A NEW high street store is the cherry on the cake for the dynamic duo behind a rapidly expanding business empire.

Last Wednesday a new Pudding Parlour boutique cake shop was opened on Hexham’s Fore Street.

It joins a growing portfolio of Pudding Parlour premises, with one in Morpeth, a concession in Newcastle’s Fenwicks store and a large bakery unit in Prudhoe.

Brother and sister team, Greg Small and Kristy Giblin, whipped up the bakery business from Kristy’s Prudhoe kitchen.

Two years ago the siblings moved into premises on Hexham’s Haugh Lane, running the business between them with help from their family.

Now the Pudding Parlour employs 15 staff members between its various locations across the district.

Kristy said: “When we launched we wanted to test the market and by taking premises at Haugh Lane we could do that with low overheads.

“It was a risk but it allowed us to get ourselves known and build a brand.

“And it seems to have taken off.

“But for all that our Hexham store was successful it didn’t have the aesthetic look of our brand.

“So when the premises became available in Hexham we thought it would be a great spot with a lot of passing trade.”

Kristy and Greg divide their time between their stores and the ever growing trade market, run from the Prudhoe bakery unit.

Over the last year the Pudding Parlour has seen huge growth in their trade business which has quadrupled.

But they are also keen to maintain a strong high street presence.

Kristy said: “By having a high street premises in Hexham it gives us that visibility to the public.

“The opening day was amazing. We sold out and it was the busiest day we’ve ever had since our launch.

“There were hundreds and hundreds of people through the door. We had a lot of new customers as well as regulars.

“And it was lovely that local businesses came in to show their support as well.”

Not ones to rest on their laurels, Kristy and Greg now have their sights set on Tyneside, hoping to open a store in Newcastle or Gateshead in the next 12 months.