The Real Olive

What The Real Olive does

The Real Olive Company is a Bristol-based specialty food producer founded in 1998 by Karin Andersson and Ben Flight, specializing in organic olives, antipasti, tapenades, and Mediterranean extra virgin olive oils. The company sources olives from artisan organic growers in Greece and Italy, then marinates them in cold-pressed sunflower oil and extra-virgin olive oil with herbs and spices using time-honoured recipes, including a slow three-month organic fermentation process longer than conventional methods. Production occurs at a SALSA-accredited and Organic Farmers & Growers-certified facility in Bristol, with products carrying multiple Great Taste awards spanning 2011 to 2025 and a 2025 BOOM Award from the Soil Association.

The company operates a multi-channel go-to-market model spanning direct-to-consumer e-commerce with monthly subscriptions (deli pot bundles at £19.55-£21.60/month, 1kg pouch subscriptions at £17.95-£20/month, and gift subscriptions at £19.95/month), online grocery listings on Waitrose, Ocado, Abel & Cole, and Osolocal2u, and a dedicated wholesale trade channel serving delicatessens, farm shops, restaurants, cafes, gastro pubs, and hospitality venues through Meze Board and Meze Box solutions. Products are sold in deli pots (150-180g), 1kg resealable eco pouches, party kits (serving 20-30 guests), festive gift boxes, and bulk hospitality formats, with price points from £3.10 to £42.45.

The Real Olive is a privately held company with no external institutional investment, having raised approximately £428K through a 2021 SWIG Finance facility and a 2021 Crowdcube round. It serves UK consumers, gift buyers, and trade/hospitality customers across the country, with brand activity extending to content marketing via recipes, blog, social channels, and The Real Big Olive Podcast, plus community sponsorships including Windmill Hill Market in Bristol.

Name

The Real Olive

Legal name

The Real Olive Company

Website

https://therealolivecompany.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Real Olive is a Bristol-based, founder-led specialty food producer founded in 1998 that makes certified organic olives, antipasti, tapenades, and extra virgin olive oils sourced from artisan growers in Greece and Italy, selling through DTC e-commerce with subscriptions, online grocers (Waitrose, Ocado, Abel & Cole), and a wholesale channel serving UK hospitality venues.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Foods

NAICS

Food Manufacturing (311), Other Food Manufacturing (3119), Mayonnaise, Dressing, and Other Prepared Sauce Manufacturing (311941), Starch and Vegetable Fats and Oils Manufacturing (31122)

SIC

Miscellaneous Food Preparations & Kindred Products (2090), Canned, Fruits, Veg, Preserves, Jams & Jellies (2033)

akta.pro primary industry

Preserved Specialty Foods Manufacturing (Olives, Antipasto, Relishes) (AFAKACAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Pesto, Cooking Pastes & Concentrated Flavor Bases Manufacturing (AFAKADAN), Virgin & Cold-Pressed Culinary Oils (AFAJALAB), Olive Oil, Vinegar & Condiment Specialty Stores (CRAHAGAJ)

Keywords

• Organic olives
• Mediterranean antipasti
• Olive oil
• Specialty foods
• Meze platters

Headquarters

HQ city

Bristol

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Direct Consumer Sales: One-time and subscription purchases through own e-commerce website. Products include deli pots (160g-180g), 1kg eco pouches, party kits, and olive oil.
2. Wholesale Trade: Bulk sales to trade customers including delicatessens, farm shops, restaurants, cafes, gastro pubs through dedicated trade website with samples and wholesale pricing.
3. Hospitality Solutions: Meze Board hardware and Meze Box recyclable solutions for hospitality industry including bars, pubs, hotels, events, festivals, and stadia.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Real Olive Company produces and sells organic and conventional marinated olives, antipasti, tapenades, pestos, and extra virgin olive oils sourced from artisan Mediterranean farmers in Greece and Italy. Products are prepared using cold-pressed oil marinades, slow fermentation, and traditional recipes, and are sold via direct-to-consumer e-commerce with subscriptions, online grocery retailers (Waitrose, Ocado, Abel & Cole), and a wholesale/hospitality trade channel serving pubs, bars, hotels and events.

