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Another sticky retail-experience, this one not brand-new, but now slated for mass expansion: Dutch Oil & Vinegar, a culinary Mediterranean gift/lifestyle shop, selling everything from more than 25 varieties of olive oil to numerous kinds of vinegar, dressings, olives, dried tomatoes, balsamic vinegar, pesto, herbs and spices, and so on. The experience part? Besides the distinctive SNOBMODDITIES appeal, consumers can sample and taste the goodies, have their own oil and vinegar containers (re-)filled at Oil & Vinegar, and get expert advice while meandering through the store. Sure, a variety of small shops around the world occupy this same space, but Oil & Vinegar is the first one to succeed in building the concept into a true brand, without losing the magic normally associated with small niche players. Witness franchisees lining up to spread the pressed virgin olive gospel: the company now has over 100 stores in 11 countries: Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Norway, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom and the US. As almost half of these shops are concentrated in the Benelux countries, there is still plenty of opportunity in major markets around the world. Next up is the US: after a recent investment into the company by Hampstead Holding, Oil & Vinegar now plans to open up 124 new stores in the States in the next few years. Franchisees, on your marks!

Opportunities

As with the aforementioned Sticky and Suga Candy concepts, Oil & Vinegar successfully ups the ante for standard formula-driven retail outlets. Closely following food trends, and offering the niche approach of specialty stores (25 kinds of olive oil) while profiting from the economies of scale and scope only a global entity can achieve, Oil & Vinegar is doing something right. If you’re in the US: they’re going to need a lot of entrepreneurial franchisees. And if you’re in a market with a tiny Oil & Vinegar presence (or no presence at all): this is your chance to set up a competing chain or join forces. For those of you working for a retail or B2C company that’s currently stuck in the middle (and if you are, you know what we mean!), why not hang out for a morning in an Oil & Vinegar store near your office? Don’t forget to take notes!