Mitchells and Butlers
Mitchells and Butlers
Improving food quality, reducing waste and saving time with Klipspringer's Food Oil Monitor
Background
Prior to working with Klipspringer’s food oil monitors, the kitchen teams at Mitchells & Butlers were having to guess when their oil needed to be changed. They wanted to switch up this approach for a number of reasons:
- Prematurely changing oil resulted in unnecessary costs.
- Team members were wasting time changing oil that could have had a longer life span.
- Team members were disagreeing over when oil changes should take place.
- Guesswork resulted in a higher risk of cooking with dirty or overused oil.
- Some foods change the colour of oil making it hard to tell when it needs to be replaced.
Following on from a consultation with Klipspringer, Mitchells & Butlers undertook a trial in four of their brands and saw impressive results. The full roll out was then going to span eight to ten months, but with the help of Klipspringer this time frame was reduced to five.

With over 1,700 restaurants and pubs, Mitchells & Butlers have been hosting life’s memorable moments for 125 years. Committed to delivering great service, quality and value for money to guests across the UK, their brands include Toby Carvery, All Bar One, Vintage Inns, and Harvester.
In Mitchells & Butlers' words...
The Solution
Instead of relying on subjective visual checks, Klipspringer’s Food Oil Monitor provides a digital measurement that allows its user to know exactly when to change their oil. Using a simple traffic light system, this monitor conveys the status of the oil in thirty to sixty seconds – if the light flashes green the oil quality is fine, if it flashes amber it will need to be changed soon, and if it flashes red the oil will need to be changed immediately. The screen of the monitor also displays a numerical measurement that reflects oil quality, along with the temperature of the oil.
Oil is safe to use

Change oil soon

Oil change required

"The initial investment in introducing oil monitors has paid for itself."
Phil Sharp, Manager of Kitchen Operations
Why did Mitchells & Butlers choose Klipspringer?
Personalised Trial Period
To ensure Mitchells & Butlers had full confidence in their investment, we carried out a nationwide trial across a number of the company’s brands. During this trial period, we worked closely with the Mitchells & Butlers data teams to ensure accurate and meaningful results were achieved. This gave the Mitchells & Butlers’ commercial team the confidence to proceed with the rollout of the food oil monitor across all of its locations.
Robust Implementation
Klipspringer was heavily involved in the roll out of the food oil monitors, guiding Mitchells & Butlers through every step of the process. To ensure the monitors landed successfully, we created comprehensive training webinars – staggering their release so there was a steady stream of support. These training resources outlined how to use the monitors and how to record results. They also acted as a Troubleshooter for the most common queries and concerns.
Ongoing Support
As part of the rollout, Mitchells & Butlers had direct access to our technical service team and in-house laboratory for calibrations and maintenance support. This ensured the working life of the food oil monitors was maximised and any issues were resolved immediately. What’s more, our automated calibration reminders and free online Calibration Portal helped Mitchells & Butlers to protect and maintain its new equipment.
How did the new oil monitors benefit Mitchells & Butlers?
Improved Food Quality
One of the ways in which Mitchells & Butlers keeps their standards so high is by scoring their kitchens on food quality. Following the introduction of the food oil monitors, these scores have become more consistent. The new monitors have eliminated the risk of a kitchen cooking with dirty or overused oil. Instead, the team can be certain they are using oil that is within tolerance.
Clarity and Confidence
The food oil monitors have empowered team members to take responsibility for the process of changing oil, with the traffic light system easy for everyone in the kitchen to understand. The monitor has completely taken away the element of human error and also acts as a labour saving device, with team members only changing the oil when it’s necessary as opposed to wasting time on guesswork.
Reduced Oil Usage and Costs
The monitors have helped Mitchells & Butlers to manage the growing cost of oil, as there is no longer the possibility of oil wastage. Team members are also embracing simple practices such as skimming the oil in order to extend its lifespan. Previously, it might have seemed easier to just change the oil, but now it is possible to verify if there is still more life in it.
Introducing the new oil monitors is just one of a number of initiatives implemented by Mitchells & Butlers over the last few years which collectively has resulted in the business being awarded Most Sustainable Pub Business at The Publican Awards in 2023.
Klipspringer's monitor has helped Mitchells & Butlers to manage the growing cost of oil
“The oil monitor is the best way to go if you want to deliver reduced costs to your business.”
Paul Burgess, Kitchen Training Development Manager, Mitchells & Butlers
Thinking of introducing oil monitors to your sites? Arrange a call with one of our specialists by completing your details below.
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Albron
Guaranteed Food Safety for the Largest Hospitality Service Company in the Netherlands
Background
During an initial consultation, Albron emphasised their key objective of pivoting towards a post-pandemic future that is digital, transparent, and adaptable. Like many food service companies, they wanted to progress past the days of overwhelming piles of HAACP paperwork.
Following a requirement scoping, it was clear that Albron needed a flexible system. With venues varying from holiday villages (like Center Parcs) to cafes (such as Coffeecompany), systemic flexibility was essential. A preliminary roll-out of the digital TRAKKD system commenced in a couple of Albron’s kitchens.
Once Albron’s team verified how TRAKKD saved time, minimised costs, and reduced waste, we carried out a coordinated system implementation across Albron’s venues.

