A successful family-run bakers is opening its 12th branch in a town's shopping mall on Friday.

With soaring energy bills and a hike in the cost of flour, many of the UK'S independent bakeries are struggling to earn a crust.

But Boyce's, which has 11 businesses across Kent and is about to open its largest shop in Rainham Shopping Precinct, is bucking the trend.

The company has gone from strength to strength since Keith and Karen Boyce set up shop 25 years ago.

Their latest venture is due to open seven days a week in the empty Shoe Zone premises, offering about 20 new jobs.

The couple – along with their son Tommy Boyce, their daughter Stacey Canty and her husband Nic – are looking forward to their latest venture. Tommy's wife Gemma also helps out with training new staff and shop launches, including the Rainham outlet.

Tommy puts their success over the years largely down to luck and keeping up with customers' needs.

The dad-of-two said: "You can't beat a loaf of bread bought from a bakery but we have moved on from the traditional market. Our hot savouries do well and we are popular with builders who come in for breakfasts.

"The older customers like more traditional cakes, like bread pudding, and we pick up business with mums on the school run.

"We have managed to keep up with demand despite the increase in prices."

The family started off doing 16 markets across the county before focusing on shops.

Tommy said: "We have always wanted to go into Rainham and missed our chance when Greggs moved in. It's special to us because for 10 years we used to do the market outside the shoe shop.

"I think it helps working as a family – we all are in the same boat. I have two young children to feed. It's a case of all pulling together."

So where next for the Boyce family? Tommy said: "We opened our first one at Leysdown and I'd love to open another one on the island and perhaps also in West Malling."

They already have 11 branches across the county – Leysdown, Sheerness, Brambledown, Edenbridge, Allington, Gillingham, Parkwood (Rainham), Canterbury, Herne Bay, Hoo and Snodland.

The business, known for its freshly-baked bread and tempting home-made cakes, began on the Isle of Sheppey when Keith and Karen moved from London.

The Rainham branch will open 7.30am-4.30pm Monday to Saturday, and 7.30am-3.30pm on Sunday.

From ingredients prices to electricity rates, virtually every bakery's expenses have dramatically increased this year. As a result, most of the thousands of independent UK bakeries might have to go into debt to survive the winter without putting their prices through the roof.

Many have seen their bills increasing by 300% in 2020 – an increase of £1,500 to £3,500 for vital usage such as heating ovens.

A number of factors have been blamed for the worldwide cost increase in flour. These include a disruption in the supply chain caused by the Covid pandemic, transport and labour costs, while the war in Ukraine has led to a spike in global wheat prices.

Tabitha Booth gave up her job as a teacher to start up her own sourdough bakery last July.

The 33-year-old has found the last year "challenging" but has still managed to almost double her number of customers.

She said: "I have not got as quick off the mark as I would have liked to have done. I would have hoped to have been able to take on another baker, a cleaner and delivery driver and even a shop.

"That has all been put on hold, but I am optimistic for next year."

Tabitha started her company Crackle Bread Bakery on Medway City Estate with the help of her close-knit family and boyfriend.

She said: "My family still pitch in. They are very supportive."

Her entrepreneurial skills are self-evident, using spent grain to make the fashionable bespoke bread which took off during lockdown.

The former business studies university student puts her qualification to use by keeping on top of the paperwork and accounts.

Tabitha has had no formal training and mastered her culinary expertise in the kitchen of the family home in Higham from a young age.

She now closes on Monday and Tuesday to keep up with her paperwork and from Wednesday to Sunday she bakes and delivers across Medway.

Among the restaurants Tabitha supplies are The Pump Room at Chatham Maritime and The Cheese Room Botanicals in Rochester High Street.