The Oil Merchant Ltd – Company Overview

Company Background and History

The Oil Merchant Ltd is a UK-based import company specializing in premium culinary oils and related products. It was founded in the mid-1980s by Charles Carey, who was among the first to bring estate-bottled extra virgin olive oil into the UK market oilmerchant.co.uk. Since 1984, The Oil Merchant has been supplying delicatessens, farm shops, and food halls with high-quality olive oils and vinegars sourced from small family producers in Europe oilmerchant.co.uk. The founder, Charles Carey, is even credited as a pioneer of estate-bottled olive oils (and high-quality nut oils) in Britain independent.co.uk. This wine-like approach to olive oil – focusing on olive variety, terroir, and harvest methods – became a hallmark of the company’s philosophy specialityfoodmagazine.com. Over the years, The Oil Merchant expanded its range beyond olive oil, gradually adding other fine food products while maintaining an emphasis on quality and artisanal producers oilmerchant.co.uk. After decades in business, it remains a small, specialist supplier known for “quality without compromise,” continuing to serve both wholesale clients and consumers via its online shop.

Products and Offerings (Key Categories)

Today, The Oil Merchant offers a wide selection of premium oils, vinegars, and gourmet pantry items – with particular emphasis on categories corresponding to certain HS codes (Harmonized System tariff codes for imports). Key product categories include:

• Estate-Bottled Extra Virgin Olive Oils (HS 1509): The core of The Oil Merchant’s business is olive oil. It imports extra virgin olive oils from small estates across Europe (Italy, Spain, Greece, etc.), often bottled at the source (estate-bottled) to preserve quality specialityfoodmagazine.com. The company treats olive oil with the same regard as fine wine, considering factors like olive cultivar, region/terroir, and harvesting methods for each oil specialityfoodmagazine.com.

• Flavoured & Nut Oils: In addition to plain olive oils, the company supplies flavored or infused oils (for example, olive oils infused with herbs or truffle) and nut oils such as walnut and hazelnut oil specialityfoodmagazine.com. These specialty oils complement their olive oil range and are sourced from artisan producers known for quality. (High-quality nut and seed oils are another area The Oil Merchant helped popularize in the UK independent.co.uk.)

• Balsamic, Wine & Fruit Vinegars (HS 2209): The Oil Merchant carries a selection of fine vinegars. This includes traditional balsamic vinegars (e.g. aged Aceto Balsamico di Modena) and wine vinegars like sherry vinegar, often from renowned vinegar makers in Italy and Spain oilmerchant.co.uk. They also offer fruit-infused vinegars and specialty vinegars, catering to gourmet cooking needs. (All these vinegars fall under HS Code 2209, the category for vinegar and vinegar substitutes.)

• Truffle Products: A dedicated truffle products range features items like truffle-infused olive oil and truffle condiments (such as truffle paste or sauce). These products are sourced from specialty truffle producers and add a luxury element to the catalog oilmerchant.co.uk. The truffle oils, in particular, align with the company’s focus on infused oils and gourmet ingredients.

• Other Gourmet Pantry Items: The Oil Merchant has broadened its offerings to include select fine foods beyond oils and vinegar. For example, it stocks artisanal honey, quality olives and tapenades, specialty mustard, Italian sauces and pesto, dried pasta and rice, specialty salts, biscuits, and curated gift hampers oilmerchant.co.uk. These complementary products (often grouped as “store cupboard” items) make The Oil Merchant a one-stop supplier for gourmet delicacies, although olive oils and vinegars remain its signature lines.

(The above product categories are derived from the company’s official listings and industry directories, highlighting the focus on edible oils and related gourmet products specialityfoodmagazine.comoilmerchant.co.uk.)

Official Registration Details (UK Companies House)

The Oil Merchant Ltd is registered in the UK with the following official company details:

• Company Number: 02436595 find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk

• Incorporation Date: 26 October 1989 find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk (the business began in 1984, and was formally incorporated as a limited company in 1989)

• Company Status: Active find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk

• Company Type: Private Limited Company

• Registered Office Address: 5 Goldhawk Mews, London, W12 8PA, United Kingdom find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk

• Nature of Business (SIC): 46330 – Wholesale of dairy products, eggs and edible oils and fats find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk (reflecting the company’s role as a specialty food and edible oil wholesaler).

These details are confirmed by the UK Government’s Companies House registry, which lists The Oil Merchant Limited as an active company at the above London address find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk. The company’s long-standing presence (over 35 years in operation) and its active status underscore its stability in the specialty food import sector.

Sources:

Official website of The Oil Merchant

oilmerchant.co.ukoilmerchant.co.uk;

UK Companies House registry

find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk

find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk;

Speciality Food Magazine directoryspecialityfoodmagazine.com;

The Independent (news article)independent.co.uk.

Source:chatgpt deep search