In a previous article I wrote about 4 men that achieved financial success before their 22nd birthday.
Quite a few of my clients and friends actually researched Fraser Doherty because his story intrigued them, as it did me.
Considering all the feedback I got I felt that I should share his story with you here.
At 14, Doherty started making jams from his grandmother’s recipes in Edinburgh, Scotland.
His customer base consisted of a few neighbors and friends from his church, but business picked up quickly, and by age 16, he left school to work on his jams full time.
He tweaked his recipes and came up with a name for his product: SuperJam.
Orders picked up faster than he could produce the jam–made from only fruit and fruit juice–in his parents’ kitchen, so Doherty started renting out a factory a few days each month.
In early 2007, Waitrose, a high-end supermarket in the U.K, approached Doherty hoping to sell his SuperJam products in their stores.
Within months there were SuperJam jars on the shelves of 184 Waitrose stores, lifting Doherty and his business to new heights.
Doherty borrowed £5,000 from a bank to cover general expenses and more factory time to produce three flavors: Blueberry & Blackcurrant, Rhubarb & Ginger and Cranberry & Raspberry. (He has since added an Orange & Passion Fruit flavor.)
Tesco followed, adding Doherty’s products to 300 stores across the U.K.
Doherty’s roster of retailers now includes Asda Wal-Mart in the U.K., Morrisons and Tesco in Ireland.
Doherty also launched a charitable project 2008 called the SuperJam Tea Parties.
Since the program’s inception, SuperJam has hosted over 100 tea parties in Scotland, England and Wales for elderly people who live alone or in nursing homes.
“Guests often cry at the end of the afternoon since they’ve had so much fun,” says Doherty.
The events–including live music, dancing and drinks–have attracted as many as 500 guests.
His brand is growing and organized events such as ‘knitathons’ encouraging the public to knit for good causes.
In 2008, several thousand knitted squares were collected, sewn into blankets and sent to orphanages in India. And in 2010 he published his first book.
Now, at the age of 22, he has his whole life ahead of him and I’m sure we’ll hear more from this remarkable individual in the years to come.
Don’t be surprised when you see SuperJam in your local supermarket.
Adrian Shepherd