Top 10 Homegrown Brands That Define Cornish Excellence

Even if you live in Cornwall, you may not realize how many Cornish born brands have come to be nationally recognised for their excellence. Some products have been passed down through generations for centuries, and others have gone from humble beginnings to become household names across the UK and beyond. Shop local, and who knows? You may fall in love with a product just in time for it to become the next big thing. Here, we look at 10 Cornish brands that reflect and define Cornish excellence. 

Cornish Top Brands

Here, in no particular order, are some of our favourite Cornish brands. 

SeaSalt: If you have spent any time in Cornwall, you know that one thing you can count on is wet days. Nearly four decades ago, a family visiting from the Midlands found themselves without the proper coats for one such day, leading them to step into a tiny shop in Penzance in search of waterproof coats. The store was called General Clothing Stores, and it sold traditional workwear for sailors, farmers, and fishermen. The Chadwick family was so impressed by the fishermen’s smocks, Guernsey pullovers, and stripey tops sold there that they bought the shop! Eventually, the store became SeaSalt, which we know today as a coastal-inspired clothing and homewares empire. This family-run business is wildly successful, and as one of Cornwall’s biggest employers, SeaSalt hires over 1,000 people. 

Know more: Seasalt

Pears Soap: One of the most popular brands to ever originate in Cornwall, Pears soap has been popular for two centuries. Do you know the story behind this company, which produced the world’s first translucent soap? Andrew Pears, the son of a farmer, born in Cornwall in 1770, went to London to become a barber, but landed in the cosmetics industry. For years, he experimented with his own soap formulation, leading to the creation of Pears soap. 

Know more here: Pears Soap

Celtic & Co.: In 1990, Nick and Kath Whitworth saw an advertisement for a small boot-making business for sale. They bought it, with just seven pairs of boots in stock, and they learned how to sew the boots that were the original British Uggs. After they built up a local following of their boots, they registered the trademark, and later, they sold the UK rights to the name to Ugg’s American owners, rebranding their company as Celtic Sheepskin designing. Beginning with their own unique sheepskin boots, they branched out to develop a range of outerwear and clothing made from natural fibres. Now Celtic & Co. is a luxury fashion brand, with Kate Middleton and her sister, Pippa, favouring their garments. 

Know more here: Celtic & Co 

Tregothan Tea: Tregothnan estate, outside Truro, began growing English tea 15 years ago, as the first tea home-grown in the UK. Today, the business is thriving, with up to 20,000 tea bushes planted each year. Tregothnan tea is sold in shops across the country, and many people do not even realise that it is grown in Cornwall, since it is just marketed as ‘the tea grown in England’.

Know more here: Tregothan Tea 

Ann’s Cottage: Where better for the UK’s top surf shop to be based than in Cornwall? Ann’s Cottage got its start right here in Cornwall, on Polzeath Beach, in 1978, as a tiny village shop attached to a petrol station. From that humble beginning, selling and renting out surfboards and wetsuits to the early surfing pioneers, Ann’s Cottage has grown into the UK’s top surf shop. One of the largest retailers of surf wear and accessories in Europe, it has become a household name. 

Know more here: Ann’s Cottage

Rodda’s: One of the most famous brands to ever come out of Cornwall, Rodda’s Cornish clotted cream is unforgettable. Rodda’s calls itself the ‘keeper of the cream’, and that is hard to dispute. Just the sight of the unmistakable blue and white packaging, and you can practically taste the good, authentic clotted cream inside. 

Know more here:  Roddas

Chocolarder: The Cornish chocolatiers behind Chocolarder take a no-nonsense approach to quality, refusing to create anything using artificial ingredients, materials harmful to the environment, or unethical supply chains. Instead, they make mouth-watering, sumptuous filled truffles and smooth drinking chocolate, created on Cornish soil, that you can consume absolutely guilt free. 

Know more here: Chocolarder 

Frugi: The go-to children’s fashion brand in Cornwall, Frugi makes sustainably-sourced clothing and accessories for newborns, children, and new mothers. These clothes are made in fun colours and prints, with comfort and playtime in mind. Founded in 2004 by parents looking for clothes that fit over cloth nappies, Frugi is now the UK’s leading ethical and organic children’s clothing brand. 

Know more here: Frugi 

St Eval: If you are looking for irresistibly delicious smelling artisan candles, diffusers, and body care products, you will not be disappointed by St Eval. This company came from humble beginnings, with a family crafting candles by hand in the kitchen of their farmhouse. Today, they have been in business for more than 29 years, and are committed to enriching people’s lives while treading softly on the earth. St Eval is B Corp certified and still based on the farm in North Cornwall, drawing inspiration from the beautiful Cornish countryside and using a combination of traditional and contemporary methods to create high-quality products with a personal touch. 

Know more here: St Eval

Atlantic Blankets: These sustainably designed Cornish blankets are made using traditional techniques, and they come in a variety of materials and patterns. On the coast, you will not just want to use blankets in the winter months, but all year round, for tossing over your shoulders as you watch the sunset after an ocean dip, or for spreading out on a grassy meadow when you want a mid-summer picnic. In fact, Atlantic Blankets are so stylish, they even make for beautiful home décor. 

Know more here: Atlantic Blankets 

Let Together Travel Introduce You to All Cornwall Has to Offer

If you are interested in exploring Cornish brands and are looking for a Cornwall accommodation, Together Travel Co. has the perfect spot for your next holiday. In Pelynt Looe, we offer picturesque cottages, a sumptuous shepherd’s hut, and even a grand manor house. In Newquay, our stylish apartments are on the doorstep of Fistral beach, and we offer Tresillian House a gorgeous manor house, or you can choose to stay in a lovely holiday home on the Gannel Estuary, in close proximity to Crantock Beach. If you are planning a visit to Trewhiddle, we have loads of options from which to choose, and if Fowey is your destination, we have a self-catering cottage by the sea for you. Find out how we can make your trip amazing by contacting our expert concierge team at +44(0)1625 416430 or emailing us for more information.