Meghan Markle has finally revealed what the new packaging for her jam looks like – but the fresh look has left people baffled.
The Duchess of Sussex, 43, this week revealed the first glimpses of her As Ever raspberry spread – after revamping her American Riviera Orchard brand.
The jam pots are embellished with white labels and gold detailing, including the logo and metal lid.
Shoppers will receive their long-awaited pots in a very elaborate white case – which is almost twice the size of the product itself.
On social media, people were left baffled by the design, expecting it to contain a ‘perfume’ or a ‘candle’ instead. Others expressed environmental concerns over the amount of packaging used.
One person wrote: ‘Meghan!!!!!!! It’s just jam! It doesn’t require an entire presentation. This packaging is as pretentious as she is.’
Others said: ‘How much does the cost of the packaging add to the spread ? It’s not jam’;
‘That’s a perfume box’;
Meghan Markle has finally revealed what the new packaging for her jam looks like – but the fresh look has left people baffled. Pictured by Meghan’s friend Kelly McKee Zajfen
‘Seems like a lot of extra packaging for a company that wants to be environmentally aware’;
‘I was like, no it can’t be, she wouldn’t do that for jam, it must be a nice candle, maybe a bracelet, no, it’s f-kin jam, brilliant’;
Others noted that the actual jar of jam was quite small compared to the sizeable white box.
‘How much is that teeny tiny jar of spread?’ one person wondered.
Taking to Instagram, Meghan’s brand shared a glimpse into the production line, which showed workers donning plastic gloves shovelling raspberries into pots before the jars underwent a series of machinery processes.
The post, captioned, ‘Here we go!’, racked up likes from some of the duchess’s nearest and dearest, including her former Suits co-star, Abigail Spencer.
The 43-year-old has also shared a string of posts from her nearest and dearest on Instagram, who are promoting her upcoming As Ever products, including raspberry jam.
Among them was celebrity hairdresser Ben Skervin, who enjoyed the sweet red jam on crumpets alongside a chai latte.
Shoppers will receive their long-awaited pots in a very elaborate white case
On social media, people were left baffled by the design, expecting it to contain a ‘perfume’ or a ‘candle’ instead
While the mother-of-two may have helped develop the recipe, her raspberry spread is made in a factory
He wrote: ‘Delicious afternoon treat crumpets with butter and @asever raspberry spread. It really is addictive. Thank you @meghan’.
Meghan’s former Suits co-star and close friend Abigail Spencer also raved about As Ever products to her 845 thousand followers, holding up the jam, which will soon be available for the public to purchase, in its ‘Keepsake Packaging’.
Meghan also reposted a snap from the owner of Pilates Platinum, Heather Dorak, who shared footage of her son enjoying the jam on toast.
She wrote alongside the sweet clip: ‘Current nighttime snack obsession @aseverofficial @meghan’.
Meghan originally teased her new jam last year, when she sent jars to 50 of her closest friends and influencers when she soft-launched her lifestyle brand last April, including The Office star Mindy Kaling.
The mystery of the ranked jars was finally solved earlier this month, when she released her Netflix cookery show, With Love, Meghan.
‘When I received that in the mail, a box of your preserves, it was probably one of the most glamourous moments of my life,’ Mindy gushed.
However, she continued, the TV actress was thrown by the labelling on it that said ’50’ because ‘I’m a very hierarchical person’.
The As Ever Raspberry Spread will soon be available for the public to purchase, and mega Meghan fans can get their jar in a keepsake packaging (pictured)
The jam that Meghan shared with celebrity pal under the previous name for her lifestyle brand
Staff donned plastic gloves and arranged the jars, which will soon be available for the public to purchase, on shelves
The Duchess of Sussex, 43, opened up about the branding activation during an episode of her new Netflix series With Love, Meghan that features a guest appearance from Mindy Kaling
The Office star, who was one of the recipients of the jam, questioned whether they had been ranked in order of their friendship with the Duchess
‘Does having a lower number make me more special? Does having…’ she trailed off before Meghan replied: ‘I did not think about it. It was not a ranking.’
‘It was just let me share them and then, people started to take it very personally,’ she continued.
However, the first one was reserved for Meghan’s mother Doria Ragland, the duchess added.
The other recipients – including Chrissy Teigen, Kris Jenner, Tracee Ellis Ross, and fellow polo wife Delfina Balquier – were all on equal footing, Meghan reassured Mindy.
‘Anyone who got one of those 50 jars that I was making on my stove, in my actual kitchen, at my house, I hope they all felt like “No, I want to share this with you”,’ the mother-of-two said.
It comes after Meghan launched an Instagram shop selling products she endorses in a commercial tie-up that is sure to be lucrative – as the world anticipates her long-awaited merchandise line As Ever.
The products being promoted by Meghan include a sleeveless gown costing more than £1,000, £600 Saint Laurent sandals and earrings which will set buyers back £200 – while other handpicked pieces included brands such as Heidi Merrick, Reformation and J Crew.
One of the reasons Meghan and Prince Harry parted ways with the Royal Family was the monarchy’s refusal to accept commercial endorsements by the couple.
Meghan invited numerous friends, including Abigail Spencer (pictured left), to cook dishes on her Netflix show- As Ever, Meghan
The Duchess, 43, who stepped back from frontline royal duties alongside her husband in 2020, wrote over a screen-recorded video of her new online store: ‘Many of you have asked, so here you go! A little shopping to start the week.’
The link opens to a ShopMy storefront and Meghan’s first drop includes a £148 white linen shirt, Heidi Merrick’s ‘Windsor’ gown for an eye-watering £1,068, and a Maya Brenner necklace called ‘The Happiness Retreat’ priced at almost £400.
A disclaimer on the website, which was launched shortly after Meghan released a new picture of Archie and Lilibet, reads: ‘Please note, some products may contain commissionable links.’
The Duchess’s latest online activity comes after she faced a critical backlash over her recent new Netflix series.
Shortly after the storefront went live, some of the third-party websites – including of Neiman Marcus – went down as the Duchess’ fans rushed to get their hands on a pair of tan-coloured Saint Laurent mules that she has been spotted in on several occasions.
The Duchess – whose Netflix lifestyle show ‘With Love, Meghan’ was renewed for a second season despite negative reviews – is likely to earn a commission or cut on the sale of some of the clothes and accessories she promotes.
The wardrobe comprises mostly elevated basics, including linen shirts, crewneck sweaters, sunglasses, and handbags, in neutral shades like beige, brown, white, black, and navy blue.
Meghan teased there is ‘more to come’ ahead of the launch of her lifestyle company As Ever, following a significant rebrand and name change from American Riviera Orchard.
But Meghan’s merchandise website has been met with criticism online, with one social media user accusing the Duchess of Sussex of ‘getting away with monetising the monarchy’.
Another comment read: ‘There you have it folks… All she ever dreamed of doing since she got notoriety: cash in like any 2-bit influencer, via affiliate links. The second hand embarrassment is real.’
Affiliate marketers earn money via commissionable links leading to shop websites, which pay out a small percentage of the profit to the influencer if their followers purchase an item.
Meghan and Harry were said to have an estimated £34million private fortune to fund their new life after quitting as senior royals in January 2020 – but with the prospect of making more with various business ventures such as book deals, TV deals, public speaking and fashion and brand partnerships.
In their online statement announcing their departure back then, the couple said they had been ‘prohibited from earning any income in any form’, as they revealed they would give up their income from the Sovereign Grant – the money taxpayers give to the monarch each year.
