A MID-WALES preserve business, founded in a remote cottage without electricity, has been honoured as one of the Top 10 Artisan Food Producers in Olive Magazine. The maker of the world’s best marmalade in an international competition has also received plaudits from the top of the food and drink industry and signed a new agreement with the UK’s most exclusive online supermarket.
Founded and run by Joanna Morgan, Radnor Preserves is now based in Caersws in the heart of Wales; but started life as a micro-business in Joanna’s kitchen in 2010. The company has since won over forty awards for its artisan marmalade, including Double Gold at the World Marmalade Awards, and has just signed an agreement with the discerning online grocer Ocado, which will be stocking Radnor Preserves marmalade from July 2018. The producer has also been named by upmarket national monthly food magazine, Olive as one of the top ten British finest food producers in this month’s edition, the only preserve maker in Britain to be so honoured and the only artisan food producer on the list who is based in Wales.
Such success and recognition are a far cry from the company’s humble beginnings when former theatre producer Joanna lived in an off-grid cottage. With no television, phone or electricity of any kind, Joanna indulged her passion for gardening in her spare time, but without a fridge or freezer her precious crops and produce quickly began to perish. Working by candlelight and armed only with an old recipe book from her grandfather, and a run-down Rayburn stove, Joanna taught herself preserve making to prevent her precious bounty going to waste.
Speaking about the origins of Radnor Preserves, Joanna said: “Preserve making quickly became a complete addiction, gratifying solace and true adventure. By December of that year I had made enough jams, chutneys and jellies to create Christmas hampers for all my family and friends, and in the following year, much to my surprise, the first marmalade I made - Quince Marmalade - won first prize in an agricultural competition. Preserve making is alchemy, a time-honoured tradition of capturing time and catching seasons. The transformation of such raw ingredients into incredibly precious jewels gives you a real sense of wonder.”
When Joanna moved to Radnorshire her passion for preserves continued to flourish. The historic local landscape offered more inspiration for preserve making with an abundance of elderflowers, blackberries and other fruit to forage. Now with electricity and crucially, a freezer, Joanna was able to continue her ‘urge to preserve’ and meet demand from friends and family for her products. The popularity increased to such an extent Joanna began to sell at local Farmers’ Markets and Radnor Preserves was born.
Ever since the awards and plaudits have continued to pour in for Radnor Preserves, with the best stockists clamouring to sell its products. Via early acclaim at the World Marmalade Awards in 2013, winning Double Gold in 2015 and being selected by Fortnum & Mason as one of only five non-Fortnum marmalades to be sold at its famous emporium in Piccadilly, and being called the “Alchemist of Preservers” by the Head Buyer at Selfridges, to an exclusive gift box launch at selected M&S Food Halls in Christmas 2017, it is no wonder that Olive Magazine has now hailed it as one of Britain’s top 10 artisan food producers and that luxury food retailer Caviar House has announced it will stock Radnor Preserves at its outlets at Heathrow Airport from June.
While recognising time-honoured traditions – it is a truly artisan product, everything is hand-made, and the marmalade citrus peel is hand-cut - Joanna is also keen to point out that Radnor Preserves is very much a 21st century producer. “This is jam with attitude, says Joanna, and it’s not just for toast.”
“We’re working with the likes of the Pembrokeshire Beach Food Company and have recently created two unique marmalades to celebrate the Visit Wales Year of the Sea – Bara Brith, with local Barti Du rum and Lime and Laver created with a hint of seaweed from the shores of Freshwater West. Our World Champion Smoky Campfire Marmalade is designed to accompany barbecues and we have also developed a contemporary new Strawberry & Rose El Hanout Preserve, that transforms scones and clotted cream for afternoon tea.”
And just as on-trend has been Radnor Preserves’ new Pink Gin Marmalade, boasting pink grapefruit, Brecon Botanicals Gin and a splash of Angostura Bitters which launched at Fortnum & Mason and M&S. “Our marmalade has been declared as being right up James Bond’s breakfast street by one reviewer, so we created our own Marmalade Martini recipe – not shaken but stirred!”
“I definitely think we’re bringing marmalade and preserves to a new audience. With the likes of Ocado now stocking our products from July, busy young families or couples who may not have time to shop locally but still want incredible artisan produce can have the World’s Best Marmalade delivered direct to their door” added Joanna.
Learn more about Radnor Preserves
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