OK…I accept in the UK the 17th of May isn’t the most famous of days, but in Norway its HUGE [and I mean really really huge] – it marks the day in 1814 when Norway signed a constitution to mark its independence.  Back in Norway its the chance for everyone to go completely nationalistic, wave [...]

I do most things VERY fast…………….and that can be a good or a bad thing in business I know!  Often its a plus….even now I am touch typing at speed, which means I can type things very fast, I think fast, I am a bit of a whirlwind to be around.  As the lovely Pip [...]

Isn’t May just glorious – loving all the blossom….sad its only here for such a short time.  Things that you have to wait for somehow always seem better eh? The pink of the blossom reminded me of the pinkness of the tree on the Cream Soda with a splash of rhubarb variety….somethings are just meant [...]

I’ve often reflected and shared in this blog just how difficult balancing a corporate career and a family is.  Four years ago I worked for a large corporate, but having my two mini-Martinsens was a key driver to starting Breckland Orchard……balancing a career for a large company with children is very tough. Marissa Mayer of [...]

I was at a big Trade Show at the NEC a few weeks back and two folk came to my stand who worked for a [rather big] competitor.  Their badges said they worked in ‘new product development’ or ‘flavour development’ or something like that.  They wanted to know who it was who came up with [...]

Hasn’t this lovely weather just recently been just glorious?  And the 1st May Bank holiday always feels like we are hurtling towards summer.  And sun in the sky always puts people in a cheery mood…..especially at Breckland Orchard HQ. Enjoy

One of the very best bits of running Breckland Orchard is speaking to people who are thinking of starting up their own farmshop or cafe.  They either drop us an email or we meet at a Trade Show.  It’s not that long ago that I started up Breckland Orchard, and I still remember that mix [...]

I heard Andy Hill speak recently….extolling the virtues of being a small business owner and how it varies SOOOO much from working in a big corporate.  And he was right – it’s very different, and different in a really good way.  I worked in the world of big business before starting Breckland Orchard and the [...]

Was completely honoured to have been selected as an ‘Industry Profile’ on the highly influential Caffe Culture website….which is a site about all things to do with the Coffee Shop Industry. Take a peek at the article here……or if you want a sneak preview of my retirement plans then here goes! Q: Ideally, what will [...]

I am off to the NEC this weekend for the Farm and Deli Show – it runs Sunday to Tuesday.  I’m looking forward to meeting new and existing customers of course, and to showcasing Breckland Orchard and the fabulous range of boutique soft drinks that we have here……but it also means being away from home [...]

Pip and spent last Tuesday at Wayland Academy helping out with some business advice and business coaching!  The entire Year 9 group spent the day doing a business event organised by the fab team at Inspired Youth. The students worked on a project related to the tourism industry in East Anglia. It was a hectic [...]

Setting up a new business is a bit like heading off into the unknown. Much like going on a travel trip you can do lots of planning and set a course and destination…but until you actually get started you really have no idea what it will actually be like when you are on the way! [...]

This week Pip and I are at IFE at Excel.  It’s a bi-annual International Food Exhibition drawing exhibitors and visitors from across the world.  It’s MASSIVE – dwarfing every other trade show that we do through the year.  We’re in North Hall, where exhibitors are split by country.  Across the way there is an equally [...]

I got this photo via Twitter of my bottles in Qatar. Needless to say squeals of delights and a feeling of complete pride. I get a little heart flutter when I see my bottles on the shelf of a cafe, farmshop or deli.  Four years in the delight hasn’t dimmed and I know it just [...]

I was with a big group of small business owners yesterday and we got asked if we were ‘entrepreneurs’ – of course not came back the unanimous reply, we’re just small business owners. Entrepreneurs are ‘famous’ folk like Anita Roddick or Alan Sugar. I can categorically state that I would NEVER introduce myself, as ‘an [...]

Today is International Woman’s Day – a global event around the world….aiming to raise the role of women. It’s even a national holiday in 27 countries. Since its birth in the socialist movement, International Women’s Day has grown to become a global day of recognition and celebration across developed and developing countries alike.  Women’s organisations [...]

Claire and I recently got wrapped up and trekked over with armfuls of bottles and Claire’s camera to take some photos of our lovely Posh Pop! We were admittedly a little apprehensive about how they would turn out, being a sip-in-the-glorious-sunshine drink. However, a sprinkle of crisp, Spring-time sun and some creative flare meant that we were snapping [...]

  Yahoooo – we are very excited about seeing all the snowdrops coming through…..We love Spring here at Breckland Orchard HQ  

Happy St David’s Day! I grew up in the Wye Valley, which as I frequently explain to  isn’t ‘real’ Wales….but Welsh enough to have grown up celebrating St David’s Day and singing in the Eisteddfod at school. I grew up in a very small village called Llangwm…….between Usk and Chepstow!  I’m not sure village is [...]

So 2012 was a truly hectic year, lots of things going on and particularly rewarding, lots of lovely feedback! We absolutely adore our customers – of course, where would we be without them? But more than that … they give us motivation and more often than not, the inspiration for our Posh Pop. We cannot [...]