Meghan Markle recently gifted fifty friends with jars of her “American Riviera Orchard” strawberry jam, sparking a wave of digital gratitude on Instagram. Recipients such as Tracy Robbins and Delfina Blaquier posted photos of their jars, praising the luxurious packaging and delicious contents. Despite the positive response, the jam is not yet available for purchase to the public.
The American Riviera Orchard website currently only offers a waitlist for interested customers, with no further details about the brand’s offerings. This exclusivity has drawn comparisons to other celebrity lifestyle brands, such as Martha Stewart and Gwyneth Paltrow’s ventures. The decision to announce the brand without immediate access to products raises questions about the launch strategy and the ability to generate interest among consumers.
The delay in product availability is reminiscent of Meghan Markle’s past business ventures, including a podcast deal that received mixed reviews before being cancelled. American Riviera Orchard faces the challenge of selling its products to American consumers, despite Meghan Markle’s connections to influential figures like Oprah Winfrey and Ted Sarandos. The brand’s success will depend on its ability to appeal to a wider audience beyond the initial recipients of the strawberry jam.
In the UK, where Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have faced scrutiny from the media, the launch of American Riviera Orchard has attracted attention from Fleet Street tabloids. The Daily Mail, known for its critical coverage of the couple, analyzed the brand’s soft launch with a mix of skepticism and cautious optimism. Marketing experts noted the focus on the product rather than the celebrity behind it, highlighting the potential for the brand to evolve over time.
The future of American Riviera Orchard remains uncertain as consumers await more information about the brand’s offerings beyond the waitlist. Meghan Markle’s foray into the lifestyle market has generated both excitement and skepticism, as she navigates the challenges of launching a new business venture amidst public scrutiny. Whether the brand can succeed in appealing to a diverse audience and gaining traction in the competitive market remains to be seen.
