Marketing guide for olive oil businesses

Olive oil has been a staple in our kitchen cupboards for years, and as the modern man is more health conscious, so is the demand. The industry is fiercely competitive, so to help you better promote your olive oil business, we've written this guide with helpful tips and suggestions.

Understanding the olive oil market

Olive oil production is a $90.8 million industry in the US. Demand for olive oil has grown steadily over the past decade. there are many people buying, but there are many people selling.

It is always important to know the seasonality of the product you are selling. With olive oil, however, sales remain steady throughout the year. Here's a graph from Google Trends showing online interest in olive oil over the past year:

As commonplace as olive oil is, this chart may not come as a surprise. The reasons to purchase olive oil may be few: primarily for cooking and for its health benefits. However, the reasons people will buy one bottle of olive oil over another are vast:

Price: Many people want the best value olive oil, and are often willing to skimp on quality if they plan only to cook the oil down.

Quality: Especially when customers make dishes where the olive oil's flavor is bold, taste-quality is something they look for. Moreover, there is a growing preference for organic products and for various seals of approval on olive oil bottles.

Origins: Olive oil is largely imported to the US, and consumers have existing opinions about the olive oils of different regions, production methods, and traditions. Highlighting the unique background of your olive oil can be a strong differentiator.

Ingredients: Whether your olive oil product contains some other oils or something distinctive like seaweed or green chili, these are reasons a customer might choose or avoid your bottle.

How you incorporate ingredients and the crafting process of your olive oil are 2 key aspects for many consumers.

What makes your olive oil business unique?

Your olive oil may be a price leader in the market. You may lead in quality by having perhaps the most proprietary sourcing methods. These are powerful aspects that set you apart from your competitors, and your customers need to know what sets you apart.

Positioning your brand as unique is critical in such a competitive industry, and the best way to do that is with a narrative.