08.11.04
Garden of Eden aims for best of Cornish produce

A business aimed at promoting the very best of Cornwall's food and drink industry has just been launched.

Garden of Eden has been set up at Treskilling, near Luxulyan, Cornwall, by Christine Bainbridge and Sally Heard, who were supported by Objective One investment from both Taste of the West and actnow.

Christine and Sally are aiming to supply specialty hampers full of delicious Cornish produce via their website – www.gardenofeden.uk.net – which went online at the weekend (October 30). There will also be brochures available from mid November.

Christine said: "We would have really struggled without the grants. Accessing them has made all the difference, enabling us to go for it and give the company the best possible start with high quality ICT equipment and design and marketing support. We were also able to commission a good quality photographer, and the results can be seen on our website.

"Our focus has been on quality for all aspects of development of the company – we believe that Cornwall produces some of the best food and drink in the country and we want to raise awareness of this nationally. Accessing Objective One support has enabled us to invest in making Garden of Eden hampers a high quality company, offering a superb range of food and drink, with quality customer care and attention to detail."

The business partners were both involved in the initial stages of Objective One in Cornwall and, about two years ago, came up with the Garden of Eden idea.

"We kept coming across producers who were looking to diversify and we could see that there were fantastic products out there, and that there was an opportunity to promote these nationally," explained Christine.

"We recognised there was a gap in the market in terms of high quality, Cornish luxury hampers. We now have a relationship with about 20 producers including Trenance Chocolates, Camel Valley vineyard, Menallack Cheese, Newlyn Olives, the Pilchard Works and Trelewack Farmhouse Kitchen, who make the most delicious fruit cakes. They have all been very supportive and very keen about the project."

As well as selling to individuals, Garden of Eden aims to supply high quality accommodation providers and to expand sales nationally.

Carleen Kelemen, Director of the Objective One Partnership, said: "Objective One investment in this type of business serves to support Cornwall's food and drink producers and to help them expand. The high standard of produce in Cornwall needs to be encouraged and marketed as widely as possible."

For further detail contact:

Clare Morgan, media relations manager, Objective One Partnership Office
Tel: 01872 223439
Email: cmorgan@cornwall.gov.uk

Christine Bainbridge, Garden of Eden
Tel: 01726 852905

Editor's notes:

Objective One investment accessed by Garden of Eden includes:

Cornwall Taste of the West is a £3 million Objective One gateway project, funded by the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF), the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and private matched funding. It is part of the Taste of the West regional food group. Cornwall Taste of the West's four year project includes a trade development programme and a marketing grants scheme, available to small and medium sized food businesses that produce, sell or process foods in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

The actnow programme is a demand led initiative to encourage businesses in Cornwall to gain the support they need to move into the new broadband economy.

Broadband operates at much higher speeds than a standard internet connection with consumer products typically 10 times faster and business products up to 40 times faster. Products can be ordered from a range of service providers.

Project partners are Cornwall Enterprise, BT, Cornwall County Council, South West of England Regional Development Agency, Business Link, Cornwall College, Defra, the Cornwall Broadband Partnership and Objective One.

Clare Morgan
Media Relations Manager
Objective One Partnership Office
Castle House
Pydar Street
Truro TR1 2UD
Mobile: 07973 813647
Telephone: 01872 223439

cmorgan@cornwall.gov.uk

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