Cornish campaign victory as Waitrose forced to stamp St Piran flag on local cheese

It has always been a black and white issue: The Cornish fly their own flag and the rest of the country fly's theirs.

So when Waitrose began stocking a Cornish cheese with St George's Flag on its packaging it was only a matter of time before Cornish Separatists stepped in. 

After calls for the store to amend the cheese wrapper with its rightful flag Waitrose relented and confirmed it will start producing Cornish Yarg with the St Piran Flag printed on the plastic.

Originally Waitrose argued that “the use of national flags was introduced to help our customers to quickly identify UK produced cheese” and that the use of a national rather than a regional flag was more easily recognised by their customers.

But after Cornwall News, an online site, and other Cornish folk insisted that the Cornish flag was a national flag, making the point that Waitrose "would have the approval of the Cornish people in using it to promote Cornish products,” the store relented. 

“Following the feedback from our customers, we're going to change the St George flag to a St. Peran on the two Cornish Yarg lines, we are hoping this will be completed within the next month," the supermarket announced on Tuesday. 

Catherine Mead, owner-director of Cornish cheese producer Lynher Dairies, said it was vital that packaging clearly illustrated where produce was coming from and gave credit to those producing it. 

“I’m very happy about the decision,” she said. “I think the simple ID of the flag really reinforces to customers the source of their produce which is incredibly important to us.

“It’s very nice of Waitrose to make this change and shows respect for our provence.”

Responding to the announcement Cornwall News added: “Thank you [Waitrose] for listening and responding. It's excellent to hear from you that you will be using Cornwall's valued St Piran's cross on Cornish yarg cheese, and it is appreciated. Splan! (Spendid!)”