Company name: Walter Confiserie
Location: Berlin
Industry: Food and Beverage
Established: 1915
Company size: 50+
Odoo users: <30
Hosting type: Odoo.sh
Apps: Sales, Manufacturing (MRP), Inventory, Point of Sale (Shop), Timesheets, Purchase
Implementing partner: SH Digital Starten GmbH
After opening the doors of Walter Confiserie in Berlin, the aroma of roasted almonds, fresh nougat, and dark chocolate fills the air. Here, where every praline is still made by hand, over 100 years of craftsmanship blend with quality you can taste and structures that move with the times.
Tradition meets innovation
Founded in 1915, Walter Confiserie GmbH has made a name for itself as a family business over generations. Its specialties include fine chocolates in elegant gift packaging, handmade chocolates in flavors such as “salted caramel” and “sprinkled almond,” delicate tea biscuits, and seasonal delicacies such as artistically designed Easter bunnies and whole milk chocolate pralines for Easter.
What all products have in common is a love of detail. Only high-quality raw materials such as fine cocoa, melt-in-the-mouth nougat, and the finest marzipan are used.
Of course, everything is made with care, experience, and a lot of manual work. The delicacies are sold in the four Walter stores in Berlin, a factory outlet, and the company's own web shop. Numerous partner confectioners throughout Germany also stock the sweet creations.
With the growing variety in the product range and the expansion of distribution channels – from traditional retail stores to online shops – the complexity of everyday work also increased. This included not only the logistical challenges of storing and shipping temperature-sensitive goods, but also the coordination of production processes, precise adaptation to seasonal demand, and the management of different customer requirements.
The transformation starts with Odoo
How do you keep track of thousands of chocolates, finely tuned recipes, and
constantly changing product ranges? How can seasonal fluctuations in demand and
supply be effectively managed throughout the year?
For a company like Walter Confiserie, each season means precisely coordinating changing demand, new recipes, and the special requirements for purchasing, storage, and logistics.
Christmas is, of course, the busiest time of the year in the confectionery industry. But
as soon as the last chocolate Santas been sold, preparations for Easter begin: a
new product line, new packaging, new waves of demand.
In between are holidays such as Valentine's Day and Mother's Day, as well as individual customer promotions and special orders. Each season requires precise planning, from the procurement of raw materials and the utilization of production lines to the coordination of shipping.
This means that flexibility is required to maintain the balance between craftsmanship and logistical efficiency without losing sight of the big picture.
Added to this are the classic requirements of growing companies: a comprehensive
overview of all inventory, the management of internal data, transparent
cost accounting, and, last but not least, the challenge of linking all channels together.
Digitalization is the key
In 2020, the decision was made: Walter Confiserie wanted to take the next step without losing its artisanal soul. Together with Odoo partner Digital Starten, a clear plan was developed: instead of isolated solutions and paperwork, a system was needed that would connect everything. A system that would grow with the company.
Odoo-Partner “Digital Starten” was responsible for the implementation with a clear, easy-to-follow approach: First, processes and goals were recorded and prioritized. Then Odoo was set up with the existing standard functions – deliberately without unnecessary special programming. The implementation took place in increments: First, the most important areas were implemented. At the same time, employees were trained and data was carefully transferred. Close support was provided during the start-up phase. Since then, adjustments and additional functions have only been added where they create clear added value. This keeps the system lean, understandable, and future-proof.
Today, around 20 employees work with Odoo on a daily basis – in production, in the warehouse, in sales, and in administration. Step by step, processes have been centralized, automated, and noticeably simplified.
Production & Manufacturing
Every praline starts with a recipe. This is mapped in Odoo as a bill of materials – including variants such as dark chocolate, milk chocolate, or vegan. This way, the team knows exactly which raw materials are needed and when to reorder.
Even fresh products such as nougat fillings can be seamlessly documented using batch tracking. And when Easter or Christmas is just around the corner, capacity planning helps to optimally control production so that no shelves remain empty.
Inventory & Logistics
Whether it's headquarters, a branch, or a factory outlet, all storage locations are mapped in the system, including expiration dates, FIFO principles, and automatic batch rotation.
Accounting & Controlling
Thanks to integrated financial accounting with cost center tracking, Walter Confiserie keeps track of its figures at all times. Sales and contribution margins can be evaluated accurately.
The result
With Odoo, Walter Confiserie now has an overview of all processes, from purchasing and production to sales across all channels. This pays off especially during seasonal peaks such as Easter or Christmas: production data from previous years can be specifically evaluated and incorporated into planning. This turns experience into real efficiency.
The seamless integration of the web shop, cash registers, and warehouse has also made everyday life noticeably easier: all sales and delivery channels are seamlessly interconnected, enabling smooth operations.
More overview, less effort, and more time for what matters: quality, craftsmanship, and customer focus.
“A system with so many functions that all work together brings real added value for us, I would recommend Odoo anytime.” – Falk Wendt, Project Lead ERP, Walter Confiserie
