For Don, the founder of Winnie’s Original, food has always been more than something to eat, it has been a powerful connection to culture, family, and creativity. But the story didn’t begin with long-established family farms or generations of culinary tradition. It began with a longing: the desire for great food, for new flavours, for the freedom to experiment.

While studying design at age 20, Don travelled to Jamaica for the first time to meet his grandparents, an encounter that would shape the rest of his life. Clara and Herbert lived on the side of a small gulley in St Andrew, their home surrounded by an abundant garden overflowing with herbs, spices, medicinal plants, vegetables, and fruit trees. It was a sensory awakening.

As Don walked through the garden, his grandmother excitedly introducing each plant and its purpose, something clicked. And when he stepped into their kitchen (where the aromas were rich, comforting, and completely unforgettable) his imagination lit up. The flavours of that meal, blessed by his grandfather and shared with warmth, would stay with him forever.

That experience sparked a creative pursuit tht blended instinct, memory, and artistry. Don travelled in search of flavours that were exciting and inspiring. In 2012, after gifting colleagues some homemade damson jam, the seed of Winnie’s Original was planted. Nearly a decade of experimentation followed; trying new ingredients, playing with spices and herbs, adapting based on real customer feedback, and refining the vision.

Winnie’s Original is named after his mother, a tribute to the culinary passion she passed on. At its heart lies a celebration of cultural diversity, embodied in Jamaica’s national motto: “Out of many, one people.” Don’s mission is to bring that spirit to the table, marrying the familiar with the adventurous, the comforting with the bold.

Today, Winnie’s Original is recognised with numerous accolades form the Quality Food Awards (including Small Producer of the Year in 2024) championed by judges and cherished by customers, yet the essence remains the same: heartfelt creativity, rooted in experience, shared through flavour.

Thank you to our panelists: 

• Don Martin, Founder, Winnie’s Original
• Susan Arkley, Food Developer, Consultant and Lecturer, Foodier
• Sergey Chekmarev, Director, Food Service UK, Circana
• Ekta Patel, Consultant Food Scientist, Consultant
• Olivia Abrahmsohn, Food Innovation & Sensory Consultant, Tastebud Tickler