Our Story - a Q&A session with Jeremy Benson

Where did the idea for Bensons come from?

I come from a generation of farmers and in 2002 I was visiting my parents at their fruit farm in Lanchester, Northumberland. My father offered me a glass of apple juice that he had made by simply pressing the apples - nothing else added; just fresh fruity apple juice. I thought it tasted great so I took some barrels to a local music festival and sold it all practically immediately. That was the start of Bensons Simply Pressed, now known as BensonsTotally Fruity!

How do you make the juice?

We make our juice in the traditional way using the finest British apples. We press the apples on the farm using a simple process that has been around for centuries.  The farm is situated on an old country estate owned by the National Trust right in the heart of the Cotswolds in Gloucestershire.

In 2006 we tried freezing the juice after trying in vain to find a healthy iced lolly for children in shops. The experiment worked and in 2006 we launched our range of refreshing Chilly Billy iced lollies. What makes us particularly proud about our products is the fact that they are made without adding water or sugar, they are additive and preservative free, and we only use British apples sourced locally whenever available. We never ever use concentrates. All of this makes them suitable for diabetics too.

Describe the Bensons Philosophy?

Our philosophy to use only the finest seasonal British apples is at the core - no pun intended- of what we do.  We believe that by using only Brirish apples we are doing our bit to keep the orchards in the UK thriving especially as 60% of orchards have disappeared since the 1950s. We want to continue to support rural agriculture and are always looking for new suppliers so we can share in the success of others as we continue to grow as a business.

What Is The Bensons Mission?

Our mission is to encourage and support a healthy lifestyle for the whole family through a range of funky and delicious 100% natural fruit juice products.