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STAY-AT-HOME mum, Majedah Jarrar, is successfully putting the ‘oomph’ back into food with her flavourful jams, sauces and spreads and has launched a family business to meet the demand for her home-made products.
From her sizzling shatta – a hot and spicy herb and chilli pepper paste – to sweet strawberry jam, the housewife entrepreneur now spends her days stirring up large pots of sauces for her family, friends and growing condiment clientele.
To her delight the mother-of-six has not been able to keep a lid on her budding business model, simply called ‘The Jar’, and there are plans to expand into new markets. Majedah, 55, of Palestinian-Jordanian descent, said: “My kids encouraged me to turn my love of jams and shatta into a business. Who would have thought these small jars would be such a big hit. I’m delighted but, honestly, I never expected them to become this popular.”
Over the years Majedah, who lives in Riffa Views, has built a glowing reputation for her culinary prowess. Her children, Omar, 16, a student at Naseem International School, American University of Cairo student Zaina, 20, recently graduated Sara, 23, Alia, a 29-year-old freelance graphic designer, Mohammed, 33, who works in the family business in Saudi Arabia, and marketing executive Eyad, 32, have always been ‘number one’ fans of her culinary prowess.
And, when her family began to share the jars of jelly and relish with their friends, word began to spread and The Jar was born.
“As a family we love condiments and when the eldest children moved away they insisted I carried on supplying them. Friends of friends started asking for jars too. Every time one batch of shatta or sauce was finished people would start ringing me up for more.”
With her husband Abdullah, 54, commuting back and forth between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain to work at the family’s dental and dermatology facility, and with most of her children at school, studying or working away, Majedah decided to use up all her spare time and energy to cook up a selection of 22 savoury and sweet sauces to sell.
She started introducing her products to new customers at markets and bazaars such as Bab Al Bahrain and Al Basta Market and even prepared 350 pink-covered jars for a Think Pink charity event to raise awareness of breast cancer and funds for its diagnosis and treatment.
Orders for weddings and baby showers followed and she introduced new varieties of classic combinations and exotic flavours made from fresh supplies of fruits and vegetables.
People can opt for a BD5, 420ml jar of basil pesto entitled Green Day, also available without nuts for those who are allergic, or a spicy 250ml, BD3 jar of Pineapple Express which includes the fruit, peanut butter and habanero pepper jam.
The special sauces have all been named after movies, movie characters or bands that people love. To keep it a family affair, branding, marketing and graphic design has been created by daughters Sara and Alia.
Sara took over the Bahraini market and developed social media pages including Instagram and Facebook, while Alia helped develop a following in Egypt. Together, they came up with a marketing plan which was then passed onto the entire family to help in the jam journey to success. Her sons got involved in the home-made enterprise by tackling the market across the causeway.
Family friend Ahmad Alsharif, 23, has now joined The Jar sales staff. Sara said: “My mum is really busy and we are more than happy to be her minions during this adventure.
“She could have started this business much earlier but she was always caring for us and the family home. She is a super mum. We often had friends staying over just for her food!
“When we saw how hooked everyone was on her culinary creations we simply had to make this business a reality. We are very proud of her and her sauces.”
Alia is also impressed by how popular the jars are in Egypt where she is pursuing her Masters in business and administration. Alia said: “The demand for sauces and jams in Egypt is remarkable. I always knew it was good but it’s as though people can’t get enough of it!
“Our only issue now is that we can’t ship it across fast enough at times. My mum brings it with her when she comes to visit or I bring back supplies after vacationing in Bahrain.
“We are considering opening up a shop in Egypt. My mum will train the staff on how to make the sauces so that it would be easier to meet demand. But first, we are targetting Bahrain to grow the business.”
The family is currently looking for suitable premises in a central location. According to Sara, they have developed a ‘rustic homey feel’ identity and that is the type of space they are looking for.
Currently orders must be made at least two days in advance, on Instagram or on Facebook at the Thejarbh page, or by calling 39857739 or 36188529.
