AFTER 30 years as a family-run business Hoppers Farmhouse Bakery has been sold to one of the top three cake suppliers in the UK.

Inter Link Foods has acquired the company based in Sea Street, Herne Bay. The move will secure its future and name, according to managing director David Hopper, the fifth generation baker in his family.

"Our growth over the past 18 months has been really quite substantial," he said. "New markets have opened up for us on the strength of our reputation and we are highly respected in the supermarket sector.

"But demands are such now that we have outgrown our premises. Christmas was phenomenal. We sold 35.7 million mince pies. We have reached the stage when we are getting a gallon out of a pint pot. It couldn't go on."

Hoppers was unable to find alternative accommodation to expand in area. The nearest was at Sittingbourne and that would have incurred huge costs to start up again.

At 64, Mr Hopper did not relish that option. So when the opportunity with Inter Link came along he took it.

"I think it will be a very good partnership for us and will strengthen the Hopper brand and take development forward at a pace I am unable to do," he said.

He will remain with the business for another year as MD at the Sea Street operation -- where no job losses are predicted among the 110 employees -- and oversee new business that will go elsewhere within Inter Link's eight other outlets.

His two sons will remain with the company, so the family link continues.