Importing high quality Mediterranean food since 1993

Before our adventure into cheese-making began at Toonsbridge, we built a business importing quality Mediterranean produce and selling at market stalls, the first of which was established at the English Market in Cork City in 1993. We began with a few barrels of olives and gradually expanded our range to include an eclectic selection of delicacies and ingredients from around the Mediterranean, including Buffalo Mozzarella from Naples in Italy(more on that later). Along with our base in the English Market, we travelled in our HiAce around the country to trade at weekly farmer's markets. Through the markets, we established a loyal national customer base, and now supply wholesale partners all over Ireland who share our values.

There is something about Buffalo Mozzarella, made the traditional way, that justifies it's universal popularity. We certainly noticed that at our stalls and it became one of the most well loved and sought after items on our counter. As palettes became more discerning it became clear that the transit time from Naples to Ireland meant the Mozzarella simply was not fresh enough by the time it arrived. After much pondering as to how this problem could be overcome, we had the slightly mad idea to bring a herd of Italian Water Buffalo to Ireland and make our own. Bringing our fresh, Irish Buffalo Mozzarella to our established markets meant we could sell the cheese at its most fresh, as it is best enjoyed!

To this day, Toonsbridge Dairy produce is sold predominantly through the Real Olive Company stalls, as well as through our well-established wholesale network.

The First Stall 

The Real Olive Company began life in 1993 in Cork’s English Market when, as twenty year old, I took a small stall at the Princes Street end of the market. The stall began with just ten varieties of olives and a few other Mediterranean foods. The Cork public were surprised and bemused in equal measure by this addition to the market, and a common inquiry was “what kind of grapes are you selling?" However the arrival of the Olive Stall into the market coincided with a period of diversification from the traditional fare, with the establishment of Iago's delicatessen and the handmade charcuterie of On The Pigs Back. Even more importantly, the "French Cheese People" Anne Marie and Martin were blowing Cork people away with the their selection of raw milk goat and cows milk cheeses produced on their farm in West Cork. They proved to be the great inspiration for the cheese-making diversification later. Cork, and Ireland in general was opening up to an array of new foods and tastes. 

Markets Across The Country 

In 1994, we launched our first van onto the street markets of Ireland. It was a fifteen year old battered Toyota Hiace, and it served it's purpose. Starting in Galway’s St Nicholas market, we set about bringing olives to the rest of the country. Over the years, The Real Olive Company has participated in over 35 markets nationwide. 

Where It All Comes From

The Real Olive Company still source from our initial supplier, who instills values  that are the cornerstone of our business today. Our supplier is an extensive market trader in the South West of Germany and Eastern France, and only works with independent market traders. Along with our supplier, we believe that markets offer the best place to sell foods that are outside of the mass produced industry foods which line the supermarket shelves. Our largest supplier has long held connections to communities all over the Mediterranean, with whom he has been dealing with for over forty years. We also import directly from a number of producers, meaning we have extended our range continuously over the years

A Passion For Quality

The Real Olive Company strives to present their customers with both value and the best quality. They go to huge lengths to source products that are natural and not packed with additives. We never use refined oils on any of our products, and have only dealt in extra virgin olive oils from regional producers or cooperatives. We pride ourselves on being able to sell olives that the supermarkets could not sell, and have introduced Irish palates to many foods that could only ever have been found in their native countries. We have diversified into other related projects over the years, but our core business is still the importing and sale through markets of the finest Mediterranean foods that we can source.