Linda Horton was struggled with unemployment 20 years ago. Now she runs the oldest existing rum cake business in the Island community.

Over twenty years ago Mrs. Horton found herself with aspirations, faith and talent ? but no job.

?Unemployment is the best inspiration anyone can have. Sometimes when your back is against the wall you are forced to be creative,? she said.

Mrs. Horton understood there were no gormet foods on the market in Bermuda, so she decided to take her love and interest in foods and began researching on rum cakes.

?I thought it would be a wonderful idea to establish a taste of Bermuda,? she said.

She worked on her recipe for two years and through trial and error her recipe was perfected. The key ingredient any of her customers can attest to, however, cannot be bought in stores. Instead it is the dedication and heart that lives inside every bite.

When asked about her secret to success Mrs. Horton said: ?I think the fact that I dedicate myself to customer service and personal service. The fact that I always go the extra mile.?

In fact Mrs. Horton toldabout successfully getting a family in Barbuda rum cakes in time for Christmas despite the request being sent only days prior.

One of the reasons that Mrs. Horton was driven to make her business a success was the fact her family name was on the box.

?Every time you put your name out there, your family?s name, there are risks. You have to make sure that you don?t fail. I had more than a feeling. I knew it was gonna be successful from the start.?

Over the past 20 years the business has grown ?dynamically? Mrs. Horton said. Nonetheless, the road to success was not always easy.

Mrs. Horton noted the most difficult challenge over the years was getting locals to taste her rum cakes. She knew once they had tried it they would love it, so in the beginning stages of her business she actually walked around putting the cake into people?s mouths.

?(Locals) thought it was something for tourist,? she said, ?They became my biggest customers and my best means of advertising.?

Once tourist and locals became familiar with the product, guidebooks became to publish them and people began to spread the word, the business began to take off.

Over the past few years Horton?s rum cakes have faced Island-wide competition, however, the factor that keeps this home-run business afloat is undeniably Horton?s original Bermuda rum cakes remain ?light, moist and incredibly delicious?.