Our Story

A Family Business

Good things can sprout from humble beginnings. Founder Marilyn Rootham started Rootham Gourmet Preserves in 1983 as a way to put the bountiful harvest from her family’s garden to good use. She started selling her jams and preserves at farmers’ markets and to cottagers in Muskoka. Over time, she developed recipes that have become perennial favorites such as Rootham’s Tangy Red  Pepper Jelly. Marilyn’s son Will Rootham-Roberts joined the company in 2010. While Will has developed new products and expanded co-packing and private label services, the company’s commitment to craft food production – local, small batch and all-natural – remains unchanged.

Rootham’s began as a locally owned and operated business and they intend to stay that way. In fact, we’re about as local as a food business can be. Not only do we source fresh, hand-picked ingredients from local growers, we also distribute our Rootham-branded product only through small-scale independent retailers. In a nutshell, we use local ingredients to make local products sold by local businesses in your community. We call that a virtuous circle and for us, that’s a winning strategy. 

Rootham provides a full range of co-packing and private label services to farmers, chefs, restaurants, food retailers and craft food entrepreneurs. Interested in finding out more? Email: info@roothamsgourmet.com or call 1-800-205-3576.

Calling all foodies! We would love to hear from you. Got a product idea, feedback or recipe using a Rootham product?

Email us at info@roothamsgourmet.com or drop us a line on social media

Facebook: @roothamgourmet

Instagram: @roothamgourmetpreserves