A BUSINESS which started life in Bolton has returned to the town bearing tasty gifts.

The Gift of Oil began its journey in a small unit off Deane Road more than 16 years ago and has been livening up dinner plates ever since.

With a growing and dedicated following, the family-run firm which produces and sells artisan olive oils and balsamic vinegars is now celebrating a homecoming and its first store in the town.

Phil Bianchi, from Lostock, runs the business alongside his wife Janet, and explained that returning to the town was a natural choice.

He said: “We are all from Bolton and all live in Bolton. When we moved up commercially, we preferred to stay in Bolton but there was nothing of the size we needed.

“With the lease coming to an end in Radcliffe we looked round and found a bigger place in Bolton.

“It was the ideal opportunity to bring the brand back to Bolton and it has all been worthwhile.”

The Bianchi’s moved back in May to the new location in Lecturers Close behind the Bolton Shopping Park in the town centre.

It has provided the business with a warehouse twice the size of its previous site and shop, which opened in June.

The family had opened a stop in Radcliffe but this is their first for Bolton.

All the products are also bottled on site.

Mr Bianchi added: “We sell to a lot of Bolton people who have come to know us over the years.

“During the ten years in Washington Street, lots of people got to know we were a Bolton company and even though there was no shop we would call in to buy the products.

“People really like our products and we have been selling more and more to people we have met over the years.

“We have gone from strength to strength.”

Mr Bianchi set up the business back in 2011 after working with a large olive oil company based in Athens.

He now regularly travels out to Sicily and Modena in Northern Italy where they work with two families who produce the oils and balsamic.

The products then come to the UK where the team infuse them with flavours they have developed in their workshops.

The Gift of Oil has developed a strong following of consumers around the UK since selling its products at food shows and farmers markets all over the country.

It now looks forward to greeting its local fans at the Bolton Food and Drink Festival where it will be holding court on August bank holiday weekend.

To find out more visit www.thegiftofoil.co.uk.