A luxury doughnut company is moving into a new home which is 11-times bigger than its previous bakery.
Derby-based Project D, which bakes hand-made artisan doughnuts, says the expansion will create an extra 100 jobs in the city.
The 11,000 sq ft unit in Spondon will operate 24 hours a day, producing enough doughnuts to expand the company’s delivery service nationwide.
The business already ships its products as far afield as Birmingham and Leeds.
The company has also secured a lease on a unit in Leeds which will create a further 20 new jobs and act as a distribution hub for the north.
Co-owner Max Poynton said: “This is a really big step for Project D, but the time is definitely right.
“We just can’t keep up with the demand in the bakery we have at the moment and we get enquiries all the time from areas outside of our current delivery routes, so we know the market is there.
“We are already interviewing for new bakers and delivery drivers and we anticipate that we will need more and more in the run up to Christmas. It’s going to be all hand’s on deck.”
Project D, which changes the flavours of its doughnuts regularly and also offers a vegan range, plans to turn the Leeds hub into a flagship store next year – creating a further 10 jobs.
New premises in London and Manchester are expected to follow by next April.
The company recently won a Marketing Derby innovation award after impressing Derby business leaders during lockdown – changing Project D’s business model to a delivery and pop-up sales service.
Mr Poynton said: “This is a really exciting time for Project D and we are really grateful the people of Derby for supporting us.
“We are all from Derby ourselves and this will always be Project D’s home – but we’re definitely ready for the next step and to take on the rest of the UK.”
