GAIL’s has more than 150 bakeries across the UK, selling bread, cakes, pastries, breakfasts and lunches. When Brett Parker joined as Property Director, security systems across the locations were inconsistent, with each store operating its own set-up. He chose Verkada’s cloud-based platform to oversee multiple bakery locations efficiently. It has allowed him to address petty theft at stores, streamline bakery operations and enhance customer experience and sales.
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, it has grown to over 150 locations across the UK, from London to Manchester and Bristol.
GAIL’S has always sought to offer craft, quality products and memorable customer experiences. As its portfolio grew, streamlined operations and security became essential to supporting this growth.
When Brett Parker joined as Property Directory, security systems across the locations were inconsistent, with each store operating its own set-up. “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 set-up, making it hard to manage them consistently. “When I visited different stores, I had to relearn each system,” Parker said. “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. Parker could only monitor stores by being physically present, limiting oversight. “With over 50 locations at the time, this was becoming unmanageable,” Parker 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 Parker 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 its 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,” Parker said. “It was a gamechanger 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. Parker said: “Verkada keeps pushing forward with innovations, and that’s important for us to stay on top of things.”
Remote property management
Verkada has enabled Parker 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,” Parker said. “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 Parker’s team to identify the culprits quickly.
“We used motion grids to find where thefts were occurring and reviewed all activity in those areas,” Parker 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,” Parker 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,” Parker 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,” Parker noted. Operations managers, who each oversee 10 stores, can monitor performance without needing to be onsite.
Optimising access control and permissions
To help secure GAIL’s growing spaces, Parker implemented Verkada’s cloud-based access control system – starting with its 12,000-square-foot office. Now, Parker and his team can remotely manage door permissions, monitor access events and make real-time adjustments. “Cloud-based access control is a gamechanger for our team. We no longer need to oversee door access permissions manually – it’s all handled remotely,” Parker said.
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, Parker 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,” Parker 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 maintain food preparation and ensure stock levels are on par,” Parker 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,” Parker said. “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, Parker plans to expand the system while upgrading older set-ups. “The initial worry of ripping and replacing our old set-up disappeared once we saw how seamlessly the system worked,” Parker concluded. “The time and money we’ve saved make this an investment I wish we had made sooner.”
