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A Leicester dessert parlour has been crowned the winner of an award which celebrates the "very best" in the business. The team at Fluffy Fluffy, known for its pancakes among other sweet treats, in Granby Street, are "incredibly proud" of their achievement.
Fluffy Fluffy, which has locations across the UK, opened its doors in Leicester in August 2023. The branch is family-owned, and is run by Tausif Kadri, 32, Sahar Mansouri, 38, Sameer Kadri, 29, and Zain Kadri, 26, with "strong family values" at the heart of "everything" that the team does for both staff and customers.
2025 has been a big year for the team as Fluffy Fluffy was awarded Dessert Parlour of the Year accolade at the Midlands Food Drink & Hospitality Awards. Ms Kadri told LeicestershireLive: "We were absolutely ecstatic when we heard the announcement. It was such a proud moment for all of us and really validated the effort we've put into growing Fluffy Fluffy.
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"We found out we were shortlisted in May. Last year, we made it to the final but didn't win, so this year we had high hopes. We were super excited to be shortlisted again, but it's always a shock to actually win. It really shows that when you put in the work as a family and with a team that feels like family, anything is possible."
Fluffy Fluffy were one of four to be shortlisted for the final. Ms Kadri said that being able to return to the awards and win this year, was "incredible". She added: "This is our first award, which makes it extra special, especially as we only launched two years ago.
"Last year, we made it to the final in our very first year, so to come back and win this year has been incredible. Our favourite part [of running Fluffy Fluffy] is meeting our customers, working alongside our amazing team, and seeing the joy on people's faces when the pancakes come fresh off the oven. That happiness is why we do what we do."
While the award win is a major highlight of 2025, this year has had some "tough" moments for the time too. Sameer said: "The biggest challenge has been dealing with unexpected setbacks. Earlier this year, a fire broke out at the back of the building, forcing us to close for a week over Easter.
"Not long after, a random passerby threw a glass bottle at our shop window, leaving us with unexpected costs while dealing with insurance. These moments are tough, but they've shown us how resilient we are as a family and as a business. We've learned to persevere through challenges and use them as motivation to improve and make Fluffy Fluffy even better for our customers."
Fluffy Fluffy, which also serves up croffles, french toast, and cheesecake, began life in 2018 in the Greater Toronto Area of Canada, with the launch of its signature soufflé pancakes. The first UK site appeared in October 2022 in Manchester, as the brand also has café's in Bristol, Leeds and London.
As well as desserts, it also serves up coffee and matcha, with different flavours like white chocolate, mango, raspberry, coconut, and more. Ms Kadri also teased that fans of Fluffy Fluffy can look forward to some new items joining the menu at the Leicester branch "soon".
She said: "We'd like to thank our amazing staff for their hard work and our loyal customers for continuously showing up and supporting us, you've made this journey possible. We're also excited to share that a brand-new menu will be launching soon, featuring Japanese sandos and Hong Kong French toast."
Fluffy Fluffy is open seven days a week, from 9am till 10pm on Mondays through to Thursdays. On Friday, it opens from 9am till 11pm, Saturdays, 10am till 11pm, and on a Sunday, 10am till 10pm.
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