A BOOMING dessert business sold out in record time when it opened a new store in Southend - and bosses have now set their sites on taking it to New York.

Cookies and Cones launched its new shop on Southend High Street last week, and sold out of all bakery items by midday, a first for the business.

Owner Matt Jarvis moved the store the top of the High Street, opposite Greggs.

The new shop boasts a ground floor for customers, and a first floor for super-fans to host their very own Cookies and Cones party.

Now Mr Jarvis, 31, has revealed plans to open up a store in New York by the end of the year.

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He said: “We’ve got a couple of stores in the pipeline, one in south Essex which we can’t reveal yet, and one in New York, which we hope to open by the end of the year. To be expanding in the current climate is amazing.”

It was really good, phenomenal actually. We had queues most of the day.”

Cookies and Cones opened initially in Leigh three years ago, flourished through lockdown and opened branches in Rayleigh and Wickford.

The team at Cookies and Cones have bagged a spot in the final of the British Takeaway Awards. Mr Jarvis added: “It’s really positive.”