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THE FRESH OLIVE COMPANY LAUNCHES THREE NEW LINES AT FOOD AND DRINK EXPO 2012

September 2011 marked 20 years for The Fresh Olive Company which continues to grow from strength to strength. The company will be launching its new antipasti line at Food and Drink Expo 2012, so do drop by to sample the new range and choose from Tuscan (pictured), Puglian and Cornichon varieties, which all include delicious carefully sourced ingredients. A selection of products from The Fresh Olive Company’s retail brand Belazu, which comprises of a range of premium Mediterranean ingredients, will also be available to sample.

Charlie Hodges, The Fresh Olive Company’s Sales Director says,
“It is hard to imagine that when The Fresh Olive Company started back in 1991 fresh olives, although widespread in the markets of Provence and around mainland Europe, were virtually unheard of in the UK. Now eating a bowl of olives, either in a restaurant, or at home is common place. We are immensely proud to have been at the forefront of building this sector. ”

Whilst delighted to have celebrated 20 years, The Fresh Olive Company continues to move forward. In the last year it has invested and moved in to a new 55,000sq ft. facility in Greenford, Middlesex and has recently extended the number of countries that it exports to from 12 to 25 countries, from Scandinavia to as far afield as the USA and the Far East.

Despite the recent growth, the Fresh Olive team are still wholly committed to personal service and their suppliers. “All our products are discovered by working closely with small local suppliers throughout the Mediterranean. At The Fresh Olive Company we have a unique relationship with these suppliers. We recognise that our sourcing of products is essential for the success of our business”, continues Hodges. “No matter how large we grow, this will always be central to the way we do business at The Fresh Olive Company”.

From its humble beginnings, when friends George Bennell & Adam Wells drove fresh olives over from the markets of Provence, The Fresh Olive Company has grown to become a leading supplier of market fresh olives, and a further 150 Mediterranean delicacies within the UK. Still privately owned by friends George Bennell, Adam Wells and Charlie Hodges, the company has, over the last 20 years, earned a reputation for product passion, expertise and fanatical attention to customer service levels.

Renowned chef, Jeremy Lee, has been buying from The Fresh Olive Company since the early days. Reflecting on the company’s anniversary he says, over the years “ It is hard to imagine how tall the pile would be, of green buckets, with that well known and much loved olive tree on its side, that have held such splendid amounts of cornichons, capers and so many varieties of such very good olives. It would certainly impress. Then there are the wee tubs of harissa. It is quite a thought after all these years, not to mention a lot of laughs.”

Visit The Fresh Olive Company at Food and Drink Expo 2012 and be in with a chance of winning a six month supply of olives for your deli, plus expert advice and guidance on everything there is to know about olives.

The Fresh Olive Company will be situated on stand J158. Food and Drink Expo 2012 takes place at Birmingham NEC between 25th - 27th March.

For further information about The Fresh Olive Company please contact
Fiona St George at 84, T: 07951 666 865 E: fiona.stgeorge@eightyfour.me

Editor’s Notes
• The Fresh Olive Company will launch the Antipasti Lines March 2012, these will include:
- Tuscan Antipasto – green olives, Kalamata olives, cornichons, silver skin onions, sliced mushrooms, red peppers, yellow peppers and artichokes in a champagne vinegar and basil dressing
- Puglian Antipasto – Tomatoes, courgettes, artichokes and red peppers in a lemon and rosemary dressing
- Cornichon Antipasto – Cornichons, tomatoes and silverskin onions with a rosemary and lemon dressing