It was an exciting day at Wilkin & Sons this week when directors and staff welcomed a very special guest to celebrate 140 years of jam making at Tiptree: The Japanese Ambassador His Excellency Hiroshi Suzuki accompanied by Mr Teruyuki Ando. The visit had been initiated by Dame Priti Patel MP who joined the guests for a tour of the farm, the factory and discussions over tea who said:
"Wilkin and Sons have put Tiptree on the map producing their world-famous jams and growing range of food and drinks. They are one of Britain's best brands and it was a privilege to welcome Ambassador Hiroshi Suzuki on his visit to Tiptree and discuss the friendship and enduring ties between our countries.”
After visiting the strawberry fields and watching Little Scarlet Strawberry Conserve being made the Ambassador said: “Thank you for your very kind invitation, I learnt so much. Before I arrived in the UK in December, I asked my colleagues in London to buy milk, bread and Tiptree Little Scarlet Strawberry Conserve. It has been a dream come true to come here, where the fruits are grown. I used to love to go strawberry picking with my daughter; in Japan where strawberries are still grown on the ground in contrast to here where you have shown me amazing innovations and strawberries growing above the ground in your New Growing System.
“I was fascinated by the ultra-violet light robotic sterilization system to avoid the use of fungicides, I believe innovation is the secret of your success,” said the Ambassador. “It is good to see that you are very much connected to the local community and have been for generations. I am so proud that you have been exporting Tiptree preserves to Japan for 40 years.”
“We are very grateful to you for your time today and thank you for your kind comments regarding your visit; we always try hard to continue innovating and are lucky to have such an excellent team,” said Chris Newenham, joint managing director of Wilkin & Sons
Priti said: "I want to see our countries increase trade and we talked about how more goods from Essex can be available in Japan. Following this visit I hope more Japanese families and businesses will see how great jams from Tiptree are."
2025 marks 140 years of jam making in Tiptree first started by Mr Arthur Charles Wilkin; his great grandson Peter Wilkin welcomed the Ambassador to Tiptree.