Based in Utrecht, Netherlands, Albron are leading food servicers and caterers across hospitality, corporate, healthcare, and leisure sectors. With over 700 venues throughout Europe – including Anne & Max, Coffeecompany, and Center Parcs – Albron have unwaveringly aligned with their four key values:
1) Affordability
2) Enjoyment
3) Sustainability
4) Adaptability
Eliminating food safety hazards with local data, global visibility.
Why did Albron choose to go digital?
Affordability
Unlike the conventional pay-per-user system, TRAKKD’s pay-per-kitchen pricing model is customised specifically for hospitality businesses. It minimises system costs – as well as saving employees countless hours wasted on verifications or data input. This means Albron can achieve leading compliance and quality, without taking a big hit to the bottom line.
Sustainability
On average, 1/3 of our individual carbon footprint is made up of what we eat and drink. One of Albron’s primary considerations is how to cut this footprint. This informed their choice of a system that significantly reduces food waste through rigorous and accurate tracking. As an entirely paperless app, TRAKKD limits the amount of paper discarded in landfill sites, while making detailed calculations for regular food waste savings.
Adaptability & User Satisfaction
Aside from increased customer satisfaction with healthy, delicious food and beverages, the movement to digital was also well received by staff. When surveyed, Albron’s employees awarded the app eight out of ten – partly due to safeguarding of working conditions, and partly due to its operational efficiency (namely digital checklists, integrated hardware, timely notifications, and data-driven insights).
An instantaneously adaptable system
“Using the system gives us the opportunity to adjust immediately. In addition, it offers the possibility to make trend analyses at various levels. This gives us fast and actionable insights into which areas are performing better and which need improvement. We can then quickly adjust, operationally, according to these findings.”
Ruud Homan, Albron Operations Manager
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“A Solution to an Age-Old Issue”: How Klipspringer’s Thermometer Calibrator Remodelled Food Service at The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Partner of choice
From a lack of accuracy and traceability to uncontrollable drifts in the displayed temperature, the issues with traditional thermometer checking methods are well-known. For Compass Group, their biggest problem was the needlessly time-consuming calibration process which – according to Mark Reynolds, Executive Head Chef – meant it would take “three or four hours to check the probes throughout the stadium”.
No longer. Since partnering with Klipspringer, Compass Group has remodelled their thermometer checks, using our digital, UKAS-accredited solution to cut costs, improve compliance, and save staff hours of time each month.
Read on to find out how.

