How Cafea saves time and simplifies customer reporting with Secaro

About
Cafea UK is a UK-based producer of instant coffee, drinking-chocolate and other hot beverage products — built on a legacy of over 100 years as part of a global coffee manufacturing group.

Industry
Food and Beverages

Company size
Under 250 employees

Emissions reporting
Scope 1 & 2

Cafea UK is a leading manufacturer and supplier of private-label hot beverages for major UK grocery retailers. From instant coffee to pods, sachets, and hot chocolate, the Dunstable-based company has built a reputation for innovation in beverages and packaging design.

In 2022, Cafea UK adopted Secaro to simplify reporting and demonstrate its progress to customers.

The challenge

Before joining Secaro, Cafea UK’s sustainability reporting processes were fragmented and time-consuming.

Data had to be gathered manually from different teams across the site, often resulting in incomplete information and delays when responding to customer requests.

To meet their customers’ needs, the team relied heavily on spreadsheets, PDFs, and manual internal reports. These tools created inefficiencies that not only slowed down workflows but also left the business without a single, consolidated view of its environmental data.

The solution

In 2022, Cafea UK began using Secaro. While onboarding required effort, particularly when answering organization-level questions, the benefits quickly became clear.

With all environmental data in one place, the team no longer has to rely solely on manual spreadsheets. Generating reports is now faster and more consistent, and information can be downloaded and shared internally at the click of a button.

Automated reporting through Secaro also means customers receive the data they need directly, reducing the administrative burden on internal teams.

The senior leadership team uses the platform during quarterly sustainability meetings to review performance and progress. Suggested savings plans and project examples have inspired new initiatives, helping the company move from data collection to action.

Since joining the platform, Cafea UK has used Secaro to track and report on four reduction projects at its Dunstable facility, including:

• Energy efficiency upgrades, such as replacing an old boiler with a new steam generator and installing energy-efficient burners.
• Renewable energy sourcing through a switch to a 100% renewable electricity supply contract.
• Packaging improvements by replacing shrink tunnels with more efficient stretch-wrapping machines.
  

At the time of completion, these projects were estimated to save over 239 tons of CO₂ and significantly reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

The value

Secaro has created significant efficiencies for Cafea UK. By shifting away from manual spreadsheets to a centralized platform, reporting is now faster, clearer, and less resource-intensive.

Internally, the platform has improved visibility and collaboration. Having all data in one place makes it easier for leadership to track usage, monitor savings, and align on priorities. Reports can be shared quickly with stakeholders, supporting more confident, data-driven decision-making.

Externally, automated reporting to customers has streamlined communication and reduced duplication of effort. Customers receive timely, accurate updates through Secaro, strengthening trust and transparency. The ability to demonstrate progress in a consistent format reinforces Cafea UK’s reputation for quality, service, and responsibility across the value chain.

The future

Going forward, Cafea UK aims to use Secaro to track measurable reductions at its Dunstable facility and continue progressing toward long-term sustainability targets.

The company is focused on seeing numbers decrease and achieving milestones one after another, with the Secaro platform providing a reliable framework to guide the journey.