A family run business profile in Ibiza!

When did Polen open and what was your inspiration behind it?

We opened in June 2013 after travelling to Sicily and Tuscany the previous winter and became so inspired, visiting producers and meeting possible suppliers, trying local produce and falling in love with the goodness of simplicity. After working seasonally for a few years, we wanted to work year round and to eat the best quality food we could, being both lovers of good, healthy food and loving to cook, eat and share food experiences with friends, so opening a shop was the perfect solution and became our dream.

Where do your products come from?

From Italy, traditional products such as tomato sauces and pestos, olive oils, artichoke, sundried tomato and olive pastes, pastas, Carnaroli rice, wines, cold cuts and cheeses from family run farms or small, independent suppliers and other countries including Mexico for mezcal, UK for gluten free products, superfoods and more ‘modern’ ingredients (sugar alternatives, coconut oils, vegetable butters etc.), coconut water from Brazil, and of course many from Spain and whatever we can from Ibiza.

What are your bestselling products?

Polen is a favourite shop for many mums who come in for our wide variety of baby foods, organic pouches and healthy, sugar free snacks, but also for special hams, truffled salami, cheeses and wine. People come all year round for our great variety of mezcal as we have increased the range more and more over the years and even created Mezcarrito, a food truck that people can book for private events serving amazing Mexican food and mezcal.

Do you supply to any restaurants?

We wholesale to several restaurants and bars and I am so happy and proud that most of those are among our favourite places to eat on the island! La Paloma, Can Guimo, Picadeli, Eat is Life and many more. We sell them loads of very good quality olive oil, cold cuts, cheese, honey, even organic ketchup to serve with their burgers. I love to support these businesses because I KNOW how good the ingredients they use are – and they really care about quality food.

How have you seen change in the demands of your customers?

Customer demand has always been our great source of inspiration. In the last few years, food consciousness has increased and reached a wider variety of people. More and more people care about food and have become more aware that what we eat is important for body and mind health. Sometimes customers walk in and are a bit confused about food intolerances and I love to listen and try to help to clarify. The gluten intolerance of the last years has been definitely one of the main ones. There is so much information from the internet and the media, that sometimes it’s good to be able to explain in person. I always bring it back to individual needs and try to keep it simple, to use good quality ingredients and to know the origins of the produce.

What does an average day at Polen look like for you?

Sharing a lot, both with clients and suppliers, reading catalogues for inspiration. But also refilling shelves, moving products around, handwriting labels, drinking a tea, a chupito of mezcal or a glass of wine with friends and customers while trying something new that has just been delivered.

How do you and Pablo divide the workload?

I love being in Polen but he feels a bit claustrophobic in the shop and would rather take care of the backstage: storage, deliveries, receiving pallets etc.

What do you hope for Polen in the future?

I hope we can keep flowing as we have been doing up to now. If Polen allows us to grow as human beings as it has done, and allows us to live the life we love, then I am happy.

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