A family-run bakery empire is on the rise after the firm opened its 12th branch in the county.

Boyce's Bakery has made it an even dozen with today's opening at the Rainham shopping precinct where it has moved into what used to be Shoe Zone.

The company has gone from strength to strength since Keith and Karen Boyce set it up 25 years ago on the Isle of Sheppey.

Speaking at the opening, Keith and Karen's son Tommy, said: "It's been very busy with a lot of people coming in to see what's going on.

"We've had builders, a lot of older people, a lot of younger people coming and it's been a good mix, very welcoming and had some nice chats.

"We've also seen a lot of old faces from when we used to run a market stall just outside of here in the precinct."

But the new venture doesn't come without its risks.

The baking industry has seen energy bills increasing by 300% for vital usage such as heating ovens.

Along with this, the price of flour has risen due to a mix of Covid, transport and labour costs and the war in Ukraine which led to a spike in global wheat prices.

But Tommy says it's customers who have helped the company cope with the difficult time.

"We are lucky that we are busy," he said. "We're lucky customers use us pretty much every day – builders at work, mums just after the school runs, the elderly pop in and have something to eat, so we're lucky our customers want to use us.

"Moving forward it is still unknown, with [the cost of] electric flour and everything rising, but at the moment we are lucky we have a good turnover.

"We have the foundations behind us so we are able to risk it a bit and every time we've opened a new shop recently it's been met with good responses."

The store opened at 7am to much excitement, with a breakfast bap the first item sold.

Terri Munn, Katrina Hales and Hannah Wood had been anticipating the bakery's opening for a while.

They said: "We've been counting the days.

"We arranged online that we were going to come down as soon as it opened and have tea and cake so that's why we're here."

Katrina continued: "We've had cake, we've had savoury, I had a milkshake and we'll be getting takeaway for the rest of the family – we'll probably go up for thirds in a minute.

"I usually go to the Parkwood one up the other end of Rainham, so I've been hassling them to ask when this one will be open."

Husband and wife Albert and Jude Kendall, who were tucking into their breakfasts, said: "It's been absolutely lovely, we had quick service and it's very friendly.

"We had things we couldn't initially see on the menu but we asked them and it wasn't a problem.

"There's plenty of room to sit down where you can come in with friends or if you have children with buggies.

"A plus for the area I think.

"The food is lovely, they have nice bread and it's nice to see a queue outside the door."

Tommy added: "Every new shop we acquire it feels there is growing hype about it as I think we're getting a bit more of a name now in Kent

"It does take time to hit home to fully understand what we're achieving but it's the response from the customers you like.

"We just thank everyone for coming down today and we hope we do well for the precinct."