A promotional mishap has emerged in Meghan Markle’s latest business venture, with wellness brand Clevr Blends directing customers to purchase a rival product rather than the Duchess of Sussex’s own offering.
The 44-year-old Montecito resident launched a collaborative “Strawberry Matcha Set” with the California drinks company on Tuesday through her lifestyle brand As Ever.
However, visitors to the Clevr Blends website seeking their Strawberry Jam Cold Foam Matcha Latte recipe are instructed to incorporate one to two tablespoons of Bonne Maman Strawberry Preserves to achieve what the brand describes as a “dreamy, creamy, and fruity fusion.”
The recipe makes no mention of Meghan’s own As Ever Strawberry Spread, which forms part of the joint product offering.
The £45 set brings together Clevr’s ceremonial-grade matcha powder with functional ingredients, Meghan’s Strawberry Spread, and decorative flower sprinkles designed to “add beauty to each bite.”
According to the As Ever website, the two brands collaborated on this seasonal offering due to their “shared love of joyful morning rituals.”
Meghan promoted the partnership on her Instagram Stories, posting a photograph with Clevr Blends co-founder and CEO Hannah Mendoza.
“I’ve proudly supported Hannah and Clevr Blends for so many years now,” the Duchess wrote. “Thrilled about this collaboration with one of my favourite gals and two of my favourite brands.”
Ms Mendoza reposted the content, writing that “nothing compares to having badass women in your life that lift you up.”
The Duchess has maintained a financial stake in Clevr Blends since December 2020, when a spokesperson confirmed she had invested an undisclosed amount in the powder-based latte company.
Shortly after backing the business, which was established in January 2019 by University of California, Santa Barbara graduate Mendoza, Meghan leveraged her connections by gifting a hamper of Clevr products to her neighbour Oprah Winfrey.
The former Suits actress deepened her involvement with the brand in 2023, appearing as a mock intern in a social media advertisement.
The promotional clip showed her stacking boxes, preparing beverages and working at a computer whilst Mendoza toured the headquarters thanking staff.
The video concluded with a comedic moment as Meghan fumbled a fist bump with a colleague before walking off camera, prompting laughter from the team.
Social media users were quick to highlight the promotional inconsistency between the collaboration and the website recipe.
Fans labelled the apparent oversight “awkward,” with comments including “Oopsie” and “You can’t make this stuff up.”
Ms Mendoza confirmed the collaboration with As Ever was now live, though the website recipe recommending a competitor’s preserves remained unchanged at the time the partnership was announced.
