[1][2] West Cornwall Pasty Company was launched in 1998 by Ken Cocking, a serial entrepreneur, along with his sons, Arron and Gavin, and Mark Christophers.

[6] The pasty was originally a portable meal of meat and potatoes in a pastry case, made for tin miners in Cornwall to take underground.

[4] In April 2014, the private equity house Gresham, the owners of the company, put it into administration, blaming its failure on the government's decision to charge VAT on pasties.

The company was subsequently sold to another private equity fund, Endless, backed by Danny Mills, former Leeds United F.C.

Losses were reduced by expanding the company's range and by taking a more targeted approach, concentrating on outlets such as railway stations and sports venues.