Product overview

The Real Olive Company is a UK-based specialty food company offering a diverse portfolio of Mediterranean products. The core offering centres on marinated organic and conventional olives available in multiple formats: deli pots (150g-180g), 1kg eco pouches, and bulk wholesale. Complementary product lines include antipasti (sun dried tomatoes, pickled garlic, peppers), tapenades/pesto sauces, extra virgin olive oils, snack items (giant corn, crostini), and meze serving accessories. The company operates through multiple channels: direct-to-consumer e-commerce with subscription options, major online grocers (Waitrose, Ocado, Abel & Cole), and a dedicated wholesale/trade division serving hospitality businesses with meze board and box solutions. Products are sourced from artisan Mediterranean farmers and carry organic and quality certifications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Marinated Olives (Deli Pots) Range of marinated olives in cold-pressed sunflower oil and extra virgin olive oil with herbs and spices, sold in 150g-180g deli pots to UK consumers for snacking, cooking and entertaining. Includes award-winning blends such as Wild Garlic & Basil (BOOM 2025) and Kalamata Olive Meze Dip (Great Taste 2021).
• 1kg Olive Eco Pouches Resealable 1kg pouches of single-variety olives for regular household or small business use, including organic and conventional ranges. Available in the same flavour profiles as the deli pots, for consumers seeking larger pack sizes at value pricing.
• Antipasti Range Mediterranean antipasti products such as mixed olive antipasti, sun dried cherry tomatoes, pickled garlic and sweet peppers preserved in cold-pressed oils, sold in deli pots and aimed at consumers building grazing boards or meze platters at home.
• Tapenades and Pestos 150g deli pot tapenades and pestos made from the company's olives and Mediterranean ingredients, including Great Taste award-winning Smoky Harissa Meze Dip and Kalamata Olive Meze Dip, designed for spreading on bread or serving as part of meze.
• Extra Virgin Olive Oils Organic and conventional extra virgin olive oils sourced from Greece and Spain, including a polyphenol-rich Koroneiki EVOO exceeding EFSA health claim thresholds, sold in retail bottles and 3-litre and 5-litre bulk containers.
• Snack Range Complementary Mediterranean-style snacks — kikos-style giant corn, habas fritas mixes and rosemary crostini — sold in 700g resealable pouches to pair with olives and antipasti for entertaining.
• Monthly Subscriptions Recurring monthly subscription delivering curated mixed deli pot bundles or 1kg single-variety olive pouches to UK consumers, with options such as The Ultimate Foodie, The Gastronome, Total Extravaganza and Organic Favourites. Includes free UK delivery.
• Gift Subscriptions Recurring gifting subscriptions at £19.95/month for 3, 6 or 12 months (or ongoing), delivering curated mixed olive and antipasti cases with options such as Total Extravaganza, The Ultimate Foodie and The Gastronome.
• Festive Selection Box Pre-curated festive gift box of six Real Olive products plus two partner gastro treats (including organic olives, antipasti, sun dried tomatoes, olive dip, meze bowl, sourdough flatbread and Iberico chorizo), with personalised message and free UK delivery, priced at £30 including delivery.
• Tapas Party Kit and Mini Meze Pre-bundled party food packs combining olives, dips, snacks and serving accessories for entertaining: the Tapas Party Kit serves 20-30 guests with a 5.3kg net assortment, and Mini Meze pairs a curated selection of olives, dip and crostini with four melamine meze bowls.
• Wholesale Olives & Antipasti Bulk wholesale olive and antipasti supply for trade customers such as delicatessens, farm shops, restaurants, cafes and gastro pubs, accessed via a dedicated trade website with sample requests, wholesale pricing and free UK mainland delivery on orders over £60.
• Meze Board and Meze Box Hospitality Solutions Hospitality-focused meze solutions comprising a reusable Meze Board hardware pack and a recyclable Meze Box, sold to bars, pubs, hotels, events, festivals and stadia to deliver ready-to-serve Mediterranean meze offerings.
• Meze Accessories Branded meze serving accessories including ROCo Meze melamine bowls and a Bamboo Meze Serving Board, sold to consumers as part of party kits and separately for meze presentation at home.

