Cod Steaks
Cod Steaks is a Bristol-based, privately held creative design and construction firm founded in 1980, delivering integrated 3D design, model-making, theming, and prop fabrication for film studios, museums, attractions, and hospitality brands including Warner Bros. and Aardman.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1980
- HeadquartersBristol, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Cod Steaks does
Cod Steaks is a privately held, Bristol-based creative design and construction company founded in 1980 that delivers large-scale themed environments, props, sets, models, and sculptures for film studios, museums, visitor attractions, retail and hospitality brands, and public sector clients. The company operates a 40,000+ square foot purpose-built facility integrating studio services (project management, creative direction, 3D scanning, graphic design, installation) and workshop services (joinery, metal fabrication, CNC machining, laser cutting, GRP molding, polyurea spraying, scenic art, sculpture, and prop making) under one roof. Notable output includes a 9-meter mountain sculpture for Übersee-Museum Bremen, 7,000+ props and 13 themed zones for Warner Bros Studio Tour Tokyo, and Oscar/BAFTA-recognized work with Aardman and LAIKA.
The business model is project-based professional services, with revenue generated through bespoke quotations tied to scope, materials, and complexity. Pricing is quote-based with three design revisions included as standard and additional revisions billed separately; terms specify quotations valid for 30 days and price adjustments for currency, labour, materials, and transport. Go-to-market is enterprise field sales via direct client relationships (Warner Bros., Aardman, LAIKA, Fever), creative agency referrals (Lumsden Design, Fabled Studio, Dalziel & Pow, Workhaus, MinaLima), and industry channels (IAAPA, TEA Connect, BFDG). Customer segments span film and animation studios, visitor attractions and museums, retail and hospitality, advertising and broadcast, and public art and events.
Distribution is entirely relationship-driven with no self-service or e-commerce channels. Geographic reach includes the UK, EU (Germany, Portugal, Norway), Japan, and the United States, anchored by long-tenured Warner Bros. engagements across multiple continents. Peak operational scale reached 94+ personnel on the Tokyo project, with sustained base headcount of 11-50 and a 50% solar-powered workshop as of March 2024.
Cod Steaks firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Cod Steaks
- Legal name
- Cod Steaks
- Website
- https://codsteaks.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1980
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Cod Steaks is a Bristol-based, privately held creative design and construction firm founded in 1980, delivering integrated 3D design, model-making, theming, and prop fabrication for film studios, museums, attractions, and hospitality brands including Warner Bros. and Aardman.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Cod Steaks is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bristol
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Cod Steaks business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Custom Project-Based Fabrication: Cod Steaks generates revenue through bespoke design and construction projects for film, TV, museums, attractions, retail environments, restaurants, and branded experiences. Projects are quoted individually based on scope, materials, and complexity. They offer full installation services and the terms of sale indicate standard pricing plus additional charges for out-of-scope services.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Cod Steaks product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cod Steaks is an award-winning creative design and construction company that designs, fabricates, and installs sets, scale models, props, sculptures, and themed environments for enterprise clients in film, animation, visitor attractions, museums, retail, and hospitality. Its integrated Bristol workshop covers joinery, metalwork, CNC machining, laser cutting, GRP molding, 3D scanning, 3D printing, sculpture, scenic art, and spray finishing under one roof, enabling end-to-end delivery from concept to on-site installation.
Product overview
Cod Steaks is an award-winning creative design and construction company offering a comprehensive suite of services for set building, model-making, prop fabrication, and themed environments. The company operates two interconnected divisions: Studio Services (project management, creative direction, concept design, 3D scanning, graphic design, 3D printing, and installation) and Workshop Services (joinery, metal fabrication, CNC machining, laser cutting, GRP, sculpture, scenic art, and spray finishes). The portfolio spans film and TV production sets, museum installations, visitor attractions, restaurant theming, public art, and retail environments. Notably, the company also developed Armouron, a licensed toy product for Bandai. From concept through to installation, Cod Steaks delivers projects across diverse sectors including animation, TV, film, museums, exhibitions, brand centres, public art, retail, restaurants, immersive attractions, science centres, aquariums, zoos, and art installations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Studio Services
Quantifiable outcome
- 2,000+ projects delivered successfully since 1980
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Cod Steaks
Customer profileNamed customers24 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Cod Steaks technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Cod Steaks partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- SunLight FutureminorPartnered with SunLight Future and West of England Combined Authority to install 150 solar panels on the roof of Cod Steaks' Bristol headquarters, supplying 50% of workshop energy usage through solar power as of March 2024.
- West of England Combined AuthorityminorPartnered with SunLight Future and West of England Combined Authority to install 150 solar panels on the roof of Cod Steaks' Bristol headquarters, supporting sustainable practices initiative.
