Massive Uk Deal Is The Good Oil For Kiwi Company
A small New Zealand company has scored a massive distribution deal with United Kingdom supermarket giant Safeways.
Avocado Oil New Zealand has a permanent staff of just seven and was only established in 2000, but with this latest coup,
the company’s avocado oil, The Grove, will now be sold in 250 Safeways supermarkets across the UK, in addition to 200
Tesco supermarkets secured at the end of 2002.
About 25,000 bottles of The Grove, with a retail value of approximately $325,000 will be landing on the UK’s shore at
the middle of this month for both the UK supermarket chains.
The Bay of Plenty-based company achieved a world-first with its commercially produced cold pressed extra virgin avocado
oil first produced just two½ years ago. Since then, Avocado Oil New Zealand has had significant international success.
It has mass distribution in Australia, having secured shelf space with Coles nationally and with Woolworths in three
states. These two chains equal more than 75 percent of the supermarket business in Australia.
The Grove is also sold in the United States, Canada, Taiwan, Korea, and Japan.
The Grove is a success story on the home market too. In New Zealand, it outsells its nearest competitor more than
two-to-one according to AC Neilsen scan data (26th Jan 2003).
Avocado Oil New Zealand sales and marketing manager Elizabeth Carter says the potential for New Zealand avocado oil is
enormous as this latest coup indicates.
“Avocado oil is cholesterol-free, low in saturated fats and high in mono-unsaturated fats so it’s good for you and The
Grove is endorsed with the Heart Foundation’s tick of approval. The Grove is exceptional to cook with, has a nutty
flavour with a subtle avocado aroma. Its burn smoke point of 255°C which is the highest of all vegetable and nut cooking
oils.”
Avocado Oil New Zealand will continue to focus on driving both its export and domestic sales by ensuring it delivers the
very best avocado oil to all markets.
“Avocado truly is the good oil,” Elizabeth Carter says.