GAIL’s Bakery
Key Metrics
25% reduction in investigation time using AI-powered search.
Mitigated insurance claims by quickly disproving staged accidents, saving the company from costly payouts.
Improved team oversight, enabling remote monitoring of 75% of floor space and reducing the need for travel and onsite presence.
Background
With the opening of its first bakery in Hampstead in 2005, GAIL’s was founded on the ethos of improving access to chef-quality sourdough bread by taking it beyond restaurants, to London’s neighbourhoods. Since then, they have grown to over 150 locations across the UK, from London to Manchester and Bristol.
GAIL has always sought to offer craft, quality products, and memorable customer experiences. As their portfolio grew, streamlined operations and security became essential to supporting this growth.
When Brett Parker joined as Head of Property, security systems across the locations were inconsistent, with each store operating its own setup. “We partnered with Tellivue, trusted CCTV & Access Control Installation Specialists. When a peer at Tellivue introduced me to Verkada and showed me its capabilities—all accessible from my phone—I was eager to bring this technology into our stores.”
The Challenge
Before Verkada, the varied video security systems created inefficiencies and complexity. Each store had its own setup, making it hard to manage them consistently. “When I visited different stores, I had to relearn each system,” Brett explained. “If I liked a feature at one store, I’d have to purchase additional components to install it elsewhere. It was costly and time-consuming.”
The absence of centralised access further complicated matters. Brett could only monitor stores by being physically present, limiting oversight. “With over 50 locations at the time, this was becoming unmanageable,” Brett added. “That’s when I turned to Verkada for a more scalable, unified solution.”
Why Verkada?
Verkada’s cloud-based platform provided the remote access Brett needed to oversee multiple bakery locations efficiently. The technology allowed the team to manage stores from any device, reducing the need for specific individuals to be present across all sites simultaneously. While implementing access control initially for their new 12,000-square-foot office, it became a valuable testbed that later extended to production units and bakeries across the network.
“What impressed me most was the ability to access everything from my phone or desktop,” Brett said. “It was a game changer for the entire team—we could finally manage all our locations in one place.”
The platform has continuously introduced new features, like AI-powered search, significantly reducing the time spent investigating incidents. “Verkada keeps pushing forward with innovations, and that’s important for us to stay on top of things.”
Remote Property Management
Verkada has enabled Brett and his team to manage properties remotely, particularly during store openings and refurbishments. “I didn’t need to be onsite constantly for new store openings,” Brett explained. “I could monitor construction progress remotely, saving multiple trips.”
Reducing Theft and Security Risks
Petty theft had been a recurring issue at several locations, with managers suspecting the same individuals but unable to track them using previous systems. Verkada’s motion grids and People Analytics allowed Brett’s team to identify the culprits quickly.
“We used motion grids to find where thefts were occurring and reviewed all activity in those areas,” Brett shared. Once the culprits were identified, the footage was shared with local authorities, leading to successful outcomes.
Additionally, Verkada’s AI-powered search reduced investigation time by 25%, empowering the team to resolve issues much faster. “Instead of scrolling through hours of footage, we can search based on simple descriptions like the colour of a shirt or object. It’s made investigations much faster,” Brett said.
Streamlining Bakery Operations
The user-friendly Command interface has enhanced both security and team productivity. “Our Operations Managers can now check on bakery performance in real time,” Brett said.
Cameras also help track inventory. If ingredients are missing or running low, managers can trace back to delivery times and identify the issue. “This level of visibility has helped keep inventory consistent across all locations,” Brett noted. Operations Managers, who each oversee 10 stores, can monitor performance without needing to be onsite.
Another operational improvement has been monitoring how quickly tables are cleared in the bakeries. “Now our teams spend a few minutes reviewing camera footage each week to see how quickly tables get turned over and wiped,” Brett explained. “Even small improvements–moving the dial by 1%–can make a significant difference.”
Optimising Access Control and Permissions
To help secure GAIL’s growing spaces, Brett implemented Verkada’s cloud-based access control system – starting with their 12,000-square-foot office. Now, Brett and his team can remotely manage door permissions, monitor access events, and make real-time adjustments. “Cloud-based access control is a game changer for our team. We no longer need to oversee door access permissions manually—it’s all handled remotely,” Brett explained.
The system provides powerful tools to enhance security, such as real-time alerts for unauthorised access and AI-driven analytics to detect anomalies. With features like tailgate detection, the team can quickly search historical footage to identify patterns or potential risks. For added convenience, employees use the Verkada Pass app for touchless, smartphone-based entry, eliminating the need for physical keys and making daily access more seamless.
Enhancing Employee Safety and Environmental Monitoring
Employee safety is a priority, particularly in GAIL’s production units and bakeries. To support a safe working environment, Brett deployed Verkada’s air quality sensors, which monitor noise levels and dust, especially in older buildings and near neighbours. The sensors provide real-time data and alerts, helping GAIL’s stay proactive about safety and maintain health standards.
“We use the sensors primarily as noise monitors,” Brett explained. “They track how much noise we're making around our neighbours and monitor the air quality, especially in older buildings where clean air and dust levels are concerns. It’s been really useful for our team's safety and maintaining positive relationships with the communities around us.”
Food Safety and Quality Assurance
Food safety is essential for GAIL’s. “With Verkada, we can monitor food preparation and track how well our training protocols are followed,” Brett said. “It gives us peace of mind knowing that the food we serve is up to our high standards.”
Verkada’s cameras offer real-time footage of food prep stations, allowing managers to identify any discrepancies and address them as needed. "I can check 25 sites in a morning and make sure everything is up to our standard – it’s like having food trainers at every location.”
Enhancing Customer Experience and Sales
Verkada also offers insights into customer behaviour, helping GAIL’s refine store layouts and improve the overall customer experience. By analysing patterns from camera footage, the team has made key adjustments to store layouts, food displays, and seating arrangements. “We can now see why certain items sell better than others and make changes based on those insights,” Brett explained. “It’s improved store flow and helped us meet customer needs during peak times.”
Heatmaps on floorplans have also provided deeper insight into spatial planning, product placement, and customer behaviour. “With the heatmaps, we can see exactly how customers move through the store, where they spend the most time, and which areas are underutilised. This data allows us to optimise our layouts even further.”
Looking Ahead
With Verkada’s solution now deployed across over 100 sites, Brett plans to expand the system while upgrading older setups. “The initial worry of ripping and replacing our old setup disappeared once we saw how seamlessly the system worked,” Brett concluded. “The time and money we’ve saved make this an investment I wish we had made sooner.”