Mary has been making marmalade and jam for more than 30 years.
When she retired as a journalist and editor, Mary decided to turn a hobby into a business.
Within two years, both the Seville orange and grapefruit marmalades won gold in the annual, international, Dalemain marmalade competition. Supporters of the competition, Fortnum & Mason, stocked the grapefruit marmalade.
Since then, Mary’s jams have won Great Taste Awards every year.
“My jam making started with the family: they liked jam and they liked expressing their opinions! With their help, Mary’s Marmalade has become an award-winning business.”
~ Mary Wilkinson ~
It all involved a lot of planning. The brand name was easy, but getting the labels right was tricky. Mary’s younger daughter, Clara, a professional artist, painted fresh fruit for the labels and her elder daughter, Camilla, took photographs for the website. Mary now has seven stockists, including the Garden Museum in South London, Jeroboams in Holland Park and Macfarlane’s Deli in Clapham.
“My family give me feedback on the jams, including the grandchildren. Their favourite? Strawberry, of course.”
~ Mary Wilkinson ~
