Wilkin & Sons facts for kids

Wilkin & Sons Ltd

Main factory entrance
Type	Private
Industry	Food manufacture
Predecessor	Britannia Fruit Preserving Company
Founded	1885
Founder	Arthur Charles Wilkin
Headquarters	Tiptree, Essex , England
Area served	Global
Products	Preserves, Jams, Marmalades, Christmas Puddings, Honey, Sauces, Chutneys, Tea, Curds, Fruit Juices, Liqueurs, Spirits
Brands	Tiptree
Number of employees	250

Wilkin & Sons Limited is a company that makes delicious jams, marmalades, and other food products. They started in Tiptree, England, way back in 1885. You might know their famous "Tiptree" brand of fruit preserves.

History of Tiptree Jams

The Wilkin family started farming in Tiptree, England, a very long time ago, in the early 1700s. By 1865, their farm began growing more fruit instead of just crops like wheat. This fruit was sent to markets in London. Around 850 people lived in Tiptree at that time. From 1904, a special train line, the Kelvedon and Tollesbury Light Railway, helped carry the company's fruit.

In 1885, a man named Arthur Charles Wilkin started the Britannia Fruit Preserving Company. This happened after the Prime Minister, William Ewart Gladstone, suggested that people should preserve fruit. The company made the very first "Tiptree" jams. All the jam made that year was sold to a merchant who shipped it all the way to Australia.

Just ten years later, about 400 people would come each year to pick 200 tons of fruit. Half of this fruit was turned into jam and other preserves.

Growing the Business

The company later changed its name to Wilkin & Sons. They started to rent farms in other places, like Dagenham and Suffolk. By 1906, the company owned 800 acres (about 324 hectares) of land on farms in Tiptree and nearby villages. They grew 300 tons of fruit every year. Their factory was so big that it could make 10 tons of strawberry jam in one day during busy times.

Since 1911, the company has had a special honor called a Royal Warrant. This means they are official suppliers of preserves and marmalades to the British Royal Family.

In 1914, a local newspaper reported that over ten tons of strawberries were made into jam in just one day. This included a lot of the special 'Little Scarlet' strawberries.

Through the Wars

During World War I, it was hard to get enough sugar. Because you need a lot of sugar to make jam, the company had to stop production for a while.

But by 1922, things were much better. The company now owned 1000 acres (about 405 hectares) of farmland across eight farms. They were making record amounts of fruit and preserves. The company was a big part of the village. They owned 100 houses, the village's windmill, the blacksmith's forge, and even the Factory Club.

During World War II, the government took control of the company and factory. Wilkin & Sons kept making preserves and other important food products to help the country.

In 2010, the company celebrated its 125th birthday. Queen Elizabeth II even visited the factory to mark the special occasion.

Wilkin & Sons Today

Peter Wilkin, who is the great-grandson of the company's founder, is still a very important part of the business. Almost half of the company is owned by its employees through a special trust.

The company still farms 1000 acres (about 405 hectares) of land around Tiptree. They grow most of their own fruit, including strawberries, plums, cherries, raspberries, and a special tiny strawberry called Little Scarlet. This small strawberry has a very strong and unique flavor.

The company makes over £34 million (about $43 million USD) in sales each year. They employ more than 250 full-time staff, and many more people during the fruit-picking season.

Wilkin & Sons Limited also runs a group of tea rooms in Essex. They have a special bakery that makes pastries (called Tiptree Patisserie). They also sell fresh fruit grown on their farms. The Tiptree Visitor Centre has a tea room, a shop, and a museum. The museum teaches visitors about the company's history, how jam is made, and what village life was like. The visitor center and museum are right next to the jam factory.

Other Brands by Wilkin & Sons

• Cole's Puddings Ltd: This company makes Christmas puddings and other desserts. They have a special factory in Great Chesterford, Essex.
• Thursday Cottage: This brand started in Somerset. They make natural jams, preserves, and marmalades.