Love Island doughnut maker Project D sets up Leeds base after being "inundated" with orders from city

The Derby-based bakery has delivering to doorsteps across Leeds and sold at pop-up locations around the city since early September.

It has now secured a lease on a unit in Pottery Fields, near the Crown Point Shopping Park.

The new unit will create 20 new jobs and allow them to distribute doughnuts across the north of England.

Project D plans to turn the unit into a flagship store next year.

The company says this will create a further 10 jobs.

Co-owner Matthew Bond said: “We have been blown away by the reaction from customers in Leeds, our doughnuts have sold like hot cakes in the city and the enthusiasm has been even better than we expected.

“The new unit will initially act as a distribution hub which will mean we can extend the areas we cover – for example we’ve already moved our deliveries into Wakefield.

"We are moving into a significantly bigger bakery in Derby and our operation is round-the-clock to ensure that every single doughnut we sell is absolutely fresh.

“The long-term plan will be to transform the unit into a doughnut shop and café and we have loads of really exciting ideas about exactly what this will look like – we want it to be really unique and inventive to reflect the brand.”

Project D was founded two years ago and since then the company has been commissioned to create doughnuts for a Love Island after show party, London Fashion Week and an order was even placed for staff and residents at Windsor Castle.

Ferociously fluffy, inventively topped and with an enormous range of fabulous fillings, the company’s most popular creations include the Twix and Shout, which has a white chocolate base half dipped in custard cream with a white chocolate drizzle, a salted caramel centre decorated with white chocolate buttons and a Twix.

While the Homer, a ring doughnut with pink icing and sprinkles and the Biscoff with its caramel base and blended Lotus Biscoff crumb are also hugely popular.

Matthew added: “We like to be really inventive and we completely change our range regularly so there is always something for customers to be excited about.

“Our Halloween box has just been released which is a perfect replacement for trick or treating this year and we’re already working on a Christmas range which we guarantee will be really special.

“We know this year has been really tough for many people and a sweet treat like a doughnut has never been more important. We’re really looking forward to getting to know more people in Leeds and the surrounding areas – and hopefully putting a smile on their faces.”

Project D delivers sets of four doughnuts in boxes which are biodegradable, compostable and cost £11, plus delivery.