Norton Barton Artisan Food Village
Set on a 350-acre Cornish farm with 50 acres of woodland, Norton Barton Artisan Food Village is more than a cluster of producers – it’s a blueprint for sustainable rural enterprise. One of just two designated UK Food Enterprise Zones, it carries a government mandate to create skilled, year-round jobs in artisan food and drink, breaking dependence on seasonal tourism in an area of high unemployment.
Collaboration and circularity runs through the village. A wind turbine and solar array generate more energy than the site consumes, water is drawn from its own boreholes and surplus whey from cheesemaking is used in baking. In the charcuterie kitchen, investment in ambient-stable recipes extends shelf life without refrigeration, slashing food waste.
Today, Norton Barton is home to a thriving collective of artisan brands. Popti Cornish Bakehouse is known for its hand-crafted savoury biscuits and crackers, while Fionagh’s produces award-winning sourdough crispbreads. Whalesborough Cheese makes small-batch cheeses like Keltic Gold and Cornish Smuggler, each rooted in local dairy. Cornish Charcuterie, the original venture, continues to lead with British pâtés, rillettes and salamis, while The Cornish Distilling Co. pioneers sustainable spirits in innovative metal bottles. Many of these creations feature in our hamper range – celebrating Cornish flavour and craft while championing a resilient, regenerative community.
When Richard and Fionagh Harding moved to Cornwall in 2006, they imagined a modest farmstead. But Norton Barton’s 350 acres inspired something bigger. Their passion for land and food led to the UK’s only artisan food village – and one of Cornwall’s two Food Enterprise Zones.
Their first venture, Cornish Charcuterie, launched in 2011 and soon grew into an award-winning name in British charcuterie. From there, they fostered a creative community: Popti, Whalesborough Cheese, The Cornish Distilling Co. and more. Each brand is rooted in craftsmanship, flavour and the belief that rural enterprise can be both sustainable and transformative.
Founded By
Richard and Fionagh Harding