Enterprising Barnsley helps mother and daughter discover secret ingredient for business growth

A booming Barnsley business that has taken social media by storm has secured a helping hand from Enterprising Barnsley to realise its growth and expansion plans.

Mother and daughter Janine Davies and Charlie Smark launched Dolly’s Desserts in 2019. Today, the company employs 40 members of staff and operates from three sites within Barnsley, where it produces a range of tasty gelatos, waffles and milkshakes to its loyal customer base, as well as producing a range of baked goods, which are stocked throughout the UK.

To fuel its future growth plans, Dolly’s called on help from Enterprising Barnsley. Working with Key Account Manager James Lennon, the company has secured two match-funded Business Productivity Grants, helping the business to expand its operations and develop a new purpose-built production kitchen.

Until recently, all the desserts produced by the Dolly’s team were developed in its retail premises, located in Barnsley’s flagship retail and leisure offer, The Glass Works. However, with demand rising and space at a premium, Janine and Charlie recognised that additional space was needed to expand its wholesale operations and service its growing number of online orders, fuelled by the company’s popularity on social media.

Having successfully identified a larger site in Wombwell, the duo worked with James and the Enterprising Barnsley team to bring their plans to fruition, with the match-funded Business Productivity Grant used to purchase the essential kitchen equipment needed to develop their new state-of-the-art production facility.

Since securing the keys to their new premises, Charlie and Janine have invested more than £200,000 of their own money in transforming the former warehouse, with the grant provided by Enterprising Barnsley allowing the duo to invest in additional equipment, helping to improve and streamline their production processes.

The hard work paid off, and as a result of the investment, Dolly’s successfully secured a number of new wholesale orders, with their range of brownies, blondies and stuffed cookies being stocked in twelve shopping centres across the UK.

With its baked goods production successfully relocated, the additional space within its shop has allowed Janine and Charlie to turn their attention to their gelato business. Working alongside Enterprising Barnsley, a second Business Productivity Grant was secured, allowing the company to upgrade its gelato-making equipment, speeding up the manufacturing process and more than doubling its capacity, and allowing the business to expand its wholesale orders for its gelato range.

Dolly’s Desserts, which is named after Janine and Charlie’s beloved pet Cockapoo, began trading in The Glass Works in 2019. However, just a year later, the Covid-19 pandemic forced Dolly’s to temporarily close its doors. Undeterred, the duo decided to spend time building a presence on a recently launched social platform – TikTok.

The channel proved to be an immediate success, and as restrictions eased, they used the platform to offer behind-the-scenes footage from the business, quickly gaining a huge online audience and inspiring a special range that could be sold online.

Today, the company has amassed more than 1.7 million followers, with many people heading to Barnsley from across the UK to sample their wares. Dolly’s Desserts’ huge online popularity inspired the duo to launch a TikTok shop, selling their signature sauces, bake-it-yourself kits and bake boxes.  

Janine Davies, Co-founder, Dolly’s Desserts, said:

“It’s incredible to think just how far the business has come since we first opened our doors. Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined that we would grow from just the two of us into a team of 40, with the products first developed in my kitchen at home now being enjoyed not only by our growing customer base but also through the incredible social media audience we have developed. It’s amazing to think of the distances our customers travel to visit us. We recently welcomed a customer from Australia who had been following us online, while people routinely travel from across the UK to experience Dolly’s Desserts for themselves.

“Enterprising Barnsley has always been there when we’ve needed them, from taking the decision to open our business in the first place to helping us develop a solid business strategy that has underpinned our growth plans. The two grants we’ve received have helped us to invest in vital new equipment, which has proved to be invaluable in creating the additional capacity we needed to grow and scale, particularly in the wholesale market.

“Of course, we’ve no intention of resting on our laurels just yet. We’re currently refurbishing our kiosk in Market Kitchen, the food hall within Barnsley Market – where the business first began; we’re also constantly developing new ideas and exploring new flavours to add to our range.”

James Lennon, Key Account Manager, Enterprising Barnsley, said:

“The success that Janine and Charlie have enjoyed with Dolly’s Desserts is a testament to their sheer hard work, determination to succeed and ability to spot new opportunities and capitalise on them.

“I’ve worked closely with Janine and Charlie over the past six years, initially helping them to develop their business plans before a single gelato had been made, supporting them through the challenges posed during the Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent growth and success they have achieved.

“During one of our regular meetings, they discussed their plans to create a separate production kitchen, and I realised they might be eligible to receive help through the Business Productivity Grant scheme. The funds they received have not only helped the company to invest in the additional equipment needed to scale their business, but with the additional investment in a new gelato machine, it is already opening up new opportunities for them to secure new wholesale orders. I’m looking forward to seeing what the next stage of their growth journey will bring.”

Councillor Luke Wheat, Barnsley Council’s Cabinet spokesperson for Regeneration and Assets, said:

“Dolly's Desserts is one of Barnsley's great entrepreneurial success stories. From starting here in the borough to creating 40 jobs, and supplying customers across the UK, they are showing what can be achieved when a great business idea is matched with the right support and investment.

“By helping thriving local companies such as Dolly’s to expand beyond their existing sites in The Glass Works and Market Kitchen, they can reach new markets, create secure employment opportunities and help us to build a stronger, more inclusive economy that benefits people and communities across Barnsley.

“We're proud that our award-winning Enterprising Barnsley team have been able to continue their support of Dolly's Desserts in this next phase of growth and innovation for the business. We wish them continued success moving forward.”

Enterprising Barnsley is the business support arm of Barnsley Council. The free-to-access service provides support to businesses of all sizes across Barnsley and South Yorkshire, helping them to start, grow, innovate and invest.

For more information, visit: https://enterprisingbarnsley.co.uk/