Tributes have been paid to the boss of a Cornwall based bakery group who has died after a short illness.

The death has been announced of Mark Norton, MD of Prima Bakeries Group, aged 60.

Mark was a well-respected figure in the business community of Cornwall and beyond as the boss of the Scorrier based pasty business.

He leaves behind his wife Lynne as a well as his children Emma and Sam.

In a brief statement to the press the company says he will be missed by all that knew him.

It said the employee-owned group, which also includes Furniss of Cornwall and Cornish Premier Pasties, will continue under the existing dedicated management team.

“It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of Mark Norton, Managing Director of Prima Bakeries Group, following a brief illness,” said the statement.

“Mark was a devoted husband to Lynne and a proud father to Emma and Sam, as well as a well-respected figure in the business community of Cornwall and beyond. He will be missed by all who knew him.

“Through Mark’s commitment to a long-term succession plan, business across the Employee-Owned group, which includes Furniss of Cornwall, Cornish Premier Pasties and Prima Bakeries, will continue under the existing dedicated management team.”

Originally established in Scorrier in 1978, the business was purchased by the Norton Family in 2010. It was run by Mark Norton, MD and Ross Buist, General Manager.

Prima is Cornwall’s fastest growing bakery business; it is now ten times the size it was in 2010 since the Norton family took over. Prima wholesales to over 500 customers in Cornwall with 200 bakery product lines.

The bakery hit the national headlines in the summer when Prince William picked up five Prima pasties to take home with him from On The Quay on Tresco on the Isles of Scilly.

Details of a memorial for Mark will be released at a later date.