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 [...]

I’ve had the past 3 days as a ‘mini’ holiday, spending the second part of the half term break with the Mini-Martinsens.  Mr Breckland was away for a long weekend skiing in his native Norway, so it’s been just me and the mini’s for four whole days!  They’re at a magical age – SOOOO much [...]

I was asked a few weeks back if I could record a short interview as part of Global Entrepreneurship Week – and ta-dah here it is to take a peek at! I’m especially passionate about inspiring other women to have a go and start up a business……….I had a one and a three year old [...]

September has flown by in a complete whirl.  Its been a really busy busy couple of weeks at Breckland Orchard and I have been working so hard my feet have barely touched the ground [hence very little time to blog - apologies]. And on top of a gigantic workload, my little girl has started school! [...]

The most common misconception about me is that I’m measured, detailed and organised in the way that I work! Oh my gosh…..my nearest and dearest know that I am anything but – and a glance at my desk would tell you that too. I work at a million miles an hour, cause mess along the [...]

Six weeks of school summer holidays – blessing or problem?  Its the ongoing conundrum that all mothers have!  It’s blissful having the little ones around all day long, stepping off the conveyor belt of school runs etc……..but it takes some proper planning to juggle the summer holidays around work. That’s one of the key reasons [...]

I’m always one for a challenge and yesterday I completed a personal challenge by running a 10km race!  I am by no means a natural athelete but sheer will power and determination hauled me round.  There were a lot of folk who did a combination of walking and running, but I was absolutely determined to [...]

Last Friday was the third anniversary of having launched Breckland Orchard – yipeeee! My feelings change – on one hand it doesn’t feel brand-new, but at the same time three years in the life of a new brand and a new business is nothing at all!  I am loving the challenges and the pure enjoyment [...]

My interest in Marketing was piqued by an article in the Sunday Times Magazine back in 1985 – it was a series about careers and one of the roles it talked about was Marketing.  At that time it was an almost unknown ‘art’ and I guess that’s what drew my attention to the article [I've [...]

I have written before of my eclectic way of life as an entrepreneur and last Friday was no different!  In the morning I was to be found in the swimming pool – taking my little 2 year old to her weekly swimming lesson.  She is too young to swim by herself, so the lessons involve [...]

This September has been all change in the Martinsen household….like thousands of other 4 year olds, my little son started school.  He’s growing up and starting on the path of formal education! My children being at school was one of the major drivers behind me starting Breckland Orchard last year…….I just didn’t want to be [...]

I had a very memorable day last Friday – but rather one that I would forget…..crawling around the M25 at a snails pace, caught up in Friday/school holiday/roadworks activity! Prior to starting Breckland Orchard I worked for Mars in Slough, and commuted there a couple of days a week, staying down one or two nights [...]

OK, so I started Breckland Orchard to work closer to home and spend less time commuting and more time with  the mini-Martinsens.  This past week I have been run off my feet – first two days exhibiting at Harrogate at Speciality Food, less than 24 hours at home and then off to another exhibition at [...]

Was I crazy to start up a new business right in the middle of a credit crunch, and give up a safe and well paid job?  I gave up my job at Mars at the end of 2008, after having had done a very tough commute to work for more years than I care to [...]

A conscious decision to abandon my long commute to work in order to spend more time with my two little ones – resulted in a ‘what now’ moment!  I had spent 12 happy years in Mars in a sales/marketing role, and had always loved the food industry.  Having the children had brought back real memories [...]

Welcome to my blog!  My name is Claire Martinsen and I have recently set up a soft drinks company called Breckland Orchard.  Its a world away from my previous job with Mars, the chocolate company.  I was an Account Director looking after a portfolio of some of our top supermarket customers and also some of [...]