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 Posté le: Sam Sep 07, 2013 7:30 pm Sujet du message: Ottawa entrepreneurs bet on olive oil and balsamic |
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{Ottawa entrepreneurs bet on olive oil and balsamic tasting bars}
Shoppers who walk into The Unrefined Olive on Second Avenue are greeted by stainless steel drums called fustis that house premium extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar aged a minimum of 12 years.Customers can grab a small steel cup to sample flavours such as blood orange olive oil or cranberry pear white balsamic.Shop owner Elizabeth Kilvert, a former public servant, says she is used to the puzzled looks on people’s faces as they walk in the door.“People come in and say, ‘You want me to sip olive oil and balsamic vinegar?’ But when it’s premium olive oil, it’s not heavy in your mouth.”Ms. Kilvert is one of many entering the oil and vinegar tasting industry because of the health benefits as well as the increased buzz around the products.“Five years ago, this would have been really pushing people’s limits,” she says. “Ten years ago, I don’t think there would have been much uptake. But in the last two years, the North American consumption of olive oil has increased by 800 per cent.”LOCAL TAKEUPMs. Kilvert isn’t the only Ottawa resident who thinks a tasting shop will be good for business. Emulsify in the Wellington West neighbourhood opened on Nov. 24 – just a week after The Unrefined Olive.The businesses had no idea they’d have local competition, says Emulsify co-founder Jesseka Blom, but she believes both can survive.“I think the market can support it,” she says. “We’re both in great neighbourhoods.”Wellington West and the Glebe both see a lot of foot traffic, which enables impromptu pop-ins and fosters word-of-mouth promotion.Ms. Blom says she encourages customers to visit both shops. While the businesses both allow sampling of premium olive oils and vinegars, they carry different flavours from different countries. At Emulsify, customers can create a cocktail of flavours by blending custom salad dressings or marinades.The store also makes a point of sourcing its wares from independent suppliers whose products it pre-samples, bringing in a local food analyst to assist with selection, Ms. Blom says.Both locations offer private tasting sessions for groups, as well as educational seminars touting the benefits of what Ms. Kilvert calls “heart healthy olive oils and beautiful balsamics.”RIPE FOR BUSINESSBoth stores opened just before the Christmas rush – generally the best season of the year for retailers – and then entered the winter months notoriously slow for the industry.It’s hard to get a handle on how the business is doing, Ms. Blom says, although the neighbourhood has been very supportive.At The Unrefined Olive, Ms. Kilvert says she has hit every revenue target she has made for herself so far and hopes to achieve 15 to 20 per cent growth in revenues each year.Although she says she is “itching” to expand – either by increasing the offerings of her current store or opening another location – Ms. Kilvert intends to wait until she builds up some liquidity and pays off the current store before doing so.“Everyone always says, ‘Take care of your baby, take care of your first business,’” she says.But Emulsify has plans to open a second shop within the next year, Ms. Blom says – either in an Ottawa community such as Kanata or in another city entirely. photo by Joël Côté-Cright"> photo by Provided"> View the gallery The shop is also working on diversifying into selling olives, tapenades, spices and soaps made in Quebec using the store’s olive oil. Local collaborations, such as Emulsify’s butter-flavoured olive oil being used on popcorn at the Great Canadian Theatre Company,[url=http://www.michael-good.ca]michael kors canada[/url], will also be a focus this year, Ms. Blom says.Both stores plan to open an e-commerce platform later this year.IS IT A FAD?But as quickly as olive oil and vinegar bars have exploded into something of a popular culture phenomenon,[url=http://www.michael-good.ca]Michael Kors Purses[/url], could the flash fad fade into the background again?It’s something both entrepreneurs have considered, but they’re confident these shops – which have been around for years in Europe and the United States – are here to stay.Ms. Kilvert says it will likely be similar to coffee, tea and chocolate and the specialty shops that have popped up around them.“These are long-standing, traditional products that are integrated into our culture and our diets,” she says. “My feeling is that olive oil and balsamic vinegar are here to stay.”Ms. Blom’s background as a nurse makes her confident that the health benefits will continue to be valued.“Health is not really a fad,” Ms. Blom adds.SIDEBAR: HEALTH BENEFITSUnrefined olive oil contains polyphenols,[url=http://www.michael-good.ca]Michael Kors Purses[/url], antioxidants believed to help prevent cardiovascular diseases and cancers.Many grocery store olive oils contain only a miniscule percentage of the real thing, cut with nut or seed oils that could potentially be harmful to those with allergies.Balsamic vinegar is a natural probiotic that aids digestion. It’s also low in sugar, making it an option for people such as diabetics who must stick to low-glycemic diets.Polyphenols, which help boost the immune system, are also found in balsamic vinegar. Despite being an acidic product, the vinegar can help to control acid reflux or relieve heartburn as it causes the stomach to produce less hydrochloric acid.True balsamic vinegar is made in Modena, Italy and contains only Trebbiano grape juice. Many counterfeit versions are sweetened with high fructose corn syrup.COMPANY PROFILES:THE UNREFINED OLIVELocation: 151A Second Ave.Employees: 6Selection: 50 olive oils and 20 balsamic vinegarsPrices: $12 for 200 ml, $19 for 375 ml,[url=http://www.michael-good.ca]michael kors canada[/url], $32 for 750 ml. Bottled right from the fusti upon purchase.Funky flavours: Chocolate balsamic; wild mushroom and sage olive oil; honey ginger white balsamic.EMULSIFYLocation: 1283-B Wellington St. W.Employees: 4Selection: 25 olive oils and 18 balsamic vinegarsPrices: $19.95 for a 375 ml bottle of most items; $22.95 for aged balsamic vinegars; $29.95 for small-batch extra virgin olive oils.Funky flavours: Maple balsamic; sundried tomato and parmesan olive oil; blood orange olive oil.
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