Shipley bakery Just Desserts' £150,000 expansion plans get underway

WORK has started on site at award-winning Shipley bakery Just Desserts as part of the firm’s expansion plans to support its continued business growth.

Just Desserts has invested more than £150,000 in the expansion project, which includes consultation to future proof the bakery and building works, as well as new bakery equipment and a larger freezer to increase storage capacity.

The newly extended bakery, which is due to be completed mid January 2020, will also create new roles for the business in operations and warehousing.

The bakery, which expanded into a second unit 2015, has now added a third unit at its Station Road location and plans to transform the site with new offices and staff facilities.

It will also be demolishing the existing offices and staffroom to further extend the bakery footprint and freezer space by more than 60 per cent.

The works will also include a mezzanine floor to house a meeting and board room.

Huddersfield firm Bray Building Services is carrying out the work.

James O’Dwyer, managing director of Just Desserts said: “We are delighted to appoint the team at Bray Building Services to implement our bakery expansion plans.

“They have built a great reputation both in their local area and in West Yorkshire and we were impressed with their professionalism, design approach and bespoke service offer.

“We are excited to be able to support our five year growth strategy to deliver a future proofed bakery, as well as look after the health and wellbeing of our growing and loyal team with new staff facilities.

“The larger layout and working space of the extended bakery will improve efficiencies, productivity, workflow and capacity to deliver our handcrafted products to a growing customer base.

“We are already working towards developing new vegan and low sugar products to support our strategy to target new and existing markets and the new bakery will help us realise our ambitions,” added Mr O’Dwyer.

Daniel Bray, managing director of Bray Building Services said: “It’s fantastic to be working alongside Just Desserts on this construction project. It shows there is still strength in the manufacturing industry in the local area.”

Just Desserts was founded on a £40-a-week enterprise allowance more than 30 years ago by man and wife team James and Carol O’Dwyer.

The business has evolved to produce a product range of more than 100 different lines.

The company now employs more than 30 staff and operates a fleet of delivery vans serving a growing foodservice and hospitality customer base across the North of England and the Midlands.