Zaytoun was launched for the first time back in 2004. We bought 200 bottles of olive oil in Palestine and initially invited friends and family to buy a case. The idea spread like wildfire among Palestinian solidarity networks and brought home to us the need felt by so many to do something tangible to support Palestinians, something that both supported their existing activism and reached beyond it. To buy a case of olive oil was a form of activism that could create immediate change. A simple purchase forged a direct connection to Palestinian farming communities that not only supported their livelihoods but carried a message in a bottle – the story of the people of Palestine, their love for their lands and the rich heritage they carry and are happy to share with us. And so a social enterprise was born.

In 2009, the oil was awarded Fairtrade certification, the first olive oil in the world to carry the mark. This gave it a unique selling point and helped us grow the market in the UK. In 2014, the brand and packaging had a major refresh and we saw the products getting premium listings including Harrods, Selfridges. 

Over the last 20 years, Zaytoun has continued to support a larger network of farmers and producers in Palestine and over time the range has grown to include Medjoul dates, almonds, za’atar and more.  We most recently launched a skin care range that celebrates the rich heritage of Nablus soap-making and the resilience of the only Palestinian salt producer on the shores of the Dead Sea. What has not changed is our passion for Palestine – for her people, her land, her food and farming heritage – which remains as bright and urgent as ever.

Oh! That’s a hard question! It would probably have to be the extra virgin olive oil - because it is so delicious and there are so many ways it can be used in cooking or simply just as an extra slug of flavour on all sorts of salads and dips.

Mornings in Jenin by Susan Abulhawa.  Heartbreaking and beautiful in equal measure.  

On a particular empty pebble beach in south-west Crete – it’s a place that means a lot to our family and hasn’t changed over the last twenty years we’ve been going.

I have only ever worked for women directors… this hasn’t been by design, it just happened that way.  I therefore can’t make any comparisons with regard to working with men vs women – but I can say that every one of those directors encouraged me to do things I could never have imagined I would ever do.