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<pre>I've read with great interest the series of postings regarding offering high
quality Olive Oils directly to the consumer via the Internet. I must
admit upfront that my interest is a vested one and my viewpoint applies only
to the US and Canadian markets.

I operate an internet web site called Extra Virgin Olive Oil of the Month
Club (www.evoomc.com) based on exactly those principals being discussed,
namely that consumer would pay more for high quality brands not currently
available at their retail shelf. The concept is to offer a representative
selection of Mediterranean regions (Tuscany, Apulia, Italy--Jaen, Spain--
Isle of Crete, Greece-- Izmir, Turkey) so the consumer can try the wide
array of flavors that Extra Virgin olive oil offers.

The consumers who join do so with a great amount of passion. The
marketplace is just beginning to understand that Extra Virgin olive oil is
like wine, it differs by the soil, microclimate, type of olive, and
production process. I believe we are at the very infancy in terms of
market development and further growth will largely depend on public
relations efforts of the industry as a whole. The consumer will never
understand if we don't get the information out. That's why the industry
needs to organize its efforts in a cooperative manner. As the old saying
goes, "A rising tide lifts all boats". I look forward to any comments.


-----Original Message-----
From: Adrian D. Shaw <Adrian.Shaw@aber.ac.uk>
To: Oliveoil@onelist.com <Oliveoil@onelist.com>
Date: Wednesday, September 01, 1999 8:51 AM
Subject: Re: [OliveOil] The Olive Oil Scandal


>From: "Adrian D. Shaw" <Adrian.Shaw@aber.ac.uk>
>
>AlFreedo@aol.com wrote:
>
>> I agree with Phil, that the internet can connect
>> quality producers with consumers who appreciate quality, and are willing
to
>> pay a few more dollars to get it.
>
>I'd like to think you're right, and I'd like to get a local supermarket
here
>in Aberystwyth to stock some quality olive oil. Unfortunately I don't think
I
>could, and I suspect that a one-off shipment of oil to our house may incur
>more delivery expense than the oil itself.
>
>It would be interesting, however, to compare supermarket prices around the
>world. The best flavoured supermarket oil I have found here is in fact the
>cheapest. It is Lidl Extra Virgin (Italian, supposedly), and costs £1.99 (3
>Euros; down from £2.99 only a year or so ago) per 750ml. That's 4
>Euros/Litre (same in US$). I am always wary about buying fancy bottled
>supermarket oils. They may be twice the price of the Lidl one, but I
suspect
>the quality is little different; these things are all mass produced.
>
>I have to confess I feel somewhat guilty paying such a low price for the
oil.
>I feel this is ridiculously cheap, and my conscience might be eased if
>someone could provide me with a top class oil at a sensible price.
>
>Sad to say, that is as good as it gets here.
>
>So what is it like in the rest of the world?
>
>Adrian
>--
>Adrian.Shaw@aber.ac.uk
>Sefydliad Y Gwyddorau Biolegol, Prifysgol Cymru,
>Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, Cymru
>http://pcjagg.dbs.aber.ac.uk/mynegai.html
>
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</pre>
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