A WELL-established and fast-growing commercial catering equipment company has moved from its base in the Yorkshire Dales to Kendal.

JJ Martin was a family run business that had been established and trading from Sedbergh for well over 100 years.

More recently the company, owned by the Wearmouth family, was operating as a high street domestic goods retailer selling white goods to the local community, and also had a commercial microwave servicing arm covering the North West.

In 2009 it joined forces with Graham Sowerby, owner of Kendal-based web design company, SCK Web Works Ltd.

It then saw a massive growth to the point where it is expected to break the £10m turnover barrier in 2015 and it was felt necessary to make a move.

Mr Sowerby and Phil Wearmouth, managing director and one of of the five family members involved, were the brains behind the online venture back in 2009.

This year they were influential in finding a base for the new firm - Catering Appliance Superstore – on Murley Moss Business Park.

"In early 2015 Phil and I agreed that with the growth of the business we would need to identify and move into more suitable offices to allow for further growth of the business," said Mr Sowerby.

"We knew what we wanted in terms of size and location, and one evening Phil and I were chatting and I told him about an old office where I started my web design career back in 2004 and how it would be the perfect base for growth.

"The following day I thought I would just see if there were any properties on that business park that may be for sale and would you believe it, that exact building was up for sale.

"We couldn’t believe it, and the company set its sights on securing the property and decided to buy the unit."

The firm began operating from the new office after the Bank Holiday weekend and is now looking to employ more staff members from the Kendal area using a mixture of apprentices and experienced individuals, said Mr Sowerby.