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In 1816 Francis Hopper had an oven built for his son, also named Francis. Francis Hopper Jnr had been apprenticed as a baker and was showing great promise, now he was a Master Baker. He enjoyed considerable success for many years but ran into difficulty as his health suffered later in life. His son Edward Hopper took over the business in 1854.
Edward Hopper built a successful and expanding business. Edward Hopper finally retired in 1895. Five of Edwards sons turned their hands to a baking career. Edward's fifth son, also named Edward, started his own bakery in Palace Street Canterbury, again with great success and later in Folkestone where he was joined by his own son Horace.
In 1973 David Hopper great grandson of Francis Hopper Jnr decided had sufficient experience and was sufficiently bored by working for other people so he decided to set up business on his own using the vast knowledge and experience he had gained in Australia. David borrowed £500 from his father and the rest is history, David became the 5th generation of Master Bakers in the Hopper family.
For 6 months David worked single handed turning over just £3,500 in the first year. Over the next 32 years he expanded the business to achieve a turnover of £14 million, and making nearly 50 million mince pies and a staff of over 200. Hoppers were the first to make 'ready-to-fill' pastry shells in the UK and the first to make commercial flapjack. Bakewell and Treacle Tarts, Mince and Fruit Pies adding to the range as the business grew.
With the help of his staff, Peter Whittaker and David's two sons and brother, Hoppers had built a brand reputation based on the highest quality possible and service to their customers reputedly second to none. In 2007 Hoppers joined the McCambridge family.