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About
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Tiptree
and Wilkin & Sons
Wilkin and Sons Limited have been making the world famous Tiptree preserves
in the Essex village of Tiptree for more than 115 years. Today, products
leave Tiptree destined for any of more than sixty different countries.
On sale in fine food stores at home and overseas, Tiptree is also served
on top airlines, in five star hotels and on cruise ships.
The company holds Royal Warrants for both preserves and marmalades and
four out of every ten jars that leave the factory will be sold overseas.
Major export markets include Germany, USA, France, Japan, Italy, Hong
Kong, Australia, Spain, and Israel.
Little Scarlet Conserve is unique to Tiptree and is renowned for its intense
flavour. As far as we know, no one else anywhere in the world grows these
strawberries. The tiny berries are grown on the farm at Tiptree and used
fresh from the fields. Although Little Scarlet is an erratic cropper,
the flavour more than repays the effort and cost.
A. C. Wilkin founded the business in 1885. Today, his great-grandson,
Peter Wilkin, is chairman of the business and the company still farms
almost 1,000 acres (400 hectares) in and around the Essex village of Tiptree.
Still privately owned, the company has an annual turnover of £11
million ($18 Million) and employs 170 people. UK sales are mainly through
fine food shops and major supermarket groups. In London the best display
is to be found in Selfridges of Oxford Street. Elsewhere, shops such as
Larners of Holt and Crebers of Tavistock pride themselves in offering
practically all of the extensive range. Such is demand from London hotels
that two lorries are used to make daily deliveries in the capital.
The Museum
Over 50 years ago, John Wilkin began collecting the paraphernalia of preserve
making and Essex village life. In quiet corners of the preserve factory
he carefully stored away pictures, documents and redundant machines.
With the opening of the museum in a renovated farm building at Tiptree,
John Wilkin's foresight was at last rewarded. Visitors can see how life
used to be and how the art of preserve-making has advanced over the years
at Tiptree.
Tea Room
Traditional waitress service, quiet and comfortable surroundings and good
value home-made food guarantee that visitors are made welcome, enjoy their
visit, and want to return soon.
The Tea Room serves a range of sandwiches, hot and cold snacks, and home-baked
cakes. Try the special: Little Scarlet Conserve with a home-made scone
and fresh cream, served with the Tiptree tea of your choice.
Jam Shop
Tiptree's Jam Shop offers the full Tiptree range, together with local
specialities such as Burnham Mustard, Maldon Sea Salt.
Gift ideas abound; from a porcelain tea service to a silver plated spoon;
from an exquisite collector's teapot to a paper bookmark; from a few pounds
to a few pence!
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