With over 500,000 employees, Compass Group are the largest contract catering organisation in the world. For over 75 years, their companies have provided hospitality across schools, offices, factories, universities, hospitals, and, of course, major sporting venues.
The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium recently became one of these venues. When the club moved to their new 62,000-seater stadium in 2019, their hospitality team – the Levy division of Compass Group – were on the lookout for leading improvements in food service to better equip the stadium’s 64 kitchens.
Removing all subjectivity from thermometer checks in kitchens across the UK's third largest football stadium.
Why did Compass Group choose Klipspringer?
Time and money saved
Rather than wasting hours checking that kitchen thermometers are working, Compass Group staff now use the LazaPort to verify accuracy in a matter of seconds. The LazaPort also reduces the amount of equipment discarded – as staff can recalibrate their thermometers, rather than unnecessarily replacing them – which also results in copious cost savings.
Award-winning solutions
In 2021, the Lazaport Mono was a Gold Winner at Commercial Kitchen’s Innovation Challenge, a showcase of the most promising newly launched products in the kitchen and food equipment sector. Judges described the Mono as: “…a great concept, ideal for consistency and great connectivity. A solution to an age-old issue.”
Unprecedented accuracy
With an accuracy of ±0.3°C, the UKAS-accredited LazaPort Mono is the most compact, versatile, and advanced model yet. It is a culmination of years of research and testing designed to benefit commercial kitchens, hospitality, restaurants, fine dining, and contract caterers.
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Ensuring food safety and reducing hassle for NHS kitchens
Partner of Choice
Foodborne illnesses pose a massive risk in hospitals. Young children, the elderly, chemotherapy patients, and pregnant women are susceptible to such illnesses due to already weakened immune systems – making food safety a crucial consideration in healthcare environments.
That’s why the NHS made Klipspringer their partner of choice. From hospitals in London and Gloucestershire to Halton and Warrington, our temperature probes and thermometer calibrators prevent bacteria-caused food contamination. We ensure that patients’ meals are safe, consistent, and high-quality, delivering peace of mind for NHS staff.

The National Health Service, or NHS, leads the world in providing equity of healthcare access, and ensuring that citizens don’t suffer financial hardship or bankruptcy when they are ill, injured, or incapacitated.
With more than 1,250 hospitals throughout the UK, the NHS treat an estimated 1.5 million patients each day, indiscriminately caring for the UK population with skill, compassion, and dedication.
Catering Manager Frank Fiore discusses his experience using Klipspringer at Milton Keynes Hospital.
Why did the NHS choose Klipspringer?
No bias or subjectivity
Unlike the traditional thermometer checking methods, the UKAS-accredited LazaPorts provided the NHS with guaranteed proof of competence. By checking thermometers at the critical safety point for food safety (75°C), LazaPorts remove all guesswork from the process.
Appraisal of requirements
Following the tragic death of seven NHS patients after eating listeria-contaminated sandwiches, we provided a targeted, strategy-led plan. For the full story, click here.
Time saved
Rather than wasting hours checking that kitchen thermometers are working, NHS staff now use the LazaPort to verify accuracy in a matter of seconds. This frees up their time to prioritise other, more vital tasks.
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Improving food quality and reducing cooking oil consumption by 30% with the Food Oil Monitor
Oil management innovations
While continuing to operate efficiently, Whitbread realised that the quality of their fries wasn’t what it could be. Operationally, consistency between batches was often hard to maintain, and even when their kitchen teams produced top-quality fries, the formula behind it was hard to pinpoint and replicate.
In line with their ongoing commitment to sustainability, Whitbread deemed the waste of perfectly usable oil as unacceptable. They saw how they could cut their company-wide carbon footprint, while simultaneously making extensive oil savings.

