The Pilchard Works

Penzance, Cornwall, United Kingdom ⚠︎ details being verified

The Pilchard Works is a Cornish brand dating to 1905 whose Cornish-caught Sardina pilchardus are canned abroad at an unnamed historic cannery in Douarnenez, Brittany, France.

✦ Artisan & small-batch Confirmed

Cornish sardines hand-sorted, flash-fried and packed at Douarnenez; owner Nick Howell (bought the business in 1982).

At a glance

Country	United Kingdom
Region	Cornwall
City	Penzance
Founded	1905
Company	Canned in Douarnenez, Brittany (facility not explicitly named)
Species	Sardina pilchardus (European pilchard) · Confirmed

Notable facts

The business dates to 1905 as a Cornish salted-pilchard exporter and was bought by Nick Howell in 1982.
Salted-pilchard production ended in 2005, after which the canned range was developed.
Canned abroad: Cornish Sardina pilchardus is sent to Douarnenez, Brittany, France, where it is hand-sorted, flash-fried and packed at a cannery said to date to 1853.
The fishery is MSC-certified; the source does not name the Douarnenez cannery, so the facility is unconfirmed.

Products

Cornish sardines

Sardina pilchardus · Confirmed

Catch area: FAO 27 (Celtic Sea / SW England)

Cornish-caught, hand-sorted, flash-fried and canned in Douarnenez, Brittany.

Where to buy

Evidence & uncertainties

Overall sourcing confidence for this profile: ⚠︎ details being verified.

Species — Confirmed: Latin name shown on packaging or certification.

No external sources are attached to this profile yet.