The profit margins are quite interesting, as the price in Switzerland is high.
If anyone is interested, and has an idea in where this gourmet product could be sold in big quantities then I would be very interested in cooperating for doing some good business.
Cheers
http://www.suche.ch/info/oliven%C3%B6l
Why not Greek wine or cheese, I don't see much of that in Swiss shops.
Good Greek Cheese is expensive in Greece, the matter of transport and storage is different for Cheese versus Oil.
The problem with Greek wine is so few people know about it and it is a much higher investment. We got a fab deal a few years ago when an outlet was having a clear-out - felt like our Xmas had come that time
As Sbrinz says, there’s a lot of competition out there and your problem would be to persuade the Swiss that your product is so much better than the ones they buy in Migros, Coop, Manor, etc. The Swiss tend to stick to what they know as far as shops/shopping goes and firmly believe that Swiss companies provide much better quality than anyone else so they’re happy to pay for the privilege of shopping there. It’s mostly foreigners who use places like Aldi and Lidl even though their quality is just as good as the Swiss companies for a lower price. Unless you could get your product into one of the big chains I think it will be a struggle and even then you would have to do a lot of promotion work to get them to try your product over the ones they know and love.
And I'm asked all the time where good feta can be found but as you say, transport, storage and short shelf lives can prove expensive.
Good olive oil prices have fallen in Greece that is why he/she is looking for contacts in Switzerland to sell it.
Cheese produces are a completely different network in Greece. I was referring to the Greek Yellow cheese that is Euro20+ a kilo in Greece. Feta cheese one can get at fairly low prices here.
Turkey is a neighbour of Greece and have tried some of their cheeses, a bit different but prices tend to be lower both here in Switzerland and UK.
One of the reasons that Greek Olive Oil despite its quality is so low in price selling at source, many new countries including China now producing
Regarding Olive Oil , the quality of Greece is premium and I believe that is quite better than Italy or Spain.
China tried to buy olive trees, however their climate has failed them so far.
Looking forward to your messages people, we can do smth interesting.
Spain is a completely different oil to both Greece and Italy, if we brought it, it would only be for frying potatoe chips /fries in
Good luck with your venture
However, that is an assumption, and if the assumption is false (which many people like me believe it) then you can make big money by exploiting the gap.
A half litre bottle of "exra virgin olive oil" from Crete costs 3€. I put it in quotes due to the many recent articles written about fake extra virgin olive oils being sold from Italy and Greece.
If (and it seems to be the case) the Swiss are happy with that kind of oil, the market for high-quality oil in Switzerland is probably quite small - and already partly catered for by organic shops and the like.
As in Germany, I'm afraid a majority of the Swiss is prepared to spend a considerable amount of money on top-of-the-line motor-oil. Edible oil - not so.
The problem with 90% of these business-ideas is the assumption of the founder that what he likes and misses is also a common, yet unfulfilled need....
Reality often turns out different.
Nevertheless, if you pursue your idea, I wish you all the best. Money spent on good olive oil is well-spent ;-)
Have to say, 'Extra Virgin' always makes me laugh, how many times can you press an olive?
One does not see extra virgin wine - wonder why not
Cold pressed olive oil, the olives are only pressed the once. Thereafter the pips are left. The factory where they press the olive oil, might sell on the pips that can be further pressed, but that oil is sold as another lesser quality. the remaining pips can then be used for fuel.
Unfortunately some people do mess with Olive Oil and mix another less quality oil with it and then sell as pure Olive oil, you must know your taste buds, smell and what happens when you cook with it
half a litre of olive oil does costs are depending on volumes and relationships you have with the producers..
but when it comes to trading if you pull a scam then you are out of the deal/business with your end customer.
I'm interested to import already packed olive oil from Greece, which I consume myself.
in my case and defense I see the olive oil business as quite profitable for someone who has a network with the producers from the fertile Greek land. I get my olive oil from the Greek airports in 5L cans everytime I go home, that is true.
I believe that selling such a nutricious and blessed product is a very honest business and worth going on with the plan.
If I know a good customer base here in Switzerland, then I can commit to the producers and import good volumes.
I'm open to cooperate with everyone here and create smth rewarding.
I meant that the companies who sell to the supermarkets in Germany (who buy from Greece direct) have probably already sounded out the Swiss market.
I see the Greek olive oil sold at the supermarkets and quality is average , and pricing is skyrocketing..
I would still take a shot
If you could find some way to "independently" confirm the "superior" nature of your OO, I sugest you do so. There is so much crap out there so if you could "prove" that your oil is good/very good compared to other OO selling in CH, you might have something to work with. Otherwise you are just selling an oil like everyone else.
Since you are selling in 5L containers, you are probably targeting high use families or restaurants. Target distribution would be food wholesalers and bulk food stores like Aligro (Swiss French chain). People will be hesitant to buy 5L unless they have some sort of "seal of approval" such as Ktipp etc. or you spend some time giving taste samples in-store. Sampling is very expensive in CH because of the salaries. You could try a market stand to see if there is some interest. Have other popular oils so people can compare.