The Great Cornish Heist: Have You Spotted Us on TV?

If you were curled up on the sofa recently and caught a fleeting glimpse of bakers covertly stashing trays of fresh Cornish pasties or confectionery makers sneaking dangerously addictive Cornish fudge into coat pockets, your eyes weren't playing tricks on you. We’ve officially arrived on television screens across the nation.

Our brand campaign, The Great Cornish Heist, puts a cheeky spotlight on an undeniable truth about our coastal home. The produce made down here in Cornwall is so good that our bakers, confectioners, and scone makers secretly wish they could keep every last crumb to themselves.

Naturally, we have other plans. We like to ensure you can enjoy the best of Cornwall with our Cornish food hampers and specially curated Cream tea hampers.

Here's the story behind the advert, what went on behind the camera, and why we're leading what we like to call a delicious rebellion.

Why The Great Cornish Heist?

Cornwall has always had a proud, fiercely independent streak. For centuries, local folklore told tales of coastal smugglers slipping past revenue officers in the dead of night with rum and silk. Today, the most guarded treasures across our cliffs and coves aren't barrels of brandy; they’re crisp, hand-crimped shortcrust pasties, velvety clotted cream, and small-batch crumbly sweet treats.

The craft that goes into making food here runs deep into our heritage. Because these flavours are tied to local pastures, historic recipes, and generational skills, there has always been a playful reluctance to let the very best leave our borders.

That sparked the premise for our new ad. What if our own artisan producers couldn't bear to let their creations cross the River Tamar? What if, instead of packing their goods into our delivery boxes, they hatched a plan to steal them back for their own kitchen cupboards?

It captures everything we love about our home: immense pride, exceptional food, and a healthy dose of mischievous fun.

Smuggling Cornwall's Finest Across the Tamar River

While our fictional bakers in the advert try their hardest to hoard the loot, our real mission at The Cornish Company is the exact opposite.

We were founded by two brothers who were born and buttered right in the heart of the county. From day one, the goal was simple: celebrate contemporary Cornish food and bring the authentic taste of our homeland to anyone who appreciates proper flavour. You can read more about our story for the full history of The Cornish Company. 

There is something special about receiving a parcel packed with authentic regional treats. Whether you’re sending a treat to a displaced Cornish soul in Yorkshire or treating yourself in Surrey, opening a box of fresh, handcrafted bakes connects you instantly with the West Country coast.

That’s why we launched our refreshed look earlier this year. As we shared when introducing our new look, our design reflects today's vibrant Cornwall: bold, laid-back, and unpretentious, without leaning on tired tourist clichés. Our official brand stamp says it best: Smuggling Cornwall's finest since 2020.

Behind the Scenes: Flour, Laughter, and Contemporary Cornwall

Filming The Great Heist was every bit as lively as it looks on screen.

 

Tasting the Loot: How to Warm the Cockles at Home

You don't need a film crew or a ticket across the Tamar River to enjoy these bakes at their absolute best. Here’s how our bakers recommend serving your goods when a parcel lands on your doorstep:

• Crisping Your Pasties: Remove your bakes from their chilled packaging and pop them on the middle shelf of the oven at 180°C (160°C in a fan oven) for 15 to 20 minutes. This revives the hand-crimped crust to its signature flaky crunch while warming the peppery pasty filling through to the centre.

• The Scone Ritual: Give plain or fruit scones a quick 3 to 4 minutes in a warm oven to release that freshly baked aroma. Slice in half, dollop a generous spoonful of sweet strawberry jam, and crown with a dollop of thick clotted cream. Never spread the cream like butter; pile it high, true to the Cornish way of doing scones.

• Storing Your Sweets: Keep your confectionery airtight in a cool cupboard away from direct sunshine. Though let's be honest, few boxes survive uneaten for more than an afternoon.

Whether you’re building an afternoon spread for yourself or arranging a surprise for someone special, our wide range of Cornish hampers brings together the finest savoury bakes, sweet treats, and refreshing sips from our corner of the country.

Watch the Advert and Support our Rebellion

Have you managed to spot The Great Heist during your evening viewing?

The campaign is currently broadcasting across ITV. If you haven't seen it pop up between your favourite programmes yet, you can watch the complete ad here:

Rest assured that despite our bakers' best attempts to keep every bake for themselves, our supply lines remain wide open. We will keep quietly smuggling the best pasties, scones, and treats across the Tamar, straight to your front door for many more years to come.