Pipp & Co, an artisan doughnut manufacturer based in Swindon, is branching out into café ownership.
This expansion follows a remarkable 700 percent increase in production and turnover over the past decade. The company, which now produces over 20,000 doughnuts weekly, has opened its first café in Bristol’s College Green, transforming an empty commercial unit into a vibrant new space. This café is the first in a planned series, with more locations on the horizon.
Mario and Betina Evangelista acquired Pipp & Co in 2015, transforming it from a small bakery focused on farmers’ markets into a thriving £1.3 million turnover business with 30 employees. The new Bristol café adds a further eight jobs.
All doughnuts are made from scratch at the Swindon factory, using high-quality raw ingredients, locally sourced where possible, with no artificial colourings, flavourings, or additives. These freshly baked doughnuts are meant to be enjoyed on the day of purchase.
“It was a very different business when we bought it,” said Betina. “It had been set up by two patisserie chefs, who were mainly selling at farmers’ markets. We still sell our doughnuts at these markets and have developed a loyal customer base. There’s a special atmosphere at the markets, and we love visiting them. However, we’ve expanded and now have numerous stockists, including farm shops and cafes. A significant part of our business involves selling to corporates through regular popup shops and stocking staff restaurants. We’ve always stayed true to the original founders’ passion for quality products made from quality ingredients, with nothing artificial.”
Mario shared their journey: “Betina and I were involved in the food business when we were younger, running a small restaurant for a couple of years. Life took us on a different path, but our passion for good food remained. When our children got older, we looked for an opportunity and stumbled upon this doughnut business at a farmers’ market with a massive queue. We had to try those doughnuts, bought the business, and the rest is history.”
Since taking over, Pipp & Co has grown from producing 2,500 doughnuts a week in 2015 to 20,000 weekly, adding new items like cinnamon rolls and cruffins (a croissant-muffin hybrid) to their range. In 2022, the business moved to larger premises in Swindon, enabling further expansion and new product lines with substantial investment in fittings and equipment.
The new Bristol café offers a variety of fresh food made by Pipp & Co, including savoury pastries and new sweet bakes. “If Bristol is successful, and we believe it will be, we have plans to open more cafes in other locations,” said Mario.
Additionally, Pipp & Co recently launched a coffee and doughnut van, which visits business and industrial parks and is available for corporate events, weddings, and sporting fixtures. Their products are stocked around Swindon and also as far aways as Reading Stroud and Bristol. For more information, visit Pipp & Co.
