Oliver Basham – General Manager

I first tasted what has become one of my all-time favourite foods when it was delicately presented on top of a crumpet in a London restaurant.

It’s called cull yaw and it’s a tender, dry-aged mutton with the most deliciously intense flavour.

The ewes which the meat comes from are all past lambing stage and are given a new lease of life by farmer Matt Chatfield who now supplies us with this prized alternative to lamb.

Boxing clever

My parents were commercial tomato growers and I learned some early lessons by making boxes up for them and being paid a penny a box.

A major highlight of my previous career was managing Rick Stein’s first venture outside Cornwall in my home county of Hampshire.

I joined the Great Cornish Food Store in late 2021, launching head first into my new job by working hands-on in all parts of the business, getting to know the team, the work and our suppliers and customers.

One of the great benefits of the store being employee-owned is that we are all part of one big team. And this is a very good team indeed.

Day to day my role is making sure that every facet of the business is operating to its full potential and that our service and products are as good as they should be.

As I’m a trained fishmonger, you’ll sometimes spot me behind the fish counter as I keep my techniques up to scratch.