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and major.

• Windmill Hill MarketminorOthers · 1 January 2025Main sponsor of Windmill Hill Market in Bedminster, Bristol - a celebration of fresh, natural produce, artisan crafts, and community spirit.
• Sustainable Soil Alliance (SSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Sustainable Soil Alliance to support soil health. Company has pledged 1% of profits to invest in SSA's work to improve soil health for the future.
• Organic Farmers & Growers LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFully certified by Organic Farmers & Growers as a UK organic producer. Certification ensures compliance with organic standards.
• SALSA (Safe and Local Supplier Approval)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBristol-based production facility is accredited by SALSA, ensuring food safety standards for local supplier approval.
• OcadomajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorListed on Ocado online grocery platform for direct consumer distribution across UK.
• WaitrosemajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorListed on Waitrose online platform for direct consumer distribution.
• Abel & ColemajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorListed on Abel & Cole organic grocery delivery service for direct consumer distribution.
• Osolocal2uminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal produce delivery service featuring Real Olive products.
• The MAZI ProjectminorOthersBristol community food project empowering disadvantaged young people through meal box schemes. Featured on The Real Big Olive Podcast.
• Divine Brewing CompanyminorOthersBristol-based brewers of award-winning alcohol-free beers. Featured on podcast episode discussing brewing and alcohol-free options.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Bertolli: Large established olive oil and Mediterranean food brand owned by Deoleo. Overlaps on olive oil, pasta sauces, and pesto categories but competes primarily on mass-market scale rather than organic/artisan positioning.
• Filippo Berio: Major global olive oil and Mediterranean food brand. Comparable on extra virgin olive oil SKUs but operates at significantly larger scale with broad retail distribution rather than the specialty/artisan focus.
• Crespo Olives: One of Europe's largest olive brands with extensive UK supermarket presence. Competes on olives and Mediterranean antipasti at mainstream price points rather than organic artisan niche.
• Daylesford Organic: UK premium organic farm and food brand operating farmshops and online retail with a broad organic range including olives and antipasti. Overlaps on organic certification and premium UK consumer base but operates wider food portfolio.

Direct peers

• Sacla': Italian pesto, sauces, and antipasti brand with strong UK presence across grocery and foodservice. Overlaps directly on pesto, tapenades, and antipasti ranges sold through UK retailers.
• Olives et Al: UK specialist premium olive brand selling marinated olives, antipasti, and Mediterranean hampers via DTC and gift channels. Highly comparable niche positioning, channel mix, and gift subscription model.
• Belazu: UK-based premium Mediterranean condiments and ingredient brand offering pestos, tapenades, olives, and oils to retail and foodservice. Most direct UK comparable: similar product range, premium positioning, multi-channel distribution, and foodservice presence.
• Brindisa: UK-based Spanish and Mediterranean food specialist operating delicatessens and wholesale distribution of olives, cheeses, and charcuterie. Comparable product range and foodservice/retail distribution model.

Emerging players

• Odysea Mediterranean: UK-based Mediterranean deli brand selling olives, antipasti, meze, and Greek specialty products to retail and wholesale. Direct overlap on olives/antipasti ranges and UK grocery distribution.

Regional players

• Partridges of Kensington: London-based premium grocer and deli stocking a wide range of olives, antipasti, and Mediterranean specialties. Comparable product mix but operates primarily as a retailer rather than producer.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/RealOlive
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheRealOliveCompany
• Instagraminstagram.com/realoliveco

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Real Olive