Investment through the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Good Growth Programme is helping to future-proof Cornwall’s agri-food sector, supporting the development of new food and drink products, strengthening local supply chains and contributing to long-term UK food security.
The Good Growth Programme, managed by Cornwall Council and funded by the Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund, is forecast to support 738 local enterprises to adopt new or improved products and services.
Among those are several high-profile Cornish food and drink businesses, who are bringing new products to market and expanding their manufacturing capability in Cornwall.
One of these is St Ewe Free Range Eggs, where Good Growth investment has enabled the development of a new production facility at the company’s headquarters in Grampound Road.
The facility will allow shell eggs to be processed into liquid egg products, improving food safety, increasing efficiency and reducing waste. Waste egg shells generated through the process will be repurposed as a soil enhancer, supporting a more circular approach within Cornwall’s agri-food system.
Origin Coffee is also being supported to develop a new line of speciality cold brew coffee and coffee capsules, responding to growing demand for high-quality, convenient coffee products. Investment is enabling Origin to bring production in-house and expand their operations by opening a Cold Brew Brewery near Stithians, supporting business growth while retaining value within Cornwall.
Rodda’s is investing in a brand-new, purpose-built cottage cheese facility, which is currently under construction alongside its existing site in Scorrier. The project represents a significant expansion of the company’s dairy manufacturing capability and will help meet growing UK demand for high-quality British dairy products, strengthening domestic food production. It will also create 10 skilled jobs.
Meanwhile, Buttermilk, the award-winning Bodmin-based confectionary producer, have completed a 420 square metre expansion of its production factory. This has doubled their capacity and created new jobs while meeting growing demand for plant-based products in the UK and overseas. The project also included energy-efficient measures such as solar panels and heat recovery, supporting a more sustainable approach to food manufacturing.
SC Dogs Distillery on St. Martin's, Isles of Scilly, also received a grant through the Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Growth Hub to install solar panels on their new, sustainable, small-batch rum distillery. This supports their eco-friendly production of premium spirits, which are crafted using island-grown sugar cane and local ingredients.
Alongside these individual business investments, the Good Growth Programme has also supported the wider agri-food sector through the Great Cornish Food team, which works with new and established businesses to showcase, sustain and evolve Cornwall’s food and drink industry. This includes easy-access small grants to help businesses scale up, innovate and reach new markets, and a programme of skills and education delivered through the Great Cornish Food Academy to encourage young entrants into the industry and address skills shortages.
The project has directly invested £115,000 in 29 businesses to help them overcome various hurdles and provided non-financial support to nearly 30 businesses and over 70 individuals, including one-to-one mentoring for business owners. It has also assisted 59 volunteers working in community food schemes across Cornwall with training and has helped create a new Level 3 apprenticeship in Engineering for Food manufacturing at Truro & Penwith College. A series of careers events in secondary schools across Cornwall has also opened the eyes of young people to the career opportunities in food, drink, farming and fishing.
Ruth Huxley, Sector Development Director at Great Cornish Food, who has been specialising in Cornish food and drink for 25 years, said:
“The Good Growth Programme has provided vital, practical support for Cornwall’s food and drink sector, helping businesses to invest, innovate and adapt at a time of significant change.
"Its approach recognises the importance of food and farming to our economy, environment and communities, and supports growth that is sustainable, resilient and future-focused. This kind of investment is essential to strengthening local supply chains and contributing to UK food security.”
Cllr Tim Dwelly, Cornwall Council's Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration and Investment, said:
“Cornwall’s agri-food sector is one of the cornerstones of our economy generating over £1.5 billion in GVA every year and supporting thousands of livelihoods across the county.
"By investing in innovation, skills and sustainable manufacturing, our Good Growth programme is helping businesses to grow in ways that create jobs, reduce environmental impact and keep more value within the local economy. This demonstrates how locally managed investment can deliver real results on the ground, supporting everything from productivity and food security to climate goals and inclusive growth.”
Across the agri-food sector alone, the Programme has invested over £14m since 2022, supporting businesses to scale up production, reduce waste, improve sustainability and respond to changing consumer demand.
Read more about the Good Growth Programme
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