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<pre>Hi, Kent!

Thanks for your letter! No problem at all -- will do some research for you
next time I am at an upscale supermarket. I live in Hoboken, NJ, just
across the river from New York City (you see a view at all times), and I
shop here in town at what is considered a ritzy food store (haha) named
"King's", a chain on the East Coast (I'm not sure if it's elsewhere). If
everyone will bear with me for a moment, I'd like to provide some context
with respect to the growing market for upscale olive oil -- what's
happening in Hoboken is that it's experienced a flood of "yuppies" within
the last five years, and a real estate boom has ensued. Working
professionals in New York City began to experience income growth, yet could
not afford rentals (not to mention property ownership) within Manhattan
itself. So, they did the next best thing -- moved to Hoboken, only a
convenient five minute train ride from Manhattan, and a 10 minute commute (a
bit longer during rush hours, of course) via car or bus. Hoboken was
experiencing an economic slump for years, real estate cost practically next
to nothing (it's a cute, quasi-urban town, one square mile in size, but with
a neighborhood feel, primarily German and Italian ancestry). So, a spacious
three-story house, if you were lucky enough to have owned one only 5 years
ago, may have sold for only $85,000 (you had to beg people to live here).
Now, with the town cleaning up and renovating, such a home has appreciated
to $500,000!!! Quite a turnaround, eh? Nevertheless, rentals are still
cheaper here than in Manhattan, but are starting to catch up...

Sorry to have rambled on about real estate, but I want you to have a sense
of the times here. King's is stocked full with "gourmet" olive oil brands
-- but now I know the sad truth about many of those impressive looking
bottles! I'll also check out "Chef Central" in Paramus, NJ, a store that
also claims to carry only the best!

You may want to check and see if some of the premier stores in Manhattan
have online catalogues that list olive oil (I believe I've seen some after
doing an internet search). They are: "Balducci's"; "Zabar"; "Dean &
DeLuca" (or it might be Dean AND DeLuca, not sure); "Delmonico"' "Gourmet
Garage"; "Garden of Eden"; "Farmer's Market"; "Whole Foods"; "Grace's".

I will let you know what I discover. A quality olive oil industry in the
States is still in its infancy (an expensive baby, for sure), but is
starting to catch on. By the way, King's carries a knock-out, fantastic
Australian honey with a unique flavor that I keep in stock with regularity:
"Golden Nectar Real Leatherwood Honey", from R. Stephens, Mole Creek,
Tasmania, Australia.

I would love to try your oil! I've always found Australian goods to be
tip-top. Kindly send me a price list to my private e-mail address below.

Best regards to you, and good luck with your olive oil venture (or better
said, adventure?)!
Anna
Russiandoll@hotmail.com




>From: Kent Hallett <kenth@rbe.net.au>
>Reply-To: OliveOil@onelist.com
>To: OliveOil@onelist.com
>Subject: Re: [OliveOil] Collecting thoughts...
>Date: Wed, 17 Nov 1999 08:28:29 +1030
>
>Hi Anna
>
>Thanks for your postings about the retail scene in the US.
>
>You stated that good olive oil is quite expensive in the US - I wonder
>whether you would give us some prices so that we can compare with other
>places
>
>Regarding your search for a top olive oil - there is a strong emerging
>industry here in Australia and we believe that we make some of the best
>olive oils in the world. I am currently going through the process of
>setting up a web site to let the world know about what we have to offer
>under our own brand. If you would like to try what comes from the land
>down under I would be happy to send some over to you.
>
>Kent
>
>
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