Breckland Orchard was founded in Spring 2009 by Claire Martinsen. Claire has a degree in Marketing and then spent 12 years working for the International company Mars, working with brands such as Twix, Snickers, Whiskas and Uncle Bens. Claire had an exciting and rewarding role as an Account Director looking after a turnover of £300million. She looked after a group of supermarket customers, and was also responsible for the instore marketing strategy for all chocolate brands. But with two children [Wilf and Alice] – at that time aged one and three – the endless commuting couldn’t be sustained and she knew it was time to re-appraise. So was leaving a job to start a new company in a credit crunch crazy?
She left the corporate life to set up a rural business in Norfolk making soft drinks [or Posh Pop as we prefer to call them!]
She took her inspiration from the drinks her granny Jessie made her as child. Jessies lemonade was legendary, over time drinks seem to have changed and Claire wanted to give Wilf and Alice the clean fresh taste that she remembered from her own childhood. Breckland Orchard drinks are made with a base of Norfolk spring water and contain no artificial colours, flavours or sweeteners.
Breckland Orchard have a range of eight drinks currently – all bottled in 275ml glass bottles, and with innovative flavour combinations such as Ginger Beer with Chilli, Strawberry & Rhubarb and Sloe Lemonade. She was absolutely thrilled that the high quality of the product was recognised by the Guild of Fine Food who awarded Breckland Orchard Ginger Beer with Chilli Gold in their 2009 Great Taste Awards, just four months after starting The awards are known as the Oscars of the Fine food world, so it was fabulous recognition.
Breckland Orchard supplies approximately 600 outlets throughout the length and breadth of the UK via a network of national wholesalers. Oulets include National Trust East of England, Harvey Nichols, as wells as cafes, farm shops, food halls and gastropubs.
Claire was awarded the EDP/Shaping Norfolks Future Award for the Best Start Up Business in Norfolk 2010, as well as being the current East of England Businesswomen Best New Business. Breckland
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