A BOOMING dessert business will be expanding to Basildon, with drivers ready to deliver ice creams and milkshakes around the town.
Cookies and Cones, which opened its first store in Leigh, will open a new store inside the Eastgate Shopping Centre before Christmas.
This comes just months after owner Matt Davis unveiled another new shop on Southend High Street, which sold out in record time on the first day.
The new store in Basildon, will be takeaway only initially, but Cookies and Cones has partnered with Just Eat, Uber Eats, and Deliveroo, as well as offering their own takeaway drivers, to take orders up to five miles away.
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Mr Davis, 31, said: “We have several models which we can use. One of them is to open a smaller store to test the waters, with a smaller lease.
“We then can invest more if it all goes well.
“It’s like what we’ve done in Rayleigh, which we’ve already outgrown.
“We’re delighted to be opening another store, which we’re only able to do if the demand is there.
“We’re definitely going to be open by Christmas, and we’re getting the keys to the store in two weeks time. It’ll take between two and four weeks to do a shop rebuild at that point.”
Earlier this year, the business unveiled ambitious plans to open a store in New York.
However, the plans have been put on hold while Covid restrictions prevent Mr Davis from flying across the pond.
The new Basildon store joins shops in Southend, Leigh, Rayleigh, and Wickford.
Cookies and Cones, which flourished through lockdown thanks to takeaway orders, earned a spot in the final of the British Takeaway Awards this year.
Some of the food on offer includes milkshakes, Gelato ice creams, and signature iced lemonades.
Two more new stores across Essex are set to be announced before Christmas.
A spokesman from Cookies and Cones, said: “Basildon we are coming for you. We’re excited to announce that we will soon be opening a new Cookies and Cones store in Eastgate Shopping Centre. Keep your eyes peeled over the coming weeks as we release further information.”
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