Meghan Markle has sold her followers an idyllic image. According to her, her As Everproducts come directly from her garden and beehives in Montecito, California. However, Daily Mail has revealed that the reality is very different.
Apparently, the products, which include jams and honey, are made thousands of miles from her home. The plant where they're produced is in Illinois, far from the luxurious California neighborhood where she lives with Prince Harry.
This discovery reveals that the country lifestyle Meghan promotes isn't reflected in the actual production process. The brand, although linked to her name, relies on an external company to manufacture its products.
Industrial production with support from Netflix
The company responsible is The Republic of Tea, a large American company. Although it has offices in California, its main factory is in Illinois. This firm also creates products for Netflix, such as a promotional jam for the famous series Bridgerton.
The partnership between Meghan and Netflix goes beyond audiovisual content production. Netflix not only supports the series, but they're also a partner in the As Ever business. This backing has made large-scale manufacturing and distribution possible.
In a statement, both companies stated that they work with vendors who meet strict standards to ensure quality products. However, they also acknowledged that the manufacturer could change in the future.
From American Riviera Orchard to As Ever: the reasons for this change
Originally, Meghan registered another brand called American Riviera Orchard. This name was more closely linked to local production. However, after a year, she decided to change it to As Ever.
The duchess explained that American Riviera Orchard limited her business to products grown only in that area. By changing the name, she made it clear that her products wouldn't be tied exclusively to Montecito.
This change foreshadowed the revelation that her products are made far from her home. In fact, Meghan acknowledged that Netflix was key in the development and distribution of her products, both in the series and in business.
Criticism of Meghan on social media doesn't stop
Meghan has reinforced the idea of a natural life on her social media. She shares videos picking strawberries and Swiss chard with her children, wearing white clothes and a straw hat.
On the cover of People, she appears in farming attire, reinforcing the image of a woman who grows and produces what she sells. She even showed on her show that she keeps a homemade jar of jam she made for her mother.
However, a source close to the duchess confirmed to Daily Mail that Meghan's homemade version was only the starting point. They later developed a recipe suitable for industrial production.
An inspired but industrial brand
The product is described as "inspired by the recipe Meghan prepares at home." Even so, the manufacturing is similar to other commercial brands, mass-produced at the Illinois factory.
Although it has been proven that her products aren't local, the sale has been carried out at high prices. The jam, for example, is sold for nearly 8 euros, while the price of the honey reaches 24 euros per jar. Although her products show sold out on the website, the reality of the process is far from the image that's been projected.
This strategy has caused surprise and criticism, since the story of a simple and craft-made life doesn't match the industrial production behind it. The partnership with Netflix adds another layer of commercial and media interest to the brand.
The As Ever brand between image and business
Meghan Markle has created a brand that combines personal image and business backed by large companies. The gap between the life she shows and the industrial manufacturing process reflects a very carefully planned commercial strategy.
Although her lifestyle is associated with nature and manual labor, the business reality is closer to a large factory than to her garden in Montecito. This duality has been key to the success and also to the controversies surrounding her project.