A fruitcake from 1941 has been sold to an online bidder in Arizona for $525.

The cake was made 70 years ago by the Kroger Co., but was returned unopened to one of the company’s stores in 1971.

E.F. Helbing, who originally purchased the fruitcake, returned it to the store with the following letter: “This fruitcake was one of six purchased by the undersigned during Christmas Week of 1941. During its 30 years of life the cake has travelled thousands of miles and has been subjected to all types of climatic conditions and shocks. We are moving again and wish to return the cake back to its makers - THE KROGER COMPANY.”

The store manager took the cake home and stored it there until just recently when his son found it whilst clearing out the house. He gave it to the owner of the Elite Estate Group, Larry Chaney.

The Group then decided to auction the fruitcake off on its website, sparking interest from across the globe, as far away as Britain, Australia and Japan.

Even once the auction ended, bidders continued to submit new bids to the company to the value of more than $1,000.

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In total 32 bids were made for the rum-filled, vacuum packed fruitcake, which allegedly has been preserved through its 70 years.

The money raised will be used for the homeless in the region.