotic. Easy to use and train the team on and British manufacturing is so very important to us here at Heck. The fact they were only down the road was also big plus. They continue to support us on our journey’
Heck have just had their 3rd machine installed. The automatic pre-glued sleever has allowed Andrew to make strategic steps to increase production efficiency, deploying valued members of the team to other areas of the business and reducing the unnecessary manual labour at the end of the line.
The sleeving machines installed at Heck running at 80 products per minute create this efficient output allowing them to put their energies and focus on other areas of the business. The automation means they are not slowed down in anyway and can keep up with demand, as well as guaranteeing a more consistent quality of product. Andrew is currently looking at taking a fourth machine from T Freemantle in his unquenchable thirst to make his manufacturing site the very best it can be in efficiency terms. T Freemantle support forward thinking customers like Heck on projects that structure automated change, as part of their long term goal to get a return on investment in as shorter time possible. The T Freemantle machines make this happen with their competitive pricing and aftersales care.
