RISING to the top . . . that's a thriving Bury bakery machinery company which has been bought for a staggering £12.8 million.

Millers, which has an enviable turnover of £8 million, has been bought over by the Birmingham-based Aga Foodservice Group.

The privately-owned company, which has its headquarters in Chesham Fold Road , employs a 120-strong staff and is currently in the process of expanding its operations in the town.

Millers Bakery Machinery (Bury) is involved in the manufacture, installation, maintenance and servicing of ovens and other equipment for supermarkets and independent bakeries all over the country.

And the acquisition will allow bosses to rapidly implement further expansion ahead of schedule, thanks to the substantial investment.

Managing director Mr Brent Miller (39), whose father James launched the business in 1967, said: "I joined the company straight from school 23 years ago when it was a very small business." Today Millers boasts an operating profit of £1.3 million and a fleet of 75 vehicles.

The company is taking on an extra 60 staff for a planned new £1.3 million repair centre. It is being established on ground at Hoyle Park and should be operational in October.

Although the plan to use some of the park land did cause some local controversy, Mr Miller stressed: "The fact is that we want to stay in Bury. But it is difficult to get land in the town.

"We've taken on 40 of the 60 people already. We're taking on more and more staff every single day and we're bursting at the seams."

On the massive growth of the company, he went on: "We've built the business up because of our attention to detail, forward-thinking and our ideas.

"As far as our designs for new bakery equipment is concerned, we've put ovens into a different league. We've thrown the rule book away."

Now with Aga's significant clout behind the company, Mr Miller is confident his firm can continue to move forward, but at a much faster rate.

"When Aga approached me, it was a shock. I had an intention of doing things over the next 10 years.

"But with their facilities, resources , professional skills and investment, we can now do in 18 months what would have otherwise taken a decade.

Despite the acquisition, Millers will continue to trade under its existing name and retain its corporate independence.

"In all fairness, nothing will change," stressed the managing director. "It all stops with me. Aga is a bigger company with different ways of doing things.

"But up to now, they've left us to it to move forward."

Aga Foodservice Group, whose combined turnover in 2000 was £205 million, is the UK's leading cooking and food preparation equipment supplier for the commercial and domestic markets.