Jane Maggs won the artisan category (dou- ble gold) at the recent Marmalade Festival at Dalemain House with her Lemon & Laven- der marmalade. She tells us what the vic- tory means for her and her business.

Sweet success

What does this victory mean for you, personally and for Wild and Fruitful?

”Victory is important (and surprising given the other competitors) because it shows that fresh ingredients, cooked carefully, do taste better. It shows that tiny home made suppliers can make a product as good as or better than larger concerns. It gives us con- fidence that we are right up there with the best in the country in a range of products. It gives me confidence in my palate and in my ability to invent interesting flavour combina- tions. Unfortunately it does not make me a better business person!”

How important will the presence at Fortnum & Mason be?

”Having a presence at Fortnums is pretty nervewracking, but it is a great thing for credibility; to be able to list Fortnums as a customer.”

Issue 1 • April 2010

Will you have to up production?

”Yes we will have to increase production. I am determined to stay homemade. I do not subscribe to the ’move into a unit’ business model.”

How did you come up with the le- mon and lavender combination and why does it work so well?

”We have been making an award-winning apple-based lavender jelly for some years. I noticed that the addition of lemon juice to this product greatly improved the flavour, so I wanted to make a more strongly flavoured lemon preserve with lavender. A lemon mar- malade fitted the bill. I think it works because the lemon is as sharp and zesty and fresh as we can get it and balances the softly fragrant lavender and stops it being cloying. You mustn’t overdo the lavender otherwise you might feel you should bathe in it rather than eat it.”

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