Olive oil grows like greased lightning

Latest research from MINTEL finds the heat is on in Britain’s kitchens as the nation’s cooks splash out more on olive oil than standard oils (vegetable, sunflower and seed oils) for the first time ever. Indeed, since the start of the millennium the olive oil market has been on fire and has grown a sizzling 39% to date, breaking through the £100 million mark. Back in 2000 olive oils made up just 43% of the liquid oils market value, with standard oils taking 52% and speciality oils accounting for the remainder. But now, fuelled by health concerns and a general move towards premium products the tables have turned. Today, the olive oil sector is worth some £104 million and alone accounts for an estimated 51% of the total market.