- Avon Needs TreesminorCod Steaks supports Avon Needs Trees charity in their effort to create woodland in the local Bristol-Avon catchment area to fight climate and ecological emergencies.
- IAAPAminorIAAPA (International Association of Attractions) marketplace partner providing visibility to global attractions industry.
- TEA (Themed Entertainment Association)minorTea Connect membership directory listing providing industry networking and visibility.
- BandaicoreJapanese toymaker Bandai was licensed to produce the full Armouron toy-line, a multi award-winning interchangeable armour-style kit for children conceived and developed by Cod Steaks.
- Lumsden DesigncoreLong-term strategic partner providing interior design for major projects including Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo (13 themed zones), Fenix restaurants, Harry Potter Photography Exhibition, and various other attractions.
- Fabled StudiocoreOngoing partnership with design company for restaurant and hospitality projects including Duck and Waffle, Manzi's Soho, Louis Manchester, and Fenix.
- Dalziel & Pow (D&P)coreCreative agency partnership for Guinness Storehouse immersive experience project in Dublin.
- WorkhauscorePartnership with Workhaus as one of five collaborative subcontractors for Eureka! Science + Discovery project in Liverpool.
- Technically CreativecoreTechnology integration partner for Harry Potter Tokyo and Harajuku stores, integrating AV elements, LED programming, and interactive features into Cod Steaks' physical props and builds.
- MinaLimacoreDesign partnership for Harry Potter Studio Tour Tokyo, creating the stunning 9-meter interactive dome and shop within shop designs for MinaLima.
- Ryder ArchitectureminorArchitecture partnership for WonderWorks Hornby visitor attraction project.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Cod Steaks competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Thinkwell Group: US-based experience design and production firm building museums, theme parks, brand experiences and attractions end-to-end. Comparable to Cod Steaks across entertainment, museum and brand-experience client segments with similar full-service delivery model.
- Stufish Entertainment Architects: UK-based architect studio designing landmark entertainment venues, shows and themed experiences for Cirque du Soleil, stage shows and attractions. Comparable to Cod Steaks as a creative design-to-build counterpart serving the global themed entertainment market.
- Stage One Creative Services: UK-based scenic construction and set-building firm serving theatre, opera, exhibitions and live events. Directly comparable to Cod Steaks as a UK specialist fabricator offering design-to-install builds for entertainment and cultural clients.
- Show Canada Industries: Canada-based themed entertainment fabricator delivering scenery, animatronics and themed builds for theme parks and attractions worldwide. Comparable to Cod Steaks as a full-service themed-environment fabricator serving global entertainment operators.
- Nassal Company: US-based themed entertainment fabricator building immersive environments, rockwork, theming and large-scale scenic builds for theme parks, attractions and museums (including Disney, Universal and LEGOLAND projects). Closest like-for-like global competitor to Cod Steaks in themed-environment construction at scale.
- Falcon's Creative Group: US-based experience design and production company delivering themed attractions, immersive experiences and master planning for theme parks, museums and brand environments. Directly comparable to Cod Steaks in design-through-installation themed entertainment delivery.
Emerging players
- Holovis: UK-based immersive experience company combining sensory, projection and interactive technology with physical theming. Adjacent comparable to Cod Steaks as a UK-based immersive-experience partner, though more technology-led and less focused on pure scenic fabrication.
- Simworx: UK-based designer and manufacturer of themed attractions and dark rides for the global attractions industry. Comparable to Cod Steaks as a UK-themed attraction specialist, though more focused on ride systems and turnkey attractions than scenic fabrication.
Market position
Strengths1 record
Weaknesses1 record
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Cod Steaks social profiles
Digital presenceCod Steaks financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cod Steaks leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Cod Steaks funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Cod Steaks M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Cod Steaks
What does Cod Steaks do?
Cod Steaks is an award-winning creative design and construction company that designs, fabricates, and installs sets, scale models, props, sculptures, and themed environments for enterprise clients in film, animation, visitor attractions, museums, retail, and hospitality. Its integrated Bristol workshop covers joinery, metalwork, CNC machining, laser cutting, GRP molding, 3D scanning, 3D printing, sculpture, scenic art, and spray finishing under one roof, enabling end-to-end delivery from concept to on-site installation.
Is Cod Steaks a public or private company?
Cod Steaks is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Cod Steaks founded?
Cod Steaks was founded in 1980. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Cod Steaks based?
Cod Steaks is headquartered in Bristol, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Cod Steaks make money?
One revenue line is on record: custom Project-Based Fabrication.
Who are Cod Steaks's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Thinkwell Group, Stufish Entertainment Architects, Stage One Creative Services, Show Canada Industries, Nassal Company and Falcon's Creative Group. Emerging players are Holovis and Simworx.
Does Cod Steaks have an API?
No public API is recorded for Cod Steaks.