Our Story

Sometimes the simplest ideas can have a profound effect.

Nearly 20 years ago there wasn’t a lot of discussion about organic farming. Even the idea that we ought to think about where our food came from seemed a bit eccentric and old-fashioned.

Since then there’s been a sea change in attitudes. From organic and fair trade to school meals and sustainable farming, everyone has an opinion about food. Every part of the process, meanwhile, from growing, producing, transporting, promoting and selling food is under scrutiny like never before.



How did it happen?

Thanks, we think, to people like our customers who’ve supported us in trying to show what good food really means.


Where it started

Duchy Originals was launched in 1990 by HRH The Prince of Wales. Our story goes back a little further, however – back to the early 1980s when the Prince moved to the Highgrove country estate in Gloucestershire.

At that time, the general consensus about farming was that we needed to concentrate on making food cheaper, farming more efficient and food shopping more convenient. The Prince believed instead that we need to think about the long-term future of our environment and our rural communities. For more about our philosophy, read our Charter.


1986: going organic

In 1986, The Prince began the process of converting parts of Home Farm to organic production. Trials were successful and, gradually, the whole farm converted to organic, achieving full organic status in 1996.


1990: the seed of an idea

In 1990, The Prince of Wales commissioned some research into whether there was a market for organic food. The idea was simple: to see if, instead of embracing ever more intensive farming methods, it was possible to make a profit by selling food that emphasised sustainable production, natural ingredients and traditional skills. That profit could then be used for charity, forming what The Prince called a ‘virtuous circle'.


1990-92: the launch

Named after the Duchy of Cornwall estates, which are held in trust by the Prince of Wales, Duchy Originals was launched in 1990. Our first product, the oaten biscuit, was launched in 1992.

1999: proved right!

We’ve grown steadily since then, and we now have over 200 quintessentially British products. A key moment came in 1999, however, when we got confirmation that times were changing and our message was getting through. In that year, we made our first profit. Since then, thanks to the support of our customers, we’ve made – and given to The Prince’s Charities Foundation – over £6 million.


2006: baking for ourselves

As we’ve grown, we’ve stayed true to our principles, raising the profile of organic food and working with more and more producers to feed Britain’s appetite for good food. Having started small and grown steadily, we reached a real milestone in 2006 when we decided to open our first production facility – a bakery in Launceston, Cornwall. Employing 20 local people, our bakery makes our premium organic pastry products, like our award-winning treacle tart and traditional Cornish pasties.

It’s a far-cry from where we started, but we think it’s a tribute to ours staff and customers, who’ve helped us grow and been part of a food revolution in this country.

We believe that where you buy your food and what you feed your family is one of the most important decisions you can make. It affects the whole way people see society, the environment, the economy and our relationship to them.

It’s a big responsibility, but with your help, we think we can continue to make delicious good food that makes a really positive contribution to society.