Made Smarter-backed automation helps Bubble Panda achieve record festive sales
A fast-growing bubble tea kit manufacturer is on course to smash record Black Friday and Christmas sales after a major digital transformation supported by Made Smarter.
Bubble Panda, which manufactures DIY bubble tea kits sold directly to consumers, has seen demand rocket in the run-up to the festive season.
But unlike previous years where the team scrambled to keep up, 2025 has been a different story, thanks to investment in cutting-edge automation.
Backed by the government-funded Made Smarter North West adoption programme, the Manchester-based business has turned a once manual operation into a high-speed production line capable of handling the Christmas rush and preparing for international expansion.
Founder Scott Harasyn said Bubble Panda would not have coped with this year’s seasonal spike without the digital overhaul.
“Black Friday and Christmas have always been huge for us, but this year the demand was on another level,” he said. “Without automation we would never have been able to keep up. Made Smarter has completely transformed how we operate. The support, the partnerships, and the technology have given us the confidence and capacity to grow, innovate and expand internationally.”
Scott launched the business from his kitchen table in 2020 during the covid-19 pandemic and now operates from an 8,000 sq ft facility producing thousands of flavour combinations.
Over the last two years Made Smarter has supported Bubble Panda to create a digital roadmap, embed a digital culture through its Leading Digital Transformation programme, and access a £20,000 grant towards a RotoFill reel-fed filling and sealing machine.
The benefits have been significant and immediate. Production time has dropped by more than 80%, changeover downtime has fallen by 90% and overall output has tripled. Crucially, the business now runs two fully optimised production lines, giving Scott the resilience to meet peak-season demand without sacrificing quality. With manual bottlenecks removed, Bubble Panda has been able to advance new product ideas and partnerships, including a collaboration with Derbyshire-based confectioner Swizzels that has driven a successful limited-edition range and boosted sales.
Meanwhile, automation has allowed staff to move into quality control, data analysis and process optimisation roles. Waste has fallen and sustainability performance has improved.
After the successful install, Made Smarter introduced Bubble Panda to NERIC (the Northern Engineering and Robotics Innovation Centre), based at the University of Salford, for deeper automation support. Their technology consultants restored a broken taping machine and tripled its output overnight, designed and tested a dual-robot pick-and-place cell capable of handling tubs at four-second cycles, integrated advanced vision systems for seal inspection, accuracy and repeatability, and mapped out future automation options across production.
This has given Bubble Panda a scalable blueprint for growth in 2026, including international fulfillment.
Donna Edwards, managing director of the Made Smarter North West Adoption Programme, said: “Bubble Panda is the perfect example of how a small manufacturer can take bold steps with the right support behind them. Scott recognised that digital transformation was essential, engaged with our experts and the results speak for themselves.”
Tabs Khojani, business development manager at NERIC, said: “It’s fantastic to see the outcome of such a strong partnership between NERIC and Made Smarter to help SMEs unlock the funding, support and technology they need to grow. We share the view that robotics and automation are essential for the future of UK manufacturing. Bubble Panda is a brilliant example of what happens when manufacturers tap into the support available across the region.”
Launched in 2019, Made Smarter is a UK government-backed programme designed to help manufacturing SMEs adopt digital technologies and develop the leadership and skills needed to drive sustainable growth.
Since its launch in the North West, Made Smarter has engaged with more than 2,300 manufacturers, delivering over 400 technology projects that are forecast to create almost 2,000 new jobs, upskill almost 3,500 existing roles, and add £287m to the regional economy.