Insomnia Cookies makes UK debut with double Manchester opening

The US chain, which first announced plans to launch in the UK back in February​​ and majors in serving warm cookies alongside cups of cold milk for dunking, opened on Cross Street next to the Royal Exchange in Manchester city centre yesterday (29 August).

A second outpost launched simultaneously at University Green on Oxford Road.

As with the brand’s US outlets, both sites in Manchester will operate until the early hours, with the Cross Street store staying open until between 1am and 3am daily.

“It’s a massive milestone for us to be opening our first bakeries in the UK,” says Ben Lacey, managing director at Insomnia Cookies UK.

“Manchester is a city that knows what it means to be up all night, so it was a no-brainer for us as our first location.

“Late-night dessert shops are big here, but there’s long been a gap in the market for warm, fresh cookies hand-delivered to your doorstep all day and late into the night.”

Lacey previously spent more than four years at Deliveroo where he was regional director overseeing growth in the north of the UK as well as the south on an interim basis, and was appointed to lead Insomnia Cookies’ UK rollout back in March​​.

Founded in 2003, Insomnia Cookies currently has 240 shops across the US.

Krispy Kreme, which owns the brand, previously said that Insomnia Cookies has whitespace for more than 4,000 locations globally.

As well as the UK, it will also launch in Canada within the next month.