Profiting from classic English recipes

Eldon Robson's plans to enter the family soft drinks business were scuppered when it folded while he was in his teens. But times change, and now Fentiman's classic brews are back in fashion.

From felling trees and clearing quarries to running a launderette, Eldon Robson has had an eclectic career. It's partly because the 57-year-old Northumberland native's original plan to enter his family's business was scuppered when it folded while he was in his teens.

Fentimans "was quite a substantial soft drinks business in the North East of England", he says, with five factories in its heyday, making everything from lemonade and ginger beer to vinegar. But by the 1960s, plastic bottles and artificial flavourings were all the rage and Fentimans, with its old stone jars and home-brewed herbal botanical beers, was seen as old-fashioned and fell out of favour.

Subscribe to MoneyWeek

Subscribe to MoneyWeek today and get your first six magazine issues absolutely FREE

Get 6 issues free
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/mw70aro6gl1676370748.jpg

Sign up to Money Morning

Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter

Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter

Sign up
Jody Clarke

Jody studied at the University of Limerick and was a senior writer for MoneyWeek. Jody is experienced in interviewing, for example digging into the lives of an ex-M15 agent and quirky business owners who have made millions. Jody’s other areas of expertise include advice on funds, stocks and house prices.