Dutch gourmet gifts retailer to expand in Utah

(Daily Herald) Oil & Vinegar, a gourmet culinary gifts retailer from The Netherlands, is planning to open its first Utah store by the end of next year.

The company, which launched its first U.S. store in 2005 and currently has five stores in Washington, Montana, Illinois, Texas and Virginia, is seeking franchisees for several stores in the Salt Lake City area, Provo, Ogden and Park City. The Utah store is one of eight planned nationwide stores for 2010.

Founded in 1999, the company, which has 68 stores in 11 countries, offers bottled and "on-tap" oils and vinegars, mustards, sauces, salad dressings, olives, grilled vegetables, sun-dried tomatoes, honey, fig spreads, fondue chocolates, dried herb mixes, sea salts, spices and a variety of flavored pastas.

The focal point of each store is what the company calls an "amphora wall," where an international selection of more than 30 oils and vinegars are dramatically suspended in glass containers on a backlit wall. Customers may select a bottle or bring in a previously purchased Oil & Vinegar bottle for a refill.

The store also offers a selection of ceramic table wares, cruets or dispensers for oil and vinegar, kitchen accessories, salt/pepper mills, international cookbooks and other culinary accessories. About 95 percent of the store's products are imported from Italy, Spain, Greece, France, South Africa and Australia.

Most of the stores, each about 1,000 square feet, are located in malls with high foot traffic. Each store typically has two to five workers.

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