Delicious doughnuts expanding

Brightly-coloured artisan treats creator, Bondholder Project D is expanding across the region.

Project D, whose bright pink flagship outlet is based on the ground floor at fellow Bondholder intu Derby, after winning retail initiative Hatch, has signed deal to remain permanently in the centre.

The company has sold more of its handcrafted doughnuts than it could ever have imagined in the first 12 months of trading – serving an incredible 100 doughnuts every hour in December – and is now planning to extend both its range and outlets in 2020.

A temporary shop in Cooper’s Square, Burton-On-Trent will also become a permanent fixture, while a weekly stand in fellow Bondholder the University of Derby’s Kedleston Road atrium is being extended to three days a week.

Further Project D kiosks will be available in Loughborough University and Warwick University meaning the company needs to recruit a further five people, bringing the workforce to 16.

The company, which prides itself on using locally-sourced ingredients and packaging which is biodegradable and compostable, is now looking at units in cities further afield.

Plans also include adding additional lines to its range, including four entirely vegan doughnuts, and serve fresh coffee for the first time.

Project D’s Co-Owner, Jacob Watts, said: “While we were always confident that our doughnuts were pretty special, we have been amazed at how popular Project D has become in just a year.

“In addition to the kiosks, we’ve been touring street food events and festivals around the Midlands, as well as fulfilling orders for corporate events and one-off commissions.

Not only has its brightly-coloured artisan treats helped it to build a massive Instagram following, it was also commissioned to create doughnuts for London Fashion Week, a Love Island after show party and an order was even placed for staff and residents at Windsor Castle.

“The high point was probably being commissioned to create 60 doughnuts for Windsor Castle by ASBC one of its contractors. We made them with royal crests on the top and while we’ll never know if the Queen tried them, we like to think Harry and Meghan might have shared one before they left!”