Waste Nothing & Reap the Benefits

Last year we introduced you to Jenny Dawson, a former hedge fund employee who makes chutneys from waste food. Since then her business Rubies in the Rubble has gone from strength to strength.

Miss Dawson was the winner of the Veuve Clicquot New Generation Award 2014, which celebrates up-and-coming businesswomen under 35 and she has just secured a contract with online grocer Ocado that could see her turnover triple next year.

Not only do Rubies in the Rubble turn unwanted fruit and vegetables into chutney and jam, they make everything by hand, are generous with ingredients, and are committed to the community. They source all their fruit and vegetables from surplus, fresh from the market. The preserves are then stored in glass jars, ensuring everything is kept fresher for longer.

This year, the company has turned 50,000 tonnes of unwanted fruit into chutney and will raise £120,000 in revenue by the year end.

Rubies in the Rubble is currently selling 3,000 jars of preserves, every month through Harvey Nichols, Selfridges, Waitrose stores in London and independent delicatessens. The company also has a stall in London’s Borough Market.

We are curious to know, do you make your own chutneys at home? If so please share your recipes with us! Leave a comment below or get in touch with us on Facebook or tweet us @FriendsofGlassUK.