Our income

Duchy Originals and Waitrose

In 1990, King Charles III established the Duchy Originals brand with its first product – a biscuit made from wheat and oats grown organically on Home Farm at Highgrove.

King Charles III aimed to create a ‘virtuous circle’ by creating a company that helped small farmers find a new market for their goods while offering consumers natural, high quality food and promoting more sustainable production methods that improved soil health and protected the environment.

In 2009, this leading organic brand was licensed to Waitrose & Partners who have subsequently developed the Waitrose Duchy Organic brand with a range of over 200 products, from everyday vegetables and milk to noteworthy ales and biscuits. In 2024 the ownership of the brand was transferred to Waitrose in line with the original 2009 agreement.

KCCF’s subsidiary, Duchy Originals Limited, receives royalty income from the sales of Waitrose Duchy Organic products. All of the profits of Duchy Originals Limited are gift aided to KCCF to support our charitable work.

The Partnership between KCCF, Duchy Originals Limited and Waitrose is built on the shared principles of Good Food, Good Farming, and Good Causes as set out in Waitrose’s Good Food Charter. The Partnership aims to encourage British organic farming, thereby helping to preserve our heritage in the countryside. Products in the Waitrose Duchy Organic range are made with high-quality organic ingredients, using meat sourced with sound animal husbandry and high welfare standards.

In summer 2023, we were delighted to celebrate the milestone achievement of over £40 million being raised through royalty income since the Duchy Organic brand was licensed to Waitrose in 2009.