SpotTing a gap in the market and taking the necessary steps to make the most of the opportunity is the key to success as far as business entrepreneurs are concerned.

Gregor Macintosh, 22, of Mains of Buthlaw Farm, Glendaveney, Peterhead, has seized just such an opportunity and opened his own business cold pressing his family farm’s home-grown rapeseed oil, and can be proud of his recent achievements for a young man just out of college.

Gregor was doing an Honours degree in Agriculture at SAC, Craibston, Aberdeen, and as a topic he chose to do a feasibility study on whether there was a potential market for cold pressed oil in Scotland. He had to do the necessary market research, check out the potential challenges and the funds needed to get the project off the ground, and before the dissertation was handed in, it was clear to Gregor that there was indeed a real business opportunity that he couldn’t pass up.

He then went about getting funding, receiving advice from Grampian Business Gateway, and then a low interest loan from Princes Youth Business Trust Scotland , and a loan from the bank gave him enough to cover start up costs. And while he had the raw product, the rapeseed, which was growing in abundance on his family farm, he still had to buy a press, bottling line and filtering equipment.

“I bought two refrigerated truck containers to keep accommodation costs to a minimum, this was all happening in June 2008, and from there the business has taken off,” says Gregor. “I am now in the final stages of upgrading the whole set up which is now located within a purpose built facility with more storage area.”

Like the other producers of cold pressed rapeseed oil in Scotland, the variety of rapeseed they grow is kept top secret, and Gregor is the same. “We use a single variety, so that we get both a nice taste and a pleasing colour. It is a premium product and it deserves to be, it is far healthier than other oils, and it is a totally Scottish product with full traceability.

“It was a steep learning curve, but now that it is up and running I’m delighted by how quickly the business is moving although it has become quite a competitive market”

Gregor had been supplying local delis, shops, food halls, and the processing sector, but when he attended the Grampian Food Forum, which is run by Aberdeen Council aiming to bring together food producers and buyers and allow them to network, he met up with the main buyers from Asda, who covered Ireland and Scotland. Asda stores are currently promoting local produce, and the buyers were very interested in Gregor’s oil.

He had to gain SALSA approval, which is Safe and Local Supplier Approval, which is an Asda requirement, and now that he has sorted that out, he is going to have his oil stocked in 16 Asda stores across the North east of Scotland from April 11, 2010. He has even supplied oil to Buckingham Palace after receiving royal recognition twice in recent months.

His output at the moment can easily cope with 1000 bottles a day, but he realises that he may have to make some quick decisions if supply to Asda pays off, as he will have to increase his output to meet demand. So what is a small family business at the moment, could well expand and he has to be ready; thankfully he has moved his press into a converted building now with room for expansion, rather than the containers.

“I have already expanded the range to include three infused oils, jalepeno chilli, lemon and garlic, which is adding value to the product, and they are all selling well, and with the oil going into Asda I hope it raises the profile of the health benefits of extra virgin cold pressed oil.”

Celebrity chefs are now promoting the oil and when the public realise that they can access it easily at their local supermarket and delicatessen, and it is brimming with health benefits, it is easy to imagine this industry taking off. “We have had Nick Nairn promoting our oil on BBC Landward and James Martin at the BBC Good Food Show in Glasgow which has been a great boost!”

Gregor has already won an innovation award at the Royal Highland show and has been a finalist in the UK Shell Live wire young entrepreneur awards, Grampian business awards and Grampian food forum innovation awards. With the business on the up, I can’t see that he is going to have much time on his hands to help out on the family farm for much longer.

www.mackintoshofglendaveny.co.uk