A BOSS who helped save dozens of bakery jobs is to quit his job.

John Cummings was one of the founders of Inter Link foods, which was set up to buy the ailing Crossfield Foods bakery in Blackburn five years ago.

Since then the fortunes of the firm have been turned round and the company, which makes cakes such as cherry bakewells and apple pies for major supermarket chains, has floated on the stock market.

Mr Cummings, joint managing director of the firm, will leave in September to take up a senior position at Asda Food Group. Alwin Thompson has now been appointed chief executive at the firm.

The news comes just a week after an investment guru bought a £300,000 slice of the Blackburn cake firm.

Jim Slater, well known for picking companies that have special growth potential, bought 253,300 shares in Inter Link Foods.

Inter Link's shares have increased in recent weeks to more than 130p - the highest price since the firm floated last year and valuing the firm at more than £5.7 million.

Inter Link foods was set up five years ago to buy out struggling Crossfield Foods in the town five years ago.

At the time it was making losses of £350,000 on £1.4 million turnover and the jobs of its workforce were at risk.

Today the business employs 200 people and makes a profit of £340,000 on a £5 million turnover.

Its next profit figures are due out on July 1.

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