Hovis expands AI partnership with IntelliAM in major multi-site deal

Hovis has expanded its partnership with AI specialist IntelliAM, in a multi-site deal that will see the bakery brand roll out the company’s technology across its manufacturing operations.

The agreement, representing a ninefold increase on the original contract, will see full deployment of the IntelliAM platform at multiple sites. It also includes the integration of IntelliAM’s smart sensor technology into production lines, alongside ongoing consultancy services aimed at driving measurable gains in reliability, productivity, and asset availability.

According to IntelliAM, the expanded project is expected to deliver a full return on investment within the first year, accelerating Hovis’s strategy to embed AI-driven, proactive manufacturing across its network.

Hovis first partnered with IntelliAM in September 2024, commissioning reliability consultancy services across three key bakeries. That initial project delivered gap analyses, criticality assessments and tailored maintenance strategies designed to unlock data-driven improvements in production reliability.

Following the success of this engagement, Hovis has opted to extend the relationship significantly. Chris Bradley, Chief Operations Officer at Hovis Limited, said:

We are pleased to be making this next step investment in IntelliAM’s services and AI platform, following a detailed analysis of the outcomes from our initial engagement.”

Tom Clayton, Chief Executive Officer of IntelliAM, described the deal as a turning point for the company:

This expanded contract represents a significant milestone for IntelliAM, validating the commercial value of our AI-driven solutions. We are proud to be deepening our relationship with Hovis and to be helping them lead the way in transforming UK manufacturing productivity.

IntelliAM exists to transform productivity in the manufacturing industry. We are committed to powering a new industrial revolution through artificial intelligence and machine learning – helping manufacturers tap into billions of machine data points to enable intelligent asset management and deliver transformational change.”

IntelliAM already works with a quarter of the world’s top 100 FMCG companies, including Müller, Mars and Weetabix, as well as half of the top 12 global food and beverage manufacturers.

Hovis’s move underscores the rapid acceleration of AI adoption in the food sector, as producers race to boost efficiency and sustainability.