We are Neil Smith and Zach Newlove, recent purchasers of The Founders business from co-founders Wayne and Maureen Startup. As two millennials, relatively young in the domestic olive industry, we have noticed the potential for this industry to provide an exceptional food product to New Zealanders and overseas customers alike.
We believe that New Zealand can produce some of the best olive oil in the world and as such have each dedicated the best part of a decade to understanding the growing, processing and various uses of New Zealand extra virgin olive oil. From contract services to grove management and oil extraction to distribution, our experience is what we will use to build on this pioneering brand. We are excited to tackle this challenge and to ensure that you have the continued opportunity to get our outstanding fresh oils!
At the core of our range are four great tasting, nutritionally dense and super healthy cold-pressed extra virgin olive oils from the Barnea, Frantoio, Manzanillo and Picual olive varieties.
These extra virgin oils are complemented by four flavour infused oils: Garlic, Lemon, Garlic & Rosemary and Truffle. We also produce avocado oil and a balsamic vinegar.
All our products come in 250ml glass bottles and our extra virgin olive oil and avocado oil also come in 1L spouted-pouches.
From choosing olive growers and their groves to how our oils are pressed and bottled, our innovative approach to packaging, and the channels we forge to get our products to market, The Founders bring a fresh vision and new ways of thinking to all aspects of our business.
Only the best olives that will produce the richest oils are harvested, pressed and bottled from groves governed by environmentally friendly and sustainable practices, which are grown and managed by some of New Zealand’s best growers.
The olives we harvest to make our extra virgin olive oils are kept under 28°C from picking through to bottling. This process is called cold pressing and is necessary to encapsulate and retain the high levels of nutrition our olive oils are renowned for.
In a nutshell, we know what it takes to get great tasting, nutritionally dense, 100% healthy olive oil from grove to bottle and into your kitchen. To find out where to buy our oils please visit our NZ Stockists or Global Sellers pages.
"We're proud purveyors of arguably the finest cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil in the world."
Wayne Startup - Co-founder