Rishi has praised two women bakers who have come together to launch a new business.
Custom cake makers Amy Walker and Tanya Whitelaw first started working together during Covid-19 lockdowns and have now gone into business together opening a shop and bakery in Northallerton.
Cakery Corner, just off the High Street near the Town Hall, opened for business before Christmas.
Customers can order customised special occasion/celebration cakes the two cake makers are renowned for and also purchase cupcakes, traybakes and biscuits over the counter. Everything is made in the shop’s kitchen.
Mrs Whitelaw said she and her colleague had well-established home-based cake-making businesses before they began working together.
She said: “We would often recommend each other if one of us was very busy. We were confident of each other’s work and realised that getting together was the next logical step.”
Mrs Walker said the search for suitable premises in Northallerton led them to a former tattoo parlour which has been completely refurbished. They installed a new kitchen and equipped it with new ovens and refrigeration units thanks to a successful application for a £5,000 Covid-19 business grant.
She added: “The shop has made a big difference to our business – our turnover has increased by 75 per cent mainly through the counter sales. We are a little tucked away but lots of new customers have found us and they keep coming back!”
Rishi was among their customers in recent weeks when he called in to buy some cakes and traybakes.
He said: “Amy and Tanya produce some seriously good-looking and tasting cakes and with the shop they can now really showcase their impressive range.
“I was very pleased the business expansion has been assisted by them accessing a Government Covid recovery grant and I wish them well with Cakery Corner in the future.”
Cakery Corner is at Unit 1, 84b High Street, Northallerton DL7 8PP and is open from 9.30am to 4pm Tuesday to Friday and until 2pm on Saturday.