The story of Tiptree begins in the early 1700s with Trewlands, the farm that would become the heart of jam-making in the village of Tiptree, Essex. Today, with its roughly 11,000 inhabitants, Tiptree is probably one of the largest villages in the country. As early as 1865, when the Wilkin family shifted from growing grain to cultivating fruit, the village counted 850 residents a number that rose to 3,018 by the 1961 census.
The real turning point came in 1885, when Arthur Charles Wilkin founded the Britannia Fruit Preserving Company, giving life to the first Tiptree preserves destined for Australia. Within ten years, fruit production exceeded 200 tons half of it transformed into jam providing work for hundreds of pickers and factory workers.
Not everything was easy: the construction of the railway between Kelvedon and Tollesbury, passing through Tiptree, helped the company thrive and encouraged the village’s growth. Yet even during the hardest times from the world wars to the shortage of raw materials the Wilkin family preserved the quality and tradition of their products, protecting original recipes and methods.
By the 1950s, Tiptree had transformed: the population, businesses, and services grew. The company not only continued to produce exceptional jams but also expanded into other food sectors and hospitality, opening tea rooms and partnering with local producers always with an eye toward sustainability and local excellence.
Today, Wilkin & Sons cultivates over 650 acres of premium fruit, introducing innovations such as the New Growing System for strawberries, while keeping alive the tradition of the Little Scarlet, strawberries grown exclusively in Tiptree. The brand proudly holds the Royal Warrant as the official supplier of Tiptree products to His Majesty King Charles III, a testament to over a century of excellence.
Tiptree is more than just jam it’s a community. A company that grows with its village, celebrates tradition, and looks to the future with passion and innovation. Between tea rooms, fruit picking, and guided tours, the village continues to tell a story of sweetness, dedication, and deep-rooted heritage.
