THE Great Cornish Food Store marks its tenth anniversary this month with a jam-packed programme of events and a fond farewell to its founder.

There will be tastings, demonstrations, samplings and competitions throughout the ten-day birthday period from June 12 to 21 at the showcase store next to Waitrose in Truro.

The store was established in 2016 by Ruth Huxley, who is retiring after being succeeded by managing director Richard Bain in November 2025.

The Great Cornish Food Store opened on June 16, 2016 - the same day as Waitrose - as a 100 per cent local food hall, featuring around 2,500 lines of Cornish produce from more than 250 local suppliers.

It estimates its value to the local economy over the last decade at around £70 million. In 2022, the store transitioned to employee ownership, giving its team of nearly 40 a say in how the business is run and a share in its profits.

Look out for different activities happening in the store each days, including giveaways linked to the number 10 – such as 10 specially designed cupcakes freshly baked to be given away each day - and a special £10 menu in the store café, offering throwback favourites from the past 10 years.

“The success of the Great Cornish Food Store is testament to the great variety and quality of produce we’re able to source from land and sea,” said Ruth.

“We couldn’t have done it without all the brilliant people who produce such fabulous food and drink, and everyone else who has been part of the store’s incredible journey. We’re looking forward to celebrating a memorable decade in the coming days.”

Her successor Richard added: “Huge congratulations to Ruth, the whole team and all the suppliers and collaborators who have supported the principle of Great Cornish Food from the start and over the last ten years. It’s an honour for me to lead the business forward and to build on that decade of success.”

Supplier Penny Williams, of Helston-based Penny’s Pies, paid tribute to Great Cornish Food. “It’s the reason I am in business,” she said. “Ten years ago, thanks to the Post Office Horizon scandal, I lost my business - a pub, restaurant, shop and post office - and had to do something to provide for my family.

“I started making a few pies as the store was being set up; they spotted them and got in touch. I started supplying them from the opening day, and Penny’s Pies was born. The Great Cornish Food Store has been my best customer over the last 10 years, and I cannot express the debt of gratitude I owe to them.”

The store has compiled an eye-catching list of some of its top-selling items from the past decade, including an impressive 62,000 Da Bara cinnamon buns, 46,000 punnets of Boddington’s strawberries, 11,800 bottles of Camel Valley sparkling wine, over three tonnes of Cornish crab meat, and nearly 18 tonnes of the store’s own Great Cornish Sausages – about 13.5 miles if laid end to end.