Meghan Markle’s brand, As Ever, has officially launched and all of the nine products sold out within minutes – despite some being more than double the price of high-street retailers. The Duchess of Sussex, 43, has been working on her lifestyle brand since last year, after various setbacks regarding its trademark.
Meghan’s brand is thought to release new product collections seasonally. For its first spring collection, the products included: a raspberry spread with and without the keepsake packaging, herbal lemon ginger tea, herbal peppermint tea, herbal hibiscus tea, edible flower sprinkles, crepe mix, shortbread cookie mix with flower sprinkles included and limited-edition wildflower honey with honeycomb. But after taking a look at what was on offer, The Daily Express caught up with Jameson Stocks who weighed in on products and suggested that the price points were ridiculous, while also claiming they were “extreme.”
Jameson Stocks owns a string of restaurants including the chain Streed Food by Jameson. The chef has also cooked for King Charles III and is a proud supporter of the Prince’s Trust.
He said: “I feel that her shop is geared towards the elite and people with more money than sense – and not the everyday person.
“I’m not sure if it’s her who has set the prices but for me seems a little bit extreme,” he added.
Meghan’s limited-edition honey is priced at $28 [£21.28]. It is described on the website as having: “Earthy and floral notes, a glimmering golden hue, and a stunning honeycomb nestled within the jar.”
We compared it to high-street retailer Lild which sells a “Deluxe” Manuka Honey for a fraction of the cost – it retails at £5.55.
It is widely reported that manuka honey contains methylglyoxal, which is described as being a magic ingredient due to containing antibacterial and antimicrobial properties.
Jameson was left shocked at the price of Meghan’s honey.
He said: “Honey can be expensive, but it has to be amazing for that price. I have so many amazing independent beekeepers around where I live and it’s a fraction of Meghan’s.
Throughout her new cooking show ‘With Love, Meghan’, which landed on Netflix on March 4, the Duchess often used edible flowers.
She was seen decorating a string of dishes with them including doughnuts, a crostini, a fruit platter and a frittata.
The expert branded these a “joke” and was left baffled that she priced them at $15 (£11.40). After a quick search online we found a similar option from Marks and Spencer’s for just £2.50.
Jameson shared: “The flower sprinkles are a joke as well. You can go into the garden and dry them out yourself. It’s just bizarre.”
However, Jameson said that her Raspberry Spread which retails at $9 [£6.83] is not totally unreasonable, if you don’t add on the premium packaging which costs $14 [£10.68], in total this would set you back $23 [£17.54].
“The jam is likely the most reasonable option, though it is still quite a bit pricier than standard jam. However, considering it is a premium product, the price seems appropriate. Ultimately, it all comes down to personal preference, taste and affordability to that person,” he said.
The expert added: “I believe her pricing is aimed at the elite and those with more disposable income than practicality, certainly not accessible for the average person, especially in today’s climate of rising living costs, her shop and products are in line with her program. It’s not for everyone.”