When you think about the pioneers of the sustainable farming movement, the Prince of Wales may not be the first name that springs to mind. More well-known for his title and royal responsibilities, few people on this side of the pond realize that Prince Charles actually created one of the first and most successful organic and locally-sourced food companies in the world.
His Royal Highness Prince Charles’ interest in organic farming began over thirty years ago when he decided to put his passion for healthy and sustainable food sources into action. In 1986 he transformed 900 acres of farmland surrounding Highgrove House, his family’s estate, into a model of large-scale organic agriculture.
The success of the Duchy Home Farm, as it is called, eventually led to the 1992 launch of Duchy Originals, a line of sustainably produced products made from organic ingredients. Founded entirely on the principle that each product “is good, does good, tastes good” the brand went on to develop over 200 products, with the profits being used to fund the prince’s charities.
It hasn’t all been an easy row to hoe for HRH Prince Charles, however. Following several years of success, the Duchy brand struggled in the mid-2000s as the British economy sagged and luxury product sales plummeted. The turnaround came in 2009 when the prince partnered up with Waitrose, a premium UK grocery chain. Waitrose invested in the Duchy brand and in turn was given the exclusive rights to sell the organic products in the UK.
Today, the first Duchy Originals product, the ever popular Oaten Biscuit baked by Walkers Shortbread of Scotland, is still near and dear to Prince Charles’ heart. Speaking at an anniversary event in 2013, the Prince reflected on the Duchy story:
“Who would have thought that 21 years later, Oaten Biscuit would have turned into a brand worth [$115.2 million], sold in over 30 countries with 230 different lines, and most encouragingly, would have donated over [$17.6 million] to charitable causes?”
Did You Know?
The Aberlour village, home of Walkers Shortbread, is a scenic town in the Scottish Highlands. Visitors to this hidden treasure can stock up on shortbreads, biscuits and cookies in the original Walkers store on High Street, take a tour of the Aberlour Whiskey Distillery and soak up the breathtaking beauty of Scotland’s rugged beauty.
Prince Charles – The “Green” Grocer presented by
