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13 November 2020
Malvern St James Girls’ School, Old Girl and entrepreneur, Jo Hilditch (St James’ 1973-1976) joined us for our first virtual OGA Lecture on Thursday 12 November.
Jo joined us online from her home in Herefordshire where she spoke to our Sixth Form girls about her time at School in Malvern and journey to becoming Managing Director of White Heron Drinks. Jo is passionate about championing women in business and has become a local success story with national impact; developing Britain’s very first brand of Cassis.
Jo is a fourth-generation blackcurrant farmer based in Herefordshire and the family have provided around 350 tonnes of blackcurrants to Ribena each year for over 50 years. In 2005 with a 50 tonnes surplus Jo set about creating her very own brand of Cassis.
In 2015 Jo pitched to the Dragons on BBC’s Dragon’s Den and received offers from three Dragons which she politely declined. With the re-brand that followed White Heron Drinks has gone from strength to strength and is now stocked nationwide including retailers Waitrose and Partners, Fortnum and Mason, Harvey Nichols and Whole Foods.
The girls were able to ask questions at the end of the lecture and Jo has kindly offered to come into School to host a Cassis tasting evening as soon as restrictions allow.
