French firm buys out Proper Cornish - one of UK's largest pasty makers

11 March 2023 , 17:29

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The meat and veg pastry is a fiercely guarded West Country icon (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Zut alors! The traditional Cornish pasty has fallen into the hands of the French.

The meat and veg pastry has been a fiercely guarded West Country icon since the 14th century. But now a French firm has bought out Proper Cornish, one of the UK’s largest pasty makers.

Groupe Boncolac – which specialises in frozen desserts – insists there will be no change to the treats, baked in Bodmin.

But fans fear they will change. One moaned online: “They won’t be the same.”

Another said: “Now rebranded as ‘Proper French’. Nice tender frog’s leg, swede, onion and potato.”

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There are fears the pastry just won't be the same (Getty Images/Image Source)

Proper Cornish said the acquisition by Groupe Boncolac would open up export markets in Europe.

The Cornish Pasty Association added: “Their pasties will still be made at the same place, by the same team and with the same recipe.”

Cornish pasties must be made in Cornwall under geographic origin laws – and 120 million are produced each year, making up £300million of trade for Cornwall’s economy.

Ben Turner