LONG-running Stanley preserves and condiments company JimJam Foods is cooking up more ideas for its premium range.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
JimJam Foods will add six products to its line of jams, preserves and meals before the end of the year.
Owners Steven van den Bergh and Maggie Mackenzie now offer 38 products under their gourmet food label, which is sold Australia-wide and overseas.
Mr van den Bergh said among the new JimJam offerings would be a tequila salsa.
He said they had half a tonne of prickly pear to develop the new salsa product.
“People have engaged with it really well,” he said.
“Some will be exported to Dubai and Singapore.”
Having founded JimJam on a dare almost two decades ago, graphic designer by trade Mr van den Bergh wanted to prove he could make the tastiest jam on the Melbourne cafe market.
He made nine jars of raspberry jam for a Brunswick cafe.
“When I went back in and couldn’t see them on the counter I asked what they’d done with them!” he said.
“They’d sold them and ordered another 12 jars of raspberry jam.
“That’s how it started.”
Mr van den Bergh and Ms Mackenzie relocated the business from Melbourne to Stanley in 2005.
With a design background, Mr van den Bergh’s brightly colour-coded labels were ahead of the game.
“Now it’s de rigueur around the world to colour code your food labels,” he said.
Mr van den Bergh said they used 30 tonnes of Australian tomatoes a year in their products.
“The tomatoes come from Kagome at Echuca,” he said.
JimJam Foods opened a showroom on its Stanley property during October.
It will join the High Country Harvest program with its Battle of the Beans contest on May 19.
Competitors will battle it out for the title of Top Bean in a cooking competition at JimJam Farm.
With access to the commercial kitchen and a wide range of spices, entry is open to 12 participants.
Guests are invited to a lunch feast and the crowning of Top Bean. Lunch limited to 25.
Battle of the Beans runs from 10am to 2pm.
For details visit highcountryharvest.com.au.