A RISE in the popularity of baking is transpiring into a rise in sales for James Potter Yorkshire Free Range Eggs.

The Thirsk-based business, which was last year named Family Business of the Year at the Press Business Awards, has reported a 30 per cent increase in supermarket sales.

The rise in revenue comes as the Potter family plans to open a new packing centre, which is due to be in operation next year, creating five new jobs, subject to planning.

Director Adrian Potter said: "The sales are extremely heartening, and we must say that we’re very pleasantly surprised that sales have not only held during summer, when they tend to drop, but have grown considerably.

"These high numbers reflect an ever-growing desire among consumers to purchase higher welfare eggs from a trusted source.

"The current baking craze, driven largely by the Great British Bake-Off, is clearly having an impact, but people are also using eggs for restaurant-type dishes they can cook at home and as part of low-fat, balanced diets."

Producing 2.5 million eggs a week from 200,000 hens, James Potter Yorkshire Free Range Eggs has seen sales increase by 250 per cent over the past five years.