BAKERY supply company Bako Northern has announced expansion plans that will see it increase turnover by £8m to £30m during the next 12 months.

The Durham company, which supplies independent bakers with ingredients such as sugars, fats, dried fruits and pie fillings, is expanding further into Scotland and has bought a factory unit in Cumbernauld, near Glasgow, for £1m.

The site is expected to be fully operational by Tuesday, creating up to 16 jobs.

Bako Northern was established in 1961 and supplies 1,200 bakeries. The business, which employs 75 people in Durham, supplies a wide range of leading brand products, as well as a range of own-label goods.

John Mason, chairman, said: "Though our traditional market is the North-East, Yorkshire and the East Midlands of England, we cover quite a big area and have a fifth of our business in Scotland already.

"We believe we can add significantly to this by setting up a dedicated distribution centre in the country."

Torgersens, the Sunderland office of national accountants Hacker Young, advised the company on the expansion.

Partner Martin Johnson said: "Bako Northern is tremendously successful in the North-East and there is absolutely no reason why it cannot be equally so in Scotland."

Bako Northern operates as a co-operative with four similar operations to form one of the largest buying groups for the UK bakery sector.