Deep North Bakery Expands with New Headquarters and Production Facility in Newcastle
A popular Newcastle bakery business is accelerating its growth strategy with the opening of a new headquarters and production site, alongside a fourth shop in the region. Artisan bakery and coffee company Deep North, known for its scratch-made doughnuts, has established a modern facility that significantly enhances its operational capabilities and team environment.
Expansion Details and New Ouseburn Shop
Deep North, founded by Phil King and Tom Clark in 2022, has inaugurated a new production kitchen and head office in Newcastle. This development coincides with the launch of a new store in Ouseburn, marking the company's fourth outlet in the North East. The existing shops are located in Tynemouth, Ouseburn, and Sheepfolds Stables in Sunderland, where daily batches of fresh doughnuts attract substantial customer traffic.
The bakery's signature doughnuts undergo a meticulous 24 to 36-hour process, involving dough preparation, proving, rolling, frying, and decorating with homemade jams, fillings, and glazes. Beyond its retail locations, Deep North frequently participates in various events and markets, broadening its community engagement.
Enhanced Production Capacity and Team Benefits
Phil King, owner and director of Deep North, emphasized that the new facility will dramatically increase production capacity while improving the working conditions for its 29 employees. The space is designed to foster productivity and employee wellbeing, featuring office areas and room for future workforce and store portfolio growth.
"We are thrilled to officially unveil our new headquarters and central production kitchen, which marks yet another major milestone for the business," Mr. King stated. "It provides the space needed to boost production capacity and headcount, offering our team a far better working environment as we continue to innovate and grow."
Experiential Customer Environment and Events Programme
The new shop is directly connected to the kitchen, allowing customers to enjoy coffee while observing the doughnut-making process. This setup creates an experiential environment that showcases the bakery's artisanal methods. Additionally, the facility includes space for hosting events such as doughnut decorating masterclasses and barista masterclasses, diversifying the company's offerings.
"We set up Deep North to bring something new to the North East, and the launch of a dedicated events programme is another example of how we're continuing to do just that," Mr. King added. "We have already delivered our first doughnut decorating masterclasses and have bookings for barista sessions at Ouseburn, with more creative uses of the space planned for this year."
Financial Support and Regional Impact
The expansion was supported by a £40,000 grant from UMi through the Business Growth Fund, managed on behalf of Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council, North East Combined Authority, and Sunderland City Council. Phil Sly, specialist adviser at UMi, praised Deep North as a model of how targeted finance and support can help ambitious businesses achieve sustainable growth.
"Deep North is a fantastic example of how the right finance and support can help ambitious businesses realise their goals and scale sustainably," Mr. Sly said. "The new facility will provide Deep North with the space and infrastructure it needs to grow its workforce, increase output, and expand its presence across the region."
This expansion underscores Deep North's commitment to regional growth, with plans to open more stores in the coming months and years, solidifying its position as a key player in the North East's artisan food scene.
