Success is so sweet for a Shields business boss - and her thoughts are already on Christmas

Leanne Cummings’ shop called Elsie’s Kitchen has ‘taken off' just five weeks after its grand opening which had to be delayed because of the coronavirus.

And she is hoping for even bigger things because her thoughts are already turning to Christmas.

She’s taking orders for a range of festive desserts. They are already going great guns, especially the chocolate orange cheesecake which is a ‘big hit for Christmas Eve’ said Leanne.

Business in the Westoe Road premises - which she runs with husband Eric – could hardly be better, said Leanne.

"We are five weeks in and it is definitely better than expected.”

She first set up the business as a dessert delivery service two years ago, making cakes and puddings in her South Shields home, and soon expanded her range to include savoury products and dinners.

At the end of last year, she decided to give up her job as a housing officer, to concentrate full time on developing her catering business and open a new shop in Westoe Road.

She worked with regional fund management firm NEL Fund Managers to secure a £25,000 investment from the North East Small Loan Fund, supported By The European Regional Development Fund, to kit it out.

The official opening was due to take place in April, only for the coronavirus outbreak to force Leanne to put those plans on hold.

She finally opened five weeks ago as a coffee shop, and dessert shop and it offers everything from cold sandwiches to hot meals. Leanne said: “Originally, we were not booking out the tables but they were filling quickly. People are having to ring to book their slots.”

Now comes the next stage which is taking Christmas orders such as cheesecakes in raspberry and white chocolate, chocolate orange, peanut butter, and mint chocolate.

Leanne added: “We were expecting it to be quiet when we first opened but it is going surprisingly well.”

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