A food village, which is home to some of the country’s top artisan producers, was the big winner at the first-ever Great Cornish Food Awards last night (Thursday February 6, 2025).
In a ceremony held at Nancarrow Farm near Truro, more than 60 leading names and rising stars in the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly food, drink, farming and fishing sectors were contenders for the all-new range of awards
Top prize on the night, Winner of Winners, sponsored by Bishop Fleming, went to Norton Barton Artisan Food Village, based outside Bude, in recognition of its stand-out qualities as a beacon of success.
Norton Barton is home to Cornish Charcuterie, Popti, The Cornish Distilling Company, and Whalesborough Cheese, producers working together to improve efficiency, reduce environmental impact, support the artisan food movement and improve the sustainability of companies involved.
Norton Barton also won the In It Together Award, which championed a food, drink, fishing or farming organisation that demonstrated the benefits generated by a collaborative approach to business.
Richard Harding, owner of Norton Barton Artisan Food Village, said: “The food and drink industry in Cornwall is brilliant and has so much scope for growth in the future, both nationally and internationally. Thank you to everyone who has helped us on our journey so far.”
Finalists in the In It Together Award won by Norton Barton were Loveday Distilling, Treway Farm and The Cornish Larder.
Three of the awards, Fishing for the Future, Farming for the Future and Food for the Future, all reflected the positive roles the industries play in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly and in a changing world and climate.
Winner of the Fishing for the Future Award was Island Fish Ltd, based on Bryher, Isles of Scilly, a family business consisting of three generations working together to realise a collective ambition – to breathe new life into a declining Scillonian industry. Finalists were Beryl M and Cornish Sardine Management Association.
Treway Farm, based at Coombe, near St Austell, won the Farming for the Future Award. The farm runs an entirely pasture-fed system for 250 shorthorn cattle and is ‘Pasture For Life’ certified. It also produces free-range bronze turkeys and free-range geese for Christmas. Finalists were Riviera Produce, St Ewe Free Range Eggs and St Martin’s Vineyard.
The Food for the Future Award was won by Origin Coffee Roasters, based in Porthleven, which has eight coffee shops across the UK with an ever-evolving product range. Origin sits proudly as one of the UK’s longest-standing speciality roasters and was awarded Europe’s Best Speciality Coffee Roaster 2023 and 2024. Finalists were Soul Farm and St Martin’s Vineyard.
Tregothnan, near Truro, won the Raising the Bar Award, which recognised an organisation that is raising its business to a new level and setting a higher bar to inspire others. Tregothnan pioneered tea growing and processing in the UK and is now Europe’s largest tea garden. More than 29 miles of tea are now in production and the capacity of the 150-acre microclimate will be in full production around 2030. Finalists were Rodda’s, Loveday Distilling and Community Roots.
Newquay Orchard was the winner of the Growing People Award, which recognised an organisation that could demonstrate the positive impact a people-first philosophy can have on business success and reputation. Built by the community, for the community, Newquay Orchard is an urban green space. It provides volunteering and education programmes for adults and young people, a café and teaching kitchen, weekly veg bag scheme, health and wellbeing drop-ins, and a host of family-friendly events. Finalists were Proper Cornish and St Ewe Free Range Eggs.
The Making A Mark Award celebrated an organisation that has helped put the food and drink of Cornwall and/or the Isles of Scilly firmly on the map and was won by Lyhner Dairies. Based on the outskirts of Ponsanooth, Lynher Dairies are the sole producers of the iconic nettle-wrapped Cornish Yarg, Wild Garlic Yarg, Cornish Kern – Supreme Champion at the World Cheese Awards – and the local’s favourite, Stithians. Finalists were Treway Farm, Proper Cornish and Prima Bakeries.
The evening was hosted by Daphne Skinnard of BBC Radio Cornwall and the special guest was Jill Stein OBE.
Awards organisers Great Cornish Food said the high number of entries reflected the quality and innovation of standard bearers right across the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly food, drink, farming and fishing sectors.
Ruth Huxley, managing director of the Great Cornish Food Store and founder of industry body Cornwall Food & Drink, said: “Huge congratulations to Norton Barton and all the other award winners and finalists in what was an incredibly strong field. We designed the awards to shine the spotlight on food and drink champions from the Tamar to the Isles of Scilly and the brilliant response, ranging from small businesses of one or two people to major companies employing hundreds, was massively heartening.”
Cllr Louis Gardner, portfolio holder for economy at Cornwall Council, said: “I’m glad that we could support these awards through the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Good Growth Programme. The winners and nominees are a testament to the strength of our agri-food industry and by investing in the sector, we not only support local businesses but also promote job creation, enhance food security, safeguard the environment, and contribute to the resilience of our region’s economy.”
The Great Cornish Food Awards is part of Great Cornish Food, which received £554,799 through the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Good Growth Programme which is managed by Cornwall Council and funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
For more information on Great Cornish Food go to www.cornwallfoodanddrink.co.uk and www.greatcornishfood.co.uk.
(Main image: Ruth Huxley (centre) of Great Cornish Food on stage with winners of the first-ever Great Cornish Foods Awards. Photos’ credit: Toby Weller/Great Cornish Food.).
