Jim Jams Chocolate Spread Weight Watchers Points

Jim Jams Chocolate Spread Weight Watchers Points

City worker gives up his high-flying job to make a healthier alternative to Nutella

Kevin Bath, 48, and his wife Kellie, 45, are now the forces behind Jim Jams, which is making waves in the healthier food and drink world

High flyer: Kevin Bath gave up his city career to sell healthy spreads (

Image: East News Press Agency)

A former city worker gave up his hefty salary to make healthy treats after he was so shocked one jar of Nutella contained 57 sugar cubes.

Kevin Bath, who worked in a number of city banks, as well as the London Stock Exchange, was so appalled when he found out how much sugar was in the spread his two youngest children loved that he decided to do something about it.

The 48-year-old and his wife Kellie, 45, from Halstead, in Essex, are now the forces behind Jim Jams, which is making waves in the healthier food and drink world.

Their chocolate spread contains just a small fraction of the sugar in Nutella, while their jams are made up of 35 per cent sugar, just under half the usual concentration in bulk-made jams.

Their jam also contains 60 per cent fruit, almost double the levels in other well-known jam brands.

Career change: Kevin and wife Kellie are making waves with their product, Jim Jams (

Image:

East News Press Agency)

Mr Bath said: "My two youngest children both absolutely loved Nutella and we as a family, I think like many others, were looking at cutting our sugar consumption.

"I was shocked at the amount of sugar in Nutella, so I thought it's time to come up with an alternative.

"And when we started looking, we found jams are typically 60 per cent sugar and 35 per cent fruit, so I thought 'there must be a way to turn that around'.

"Leaving work in June last year was a big leap of faith.

"I was used to having money - not being flush or anything - but being able to go out for dinner and go on holiday and that pretty much changed overnight."

Mr Bath, who began his career in the Royal Navy, added: "The fact is Nutella sales were going through the roof and when we looked at it, it contained 57 sugar cubes.

"The Cadbury's alternative was exactly the same amount of sugar and the own brands from Tesco and Asda were worse.

Healthier: Kevin couldn't believe it when he found out how much sugar was in other spreads (

Image:

East News Press Agency)

"Even with the Weight Watchers alternative, you're still talking more than 50 per cent sugar.

"When we looked around for healthier alternatives, nothing really stood out, so we thought 'here's a gap in the market'.

Read more:McDonald's launches Camembert burger in latest gourmet trend

"Our chocolate spread has 83 per cent less sugar than others."

The dad-of-five, including Nutella lovers Evie, nine, and Jack, five, added: "We had amazing feedback initially from some pretty important people in the food and drink industry."

Their jams and spreads have also won a coveted Great Taste Award.

Alternative: The business venture wasn't always plain sailing but it's paid off in the end (

Image:

East News Press Agency)

But the voyage hasn't all been plain sailing for the pair.

"We were both close to packing it in," added Mr Bath.

"We were running out of money and I was thinking 'I've got a family and I need to pay the mortgage'."

The pair's luck changed when Mr Bath was picked from 400 other entrants to win a substantial "growth" investment.

"I suppose we just kept the faith in the end," added Mr Bath.

"It doesn't mean we're sorted by any means.

"I was used to having money and being able to go on holiday in the summer.

"This summer, we're telling the children we're going on holiday in the back garden."

Unhealthy: The amount of sugar in other spreads (

Image:

East News Press Agency)

Their products are available in a number of stores around Essex and Suffolk, including the farm shop owned by pal of celeb chef Jamie Oliver, Jimmy Doherty, and Ocado.

Co-op stores across nearby Chelmsford also stock the products.

Read more:Fizzy drink giants called to label products with number of teaspoons of sugar

But Mr Bath, who said he "doesn't regret leaving the city at all", revealed he is in talks with major supermarkets about getting the products on their shelves.

As well as that, he is also hoping to secure contracts to have their foil-peel sachets in schools which are trying to make their pupils diets healthier.

At the moment, the spreads and jams are being made in Belgium and retail on the shelves at £2.70 per jar.

Jim Jams Chocolate Spread Weight Watchers Points

Source: https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/city-worker-gives-up-high-7468283

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