Cornish Company Sparks Controversy and Success with Festive Scone Sellout

A Bodmin-based business, The Cornish Company, has made headlines by selling out its bold new creation—the UK’s first Christmas Dinner Scone—in under 48 hours. The divisive product has sparked a national debate, drawing ire from traditionalists while achieving unprecedented sales.

Described by The Guardian as the “biggest scone scandal of all time,” the Christmas Dinner Scone faced sharp criticism, with The Cornish Heritage Trust cautioning, “do not mess with a Cornish scone.” Despite the backlash, or perhaps because of it, the product flew off shelves, becoming the eighth most-clicked item on the company’s website and boosting the site’s conversion rate by an impressive 80%.

A Recipe for Success and Controversy

The scone, which combines elements of a traditional Cornish scone with the flavors of Christmas dinner, was designed to offer a playful twist on holiday dining. According to Tom Woodley, founder and managing director of The Cornish Company, the product was created in response to a common festive dilemma.

“We wanted to have a bit of fun this Christmas and provide a solution to a very real problem,” said Woodley. “Our data found that almost half (39%) of people find Christmas Dinner to be a stressful experience, so we aimed to make it easier.

“The scone was a take on Christmas Dinner and a celebration of all things Cornish—scones and local ingredients. It was a real success! Watch this space for our next invention and sorry to the people of Cornwall in advance!”

Record Growth Amid Culinary Experimentation

The Christmas Dinner Scone’s success caps off a banner year for The Cornish Company, which recently expanded into a new warehouse in Bodmin, increasing its production capacity sevenfold. The company plans to capitalize on its momentum with record-breaking hamper sales this Mother’s Day and a slate of new product lines for 2025, including “pasties by post,” limited-edition Valentine’s hampers, and exciting collaborations.

As the scone controversy simmers, one thing is clear: The Cornish Company isn’t afraid to challenge conventions—and their boldness is paying off.