A successful North East business has just opened its latest venture - and a branch of their gelato empire is now serving up Mediterranean sweet treats to the residents of Darlington. 

Gelato Tutti - which already has shops in Barnard Castle and Richmond - has just opened a new location in Cockerton Village.

They'll be dishing out scoops of authentic and artisan gelato - a smooth Italian ice cream - as well as coffees and Italian sweet treats, like cannoli and chocolate truffles. 

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In addition to gelato, the gelateria offers lunch - such as Italian-inspired panini, flatbreads, sandwiches, salads and poke bowls, loaded with delicious regional ingredients such as Lombardy mozzarella, prosciutto di Parma, mortadella di Bologna, porchetta and dry cured bresaola, roasted peppers, sundried tomatoes, and artichokes. 

Gelato is made differently from ice cream, using more milk, less cream, and no egg yolks, and with a different churning process, less air is combined in the mixture, giving it a softer and creamier texture than the ice cream typically found in Britain. 

Gelato Tutti only opened their first branch in 2021 and has gone from strength to strength, broadening their offering away from ice cream to authentic Italian takeaway pasta and pizza.

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Opening their first shop in Barnard Castle in the summer of 2021, Gelato Tutti completely sold out of their offerings - and with flavours like pistachio profiterole, cherry bakewell tart, and Turkish delight, customers are expected to flock to the Darlington location too. 

Their second site, on Richmond's Caste Hill, opened in May 2022. 

Even before opening its Cockerton Village location, the company has had ties to Darlington - donating over 500 pizza cones to Kings Food Bank in the town.