As one of the UK’s leading food manufacturers, Taiko Foods has experienced significant growth in recent years. With increasing demand and higher throughput across its operations, the company needed a smarter way to maximise storage capacity within its cold store facilities without compromising efficiency.
Since partnering with Hiremech in June 2023, we have worked closely with Taiko Foods to implement innovative warehouse solutions that support its continued expansion.
The Challenge: Maximising Valuable Cold Store Space
Cold storage facilities are among the most expensive warehouse environments to operate, particularly in West London where space comes at a premium. As Taiko Foods’ business continued to grow, increasing storage density within the existing footprint became a priority.
The existing setup relied on a cold store reach truck operating in aisles measuring 2,800mm wide. While effective, the configuration limited the available storage capacity and restricted the company’s ability to make the most of its warehouse cube.
The Solution: A New Approach to Warehouse Design
Hiremech worked with Taiko Foods to redesign the cold store operation, introducing a more efficient aisle configuration and specialised materials handling equipment.
The project involved transitioning from a traditional reach truck operation to an Aisle Master solution, enabling aisle widths to be reduced from 2,800mm to just 2,200mm. This change alone delivered a substantial increase in storage capacity while maintaining operational efficiency.
To support the new layout, Hiremech supplied:
- 1 x Combilift Cold Store AM15 Aisle Master
- 1 x Combilift Cold Store WR Stacker
The WR Stacker provided additional flexibility, allowing operators without counterbalance licences to safely carry out picking activities within the cold store. It also serves as a valuable backup machine when required, helping to maintain productivity and operational continuity.
Delivering Measurable Results
The impact of the new solution was immediate. By reducing aisle widths and optimising the warehouse layout, Taiko Foods achieved a 20% increase in cold store capacity. In a high-cost environment where every square metre matters, this additional storage space delivers significant operational and financial benefits.
The specialised cold store specification of both machines ensures reliable performance in demanding low-temperature environments, while their design allows them to operate effectively in narrower aisles than conventional equipment.
Supporting Long-Term Growth
Hiremech’s relationship with Taiko Foods extends beyond equipment supply. Since introducing its initial cold store stacker solution in 2024, Hiremech has continued to act as a trusted materials handling partner, helping the business identify opportunities to improve efficiency and support ongoing growth.
Although formal operator feedback was not available, the equipment has been performing reliably both inside and outside the cold store, helping teams move product efficiently through the operation.
A Partnership Built on Practical Solutions
For Taiko Foods, choosing Hiremech was about more than sourcing equipment. It was about working with a partner that could understand the challenges of a rapidly expanding operation and provide practical, cost-effective solutions.
By combining innovative warehouse design with specialist cold store equipment, Hiremech helped Taiko Foods unlock additional capacity, improve operational flexibility and make better use of valuable warehouse space – creating a solution that supports both current demands and future growth.