Jam Guru Dona Collins’ products quickly sold out online, followed by Meghan Markle’s “as ever” apricot spread.
“It’s really disappointing that Meghan is selling fruit spreads. It’s something you make when your jam doesn’t work,” noted the owner of Jerry Queens. “In the jam world, we call it a product that didn’t quite make the cut. Even if it has top-notch ingredients, if the jam is too runny, we throw a label on it and call it a spread.”
Collins also expressed concerns about Markle’s choice of apricots, which he described as “traditional” but using pesticides. “And using pectin? Unless her spread was too liquid, pectin is a gelling agent. Most spreads don’t typically use it,” he pointed out.
Markle’s apricot spread, released on a Friday, sold out in minutes with individual bottles priced at $9 and commemorative packages at $14.
Yet, Collins acknowledged that Markle’s ability to sell out could be attributed to her “small batch” approach. “I’m not sure who’s behind her efforts, but it’s clear—it’s not Meghan. It seems like there’s a lack of know-how.”
Attempts to reach Collins or his representatives for further comment went unanswered.
Markle, who is 43, first announced her lifestyle brand in March 2024, hinting at a jam launch the next month. Initially, she gifted simple jars to friends, but by April 2024, it was revealed she had worked on this venture for over a year, pouring her heart into it.
However, when their product launched in April 2025, it had transformed from jam to spread, selling out almost immediately.
This year, criticism on Markle has escalated, especially after her Netflix series “With Love, Meghan,” along with her podcast “Female Founder Confessions,” which followed the cancellation of her “Archetype” series in 2023.
