Deep North

About Deep North

Deep North Group Ltd operates as an independent food and beverage company in the North East of England, specializing in artisan doughnuts and specialty coffee. The company was established by schoolfriends Phil King and Tom Clark, who leveraged their diverse professional backgrounds to launch the venture. King previously worked on the commercial side of professional football, while Clark, after training as a chef, served for 20 years in the Navy.

The business is structured around a direct-to-consumer retail model, with several physical locations including shops in Newcastle, Tynemouth, and Sunderland. Its revenue streams are derived from in-store sales, pre-orders for collection, and a growing events and wholesale operation that caters to weddings and corporate functions. The core of Deep North's market proposition is its commitment to quality and freshness; the company operates as a scratch bakery, producing all components of its doughnuts—from the dough and jams to fillings and glazes—in-house on a daily basis. This production process emphasizes the use of local and seasonal ingredients.

In addition to its food offerings, the company places a strong emphasis on its coffee program, utilizing high-end La Marzocco espresso machines and partnering with specialty supplier Allpress Espresso for its beans. In early 2024, Deep North secured a five-figure investment from the North East Small Loan Fund, which has been earmarked for strategic expansion. This capital is intended to facilitate the opening of additional outlets over the next two years and to increase production capacity, with plans to grow its workforce significantly to support this scaling phase.