I recently spoke to an olive oil entrepreneur about the olive oil market in South Africa. I want to pass this opportunity to independent business people. They can start a micro-business in olive oil. Some time back I wrote a mini-market report. It covered the olive oil industry in South Africa and how it is catching on. The report provided facts and figures, as well as suggestions about market entry. But this opportunity I’ve got first-hand from someone who has been in the market for some time.

I’m sharing this because it’s very important. It will inspire entrepreneurs. If you’re interested in this market, then you need to do your homework and do it well. Even this entrepreneur I spoke to is very knowledgeable about the market. He knows not only where he is in the market, but the whole olive oil market. He knows it from production to selling at Saturday markets. To start your business, talk to your business advisor. Also, talk to any other consultants you think will help you. They can help you lower your risk of entering the market.

The entrepreneur told me that to get into olive oil production, you have to buy costly machinery. It’s likely from Italy. You also have to be good at trading to buy raw material to make oil. There’s much more to this. To get into this area, you need to research it and speak first to a local boutique olive oil producer. Replacement parts for your machinery and repairs and maintenance are also costly. But there are opportunities for the small guy or woman. They are getting into this opportunity now. So, if this is what you want, start doing your homework. Because the marketplace in five years time is going to be a different landscape. Think of craft brewing and what’s happening there. The market has room for growth, craft beers proliferate and flourish. No, the opportunity I spoke to this entrepreneur about was further down the value chain. It was right at the retail front. This is the simplest form and least expensive way of entering the market with a quality product. It requires a good imagination and appealing to olive oil consumers.

Now the area of opportunity that I’m going to tell you about if you’ve read this far is bottling your own olive oil. It’s not rocket science. I did some background research after speaking to an entrepreneur. He is bottling his own olive oil.

I found that several entrepreneurs are now getting into bottling olive oil. The price of imported olive oil is rising. Local olive oil production offers great value. The overhead is somewhat lower. I enjoyed seeing this entrepreneur’s olive oil brand. People spanning all ages flood the market, inspiring admiration. Look, it’s hard work like any business is. You’ve got to get your bottled olive oil in front of the consumer. That means selling it at Saturday markets. They also try to get it listed at supermarkets, sell to delis, and even sell it online with big retailers. But bottling olive oil is a chance for a one-person business or a microbusiness with one or two employees. Bottling olive oil provides an opportunity for people to create jobs. It’s especially appealing for those who love selling food products, especially olive oil.

Disclaimer:

I provided the information in this blog post. I based it on my research and knowledge. I have no ties to the olive oil industry. I am independent. I strive to ensure the information is accurate. But, I can’t guarantee it’s complete or accurate. This content is not professional advice. It is not guidance for entering the olive oil market. Readers should do their own research. They should consult with their own business advisors before making any decisions.