STORY: Just Desserts to expand by 50%

West Yorkshire-based Just Desserts has revealed plans to expand the business by 50% and hired three new staff to prove it means business.

The baker will expand production into a fourth unit and in doing so increase capacity by half. The move follows a period of growth for the company, which experienced a 38% increase in like-for-like sales compared to last year.

From small seeds

Sales of its’ dessert bars doubled in the past year, with a significant increase on selected core product lines. Individual cornflake tart sales have gone up by about 50%, individual chocolate puddings have increased by 30% and its chocolate fudge cake has seen a rise by 25%.  

The bakery’s Individual Cheesecake range, launched in 2018, has seen the biggest success with a 150% rise in like-for-like sales on this time last year. Just Desserts attributed the growth in sales to changing consumer habits toward buying smaller, individual products.

To support its expansion plans, the company has hired three new bakers – Johanna Wilton, John Mahony and Stefan Carey-Harrington (all pictured).

Managing director James O’Dwyer said of the news: “We are delighted to expand our bakery team with these three new talented appointments.​ We are enjoying a strong period of growth across the bakery, but particularly in the dessert bar and take-home market, where our individual desserts are becoming increasingly popular with caterers.”