Business Action | April / May 2019
April / May 2019 issue of the independent North Devon-based business magazine covering news about business and enterprise in Barnstaple, Bideford, Braunton, Chulmleigh, Combe Martin, Holsworthy, Ilfracombe, Lynmouth, Lynton, South Molton, Torrington, Woolacombe and more. Subscribers get priority access of new issues of Business Action on publication. Subscribe at http://www.business-action.co.uk/subscription-packages
April / May 2019 issue of the independent North Devon-based business magazine covering news about business and enterprise in Barnstaple, Bideford, Braunton, Chulmleigh, Combe Martin, Holsworthy, Ilfracombe, Lynmouth, Lynton, South Molton, Torrington, Woolacombe and more.
Subscribers get priority access of new issues of Business Action on publication. Subscribe at http://www.business-action.co.uk/subscription-packages
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In a tough climate for high<br />
street food retailing, the<br />
Moorland Pantry in Lynton is<br />
establishing itself as an independent<br />
foodstore selling organic<br />
meats, fair-trade fruit, and<br />
organic vegetables and groceries<br />
to the local community and<br />
summer visitors.<br />
Barnstaple-born owner<br />
Dominic Cornish says his original<br />
aim was to be self-sufficient<br />
and he started growing salads<br />
and herbs as well as keeping<br />
free-range pigs for his family to<br />
enjoy a healthy lifestyle. Then<br />
he attended farmers’ markets<br />
and ran a small farmshop to sell<br />
his surplus before opening the<br />
Moorland Pantry in 2016.<br />
Now the store stocks his<br />
own nitrate-free bacon, cured<br />
with sea salt, as well as sausages<br />
and charcuterie products. A<br />
keen baker, Dominic makes<br />
his own pasties, sausage rolls,<br />
pork pies and homity pies,<br />
using organic ingredients, and<br />
sells organic beef, lamb and<br />
game from local farms as well<br />
as sustainably caught fish and<br />
Lynmouth lobster.<br />
RETAIL<br />
Lynton deli brings quality food to the high street<br />
Independent businesses are<br />
North Devon’s treasures. Our<br />
businesses aren’t always as<br />
visible as some of the national<br />
and global brands people<br />
expect to see on the high street<br />
and it takes some exploring<br />
to discover some of them, but<br />
once you start exploring, you<br />
never stop.<br />
Lyn Candles in Lynton is<br />
one of our treasures. John<br />
Baker started the business<br />
after reading about candlemaking.<br />
His fascination with<br />
the process led him to buy a<br />
candlemaking kit and to start<br />
the business in 1996. His shop<br />
in Lee Road, where he has<br />
made his candles for some<br />
20 years, is brimming with<br />
candles of all shapes, sizes and<br />
scents, and has become one of<br />
Lynton’s must-see attractions<br />
for visitors.<br />
John makes all his candles<br />
by hand without the use of<br />
machinery and, aware of the<br />
need for sustainability and<br />
care for the environment, aims<br />
to use materials that minimise<br />
environmental impact. The soy<br />
wax he uses is 100% natural<br />
Dominic Cornish serving customers in the Moorland Pantry, Lynton<br />
Candlemaker lights<br />
up customers’ lives<br />
Enjoying your work is one of the best feelings in life and it is clear<br />
when you meet John Baker of Lyn Candles that he really loves his<br />
work. Editor Robert Zarywacz caught up with the Lynton chandler<br />
who sends customers on their way smiling<br />
and no beeswax or palm oil<br />
are used. The candles are also<br />
vegan friendly.<br />
John uses quality soy wax<br />
in his scented candles so they<br />
are totally paraffin free. This<br />
ensures all the fragranced<br />
wax burns, reducing wastage<br />
and providing better value.<br />
All coloured, seashell, classic<br />
cream and designer candles<br />
are made from high grade<br />
paraffin wax. Burn times<br />
extend up to an impressive 216<br />
Chandler John Baker of Lyn Candles, Lynton handcrafts all his candles<br />
“Farming should be about<br />
working with nature and<br />
encouraging wildlife,” says<br />
Dominic. “I’ve always farmed<br />
as naturally as possible and<br />
want people to know where<br />
food has come from.”<br />
In addition to his own<br />
produce, Moorland Pantry<br />
stocks organic vegetables<br />
from Devon farms as well as<br />
local cheeses, spices, olives<br />
and bread, along with coffee<br />
and tea, health foods and<br />
ecologically friendly cleaning<br />
products. This year Dominic is<br />
expanding his range of homereared<br />
meat after acquiring his<br />
first flock of Jacob’s sheep on<br />
his smallholding.<br />
“Locals have taken to it<br />
really well and we have a<br />
good local customer base,”<br />
adds Dominic, who opens<br />
the store all year round and<br />
stocks produce according to<br />
the season. “People love the<br />
personal service and often<br />
come in for a chat.”<br />
■■Visit at 12 Lee Road, Lynton<br />
or details at The Moorland<br />
Pantry on Facebook<br />
hours for the largest candles,<br />
such as the 200mm round ball<br />
single wick candle.<br />
At one time, Lyn Candles<br />
supplied other businesses and<br />
sold candles through its web<br />
site, but now John supplies<br />
only a select range of stores in<br />
Bristol, Ilfracombe and Westward<br />
Ho!. He has also stopped<br />
web site sales – customers are<br />
welcome to phone to place<br />
their order and John finds that<br />
some people call specifically<br />
for a chat.<br />
“Talking to people is so<br />
important,” says John. As<br />
well as making life better for<br />
everyone, it’s a practice that<br />
helps the business, as many<br />
customers return year after<br />
year to talk to John, watch as<br />
he makes candles and then<br />
browse the range of candles<br />
and slate, solid wood and<br />
wrought iron candleholders<br />
before making their purchases.<br />
John says Lyn Candles’<br />
aim is to “ensure that our<br />
customers are truly thrilled<br />
with their purchases.”<br />
■■Details 01598 753321 or<br />
lyncandles.com<br />
@businessactionm | <strong>April</strong> / <strong>May</strong> <strong>2019</strong> | business action 15