At Footprint Digital, we believe that great strategy comes from stepping outside the day-to-day, thinking big, and learning from businesses that inspire us to do things differently, and brilliantly.
That’s why each year, our management team comes together for ‘Game Day’: our annual strategy and goal-setting session designed to align departments and spark fresh ideas ahead of the new financial year (which, for us, begins on 1st July).
A key part of the day involves visiting another business to gain insight into how they operate and lead. Last year, it was the Houses of Parliament. This year, we had the pleasure of spending the day at Wilkin & Sons Ltd. (better known to most as Tiptree Jam!)
It couldn’t have been a better fit for the themes of courage and patience, beautifully introduced to us by Michael Scanlon.
Wilkin & Sons is a brand that exemplifies both. With a heritage dating back to 1757, they’ve built a reputation for quality that’s recognised around the world. Today, they produce an astonishing 350,000 jars of jam every single day, and yet their approach remains grounded in thoughtful, long-term progress and testing.
What stood out most was their commitment to both business innovation and sustainability. Since making their very first pot of jam, Tiptree has continually evolved, embracing new technologies (including AI) while staying true to their roots.
Their farm is home to 18 beehives, maintained not for honey, but to support pollination across their orchards and fields. At Tiptree farm, these important bees keep their honey. They’re also creating space for biodiversity by building more owl boxes, letting wildflowers flourish, and encouraging insect habitats through long grasses. The wellbeing and safety of their team is clearly a top priority, too.
It was truly inspiring to see such a well-known, global brand operate with such care, conscience, and connection to their local environment. We left with our heads full of ideas, and probably just as many jars of jam!
A big thank you to the Wilkin & Sons team for hosting us, and to our own brilliant team and clients who have made this year such a success. Here’s to the next one, let’s make it even better.
