UK: Derby Donut Company Expands Operations

A UK-based luxury donut company is moving into a brand-new bakery in the city that is 11 times bigger than its previous location and will become a central hub for its UK-wide expansion. Project D, which produces hand-made artisan donuts, says the expansion will create an extra 100 jobs in the city.

Staff in the 11,000 sq ft unit in Spondon will operate 24 hours a day, producing enough donuts to expand the company’s delivery service nationwide, which already covers a region from Birmingham to 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 of England.

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 inquiries 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 hands on deck.”

The company, which changes the flavors 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. They also plan to open premises in London and Manchester by April next year.

“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,” Poynton added.