Louise Ellis is the co-founder of Cornwall Gateway CIC with the aim of helping the Cornish Agri-Food & Drink industry to grow. They are working on a project that will bring the necessary industrial resources needed to help producers develop their products and process, and produce their food and drinks in Cornwall. With a deep-rooted passion for Cornish cuisine and a commitment to innovation, she is driven to make a lasting impact on the local community. I’ve been dying to catch up with her since I met her at the Taste of the West awards last year. We had a great time chatting and I learnt a whole lot about Cornwall in the process!
What does your Monday morning routine look like?
My colleagues and myself like to set the scene for the week. On a Friday afternoon we have a kind of ‘mop-up-session’ to see what we have achieved over the week and what our objectives are for the next week. When I get in on Monday I reopen those notes and look at structuring my week around those objectives. We’re very much in our infancy, so it is really important that we are quite focused on our outcomes and getting the organization where it needs to be.
If you could time travel and have dinner with any historical figure, who would it be and why?
This is quite sentimental, but my whole inner purpose is driven by my heritage, my family. My mother’s side of the family were called Eddies and they’re one of the oldest farming names in Cornwall and can be traced back to Bosigran Farm in Zennor. The hedgerows around the farm have been dated to 4000 years ago. I researched my ancestry and would love to meet some of them! They give me my purpose to make a difference in food & farming in Cornwall.
What are you currently reading?
I haven’t started it yet, but I’ve just ordered it. It’s the new Paul McKenna book called Success for Life – It’s about manifesting success in your life. A recipe, as it were, for success, learned behaviour etc.
Beach vacation, mountain getaway or city escape?
Ok, I love them ALL! To be fair, I’m a big traveller but Cornwall is at my heart and I’ll never change. I like a good ramble, but I’m a real sunshine seeker so prefer not to do it in the rain and sleet.
What’s your go-to karaoke song?
ABBA – Dancing Queen. I absolutely love it.
What is your most memorable foody childhood memory?
My father was a butcher, so my earliest memories as far as food goes, really is linked to home. A good Sunday roast with family. The butcher shop was part of our home – an extension and I was the eldest of five children. Sunday was the one day of the week my dad didn’t work and the family came together. As the eldest I often took it upon myself to help my mom with preparing the roast. That’s really where my love for food and drink started – linked to the family business and cooking for my siblings!
Name one thing on your bucket list that you still need to do.
Going to Australia! I have a cousin and a best friend from school there that I would love to go and visit.
What’s your favourite way to unwind and de-stress?
I am quite focused and dedicated, so feel I can be a bit one-dimensional in my day-to-day life, so for me, being able to really kick off my shoes, let my hair down, put on some great music and have a bit of a kitchen disco helps me to destress after a long week.
Share a quote or motto that inspires you or by which you live your life.
Cliché, but “We are only here once”. I just want to make a difference and you only get one chance at life – make it count! I’m not driven by money or wealth. Having a bigger purpose drives me.
If you were a superhero, what would your superpower be and why?
To spread wealth and happiness. It’s difficult times for our country. I see a lot of poverty – food banks, families struggling. If I could spread a little bit more wealth, magic and happiness that would be great.
What job is the favourite you’ve ever had and what made it so special?
What I do now. When I was at 15, I was in a position to set up a project called Experts Grow that supported food and drink businesses in Cornwall and I really loved it. When Covid-19 happened that journey ended very suddenly. I had a number of jobs over the years but with this one being taken away so unexpectedly it really reinforced to me that that is what I need to do. That was my purpose and I was inspired to make it happen again.
Morning person or night owl?
Morning person. Especially in winter when I find myself hibernating and in bed watching TV and winding down by 8pm!
What’s your favourite season and what do you love about it?
I don’t think this will come as a surprise, but sunshine and summer. I just love it. Getting out around the Cornish Coastline when the weather is beautiful. I would recommend Porthcurno Beach by Minack Theatre.
What’s the most adventurous thing you’ve ever done?
I’m not very adventurous! I suppose something that pushed my comfort zones a little was when I toured America and had to do 9 internal flights… I was out there for three weeks and absolutely loved it, but that’s not really that adventurous, is it?
What music are you currently listening to?
I’ve got quite an eclectic taste in music, and it really depends on my moods, but I quite like a bit of Lewis Capaldi at the moment.
I can’t wait to catch up with Louise again and wish to congratulate her and the team at Cornwall Gateway on their Your Partnerships triple nomination for CIC of the Year, Sustainability Award, and Most Helpful Business!
Anyone wishing to contact her can connect on her LinkedIn Profile.