As the largest hotel chain in the UK – and the name behind brands including Premier Inn, Beefeater, and Table Table – Whitbread are one of the most established and respected hospitality companies in the UK.
With over 1,200 venues and 35,000 employees, safety, compliance, and sustainability are all essential values behind Whitbread’s success. This is especially true when it comes to serving their 5 million customers every month!
The Solution
During our initial consultation with Whitbread, we identified a few key areas to target:
- an objective, arbitrary, digital measurement of cooking oil quality
- rapid daily oil quality checks (without being a time-consuming burden)
- an unequivocal decision-making process of when cooking oil should be changed
Klipspringer’s team of experts delivered a coordinated training programme for Whitbread’s staff, who mastered the Food Oil Monitor’s self-explanatory display and light-up system with ease. The Food Oil Monitor is now approved for use in all Whitbread outlets.
Specially calibrated to Whitbread’s oil formula, a daily oil quality check with the FOM330 gives store, regional and national management peace of mind as well as an audit trail. This enables them to:
- prove compliance with relevant legislation (particularly the recent Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/2158)
- ensure product consistency globally from restaurant to restaurant
- analyse cooking oil usage to identify where oil is being changed prematurely (facilitating a reduction in operating costs)
Driving compliance and cutting carbon footprints through food oil quality management.
Why did Whitbread choose Klipspringer?
Objectivity
The FOM provides a fast and accurate reading of the Total Polar Compounds (TPC) within the oil – an objective indication of oil quality in fryers. This is crucial for consumer safety, given that an increased amount of TPC is associated with the build up of acrylamide, a cancer-causing, customer-harming chemical.
Significant reductions in oil usage and costs
Whitbread saw a return on investment from their upfront costs within just 6 months. Due to no more ongoing cost of (far less accurate) colour test strips, every saving made past this initial period was pure surplus – an average reduction in oil usage of 30%, with some Whitbread sites reporting savings of up to 52%!
Sustainability
Rather than following in the footsteps of other businesses’ vague greenwashing promises, Whitbread decided to take tangible action. Oil is one of the largest consumables across the entire food and hospitality sector – but no longer for Whitbread, following the rollout of the FOM across multiple locations nationwide.
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Five Guys
FIVE GUYS
Global compliance support for leading burger and fries restaurant chain.
Leading-edge food safety solutions
Five Guys were looking for a partner to support them globally with a broad spectrum of food safety solutions. Not only was effective and efficient vendor management important in this decision, global standardisation was also a key driver.
In particular, Five Guys needed a method of systemising and measuring the quality of their cooking oil. Besides legal requirements, Five Guys’ internal quality standards were a key driver in instigating this project.

Already well established in the USA, Five Guys’ presence in the UK and Europe is growing rapidly, with over 1,600 restaurants internationally.
Food safety legislation varies from country to country and this makes compliance a potentially complex process for Jeremy Lockley, Five Guys’ Senior Director of Food Safety and Quality Assurance.
The Solution.
Working with Five Guys, Klipspringer identified three key requirements:
- daily oil quality checks (without being a procedural or time-consuming burden)
- an arbitrary, digital measurement of cooking oil quality
- de-skill the decision-making process of when cooking oil should be changed.
Following a successful restaurant trial, the Klipspringer’s Food Oil Monitor was approved for use in all Five Guys outlets. A bespoke Compliance Instrument Station was also introduced to store the Oil Monitor along with other food safety management equipment (tablet and thermometers).
Using the Instrument Station ensures the Oil Monitor is always in the right location at the right time, as well as providing safe storage when not in use.
Specially calibrated to Five Guys’ oil formula, a daily oil quality check with the FOM330 gives store, regional and national management peace of mind as well as an audit trail. This enables them to:
- prove compliance with relevant legislation (particularly the recent Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/2158)
- ensure product consistency globally from restaurant to restaurant
- analyse cooking oil usage to identify where oil is being changed prematurely (facilitating a reduction in operating costs).
Enhancing standards through food oil quality management and bespoke equipment stations.
Why did FIVE GUYS choose Klipspringer?
International standardisation
Klipspringer are able to supply Five Guys’ outlets internationally. This guarantees consistent processes, compliance and product quality in all restaurants across the globe.
Bespoke equipment package
Bespoke branded equipment stations improve visual standards and ensure that equipment is kept safe when not in use. In addition, Klipspringer calibrate the Food Oil Monitor to Five Guys’ unique oil formula for ultimate reading accuracy.
Simple yet robust
The Food Oil Monitor is thoughtfully designed for busy kitchen use, with an easy-to-use design, a clear traffic light result indicator and a stainless steel protective shield around the sensor stem.
Ongoing support
Klipspringer’s hospitality team continue to support Five Guys’ expansion globally. In addition, their unique calibration offering ensures minimum equipment downtime while keeping the Food Oil Monitor in tip-top condition.
In FIVE GUYS' words:
“Klipspringer are able to supply our stores internationally, which means we only have to deal with a single supplier as we expand globally.
The bespoke design of the instrument station provides not only a single place for our equipment, but its FIVE GUYS’ branding gives it a real quality feel. It’s a part of what we do, so being able to personalise it was vital.”
Jeremy Lockley, Senior Director of Food Safety & Quality Assurance
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