Being made redundant or placed on furlough has given a host of women, across Scotland, the kickstart and confidence needed to follow their dreams. In the next instalment of our “Sisters are doing it for themselves” series we meet four women who have rallied to open their businesses during the pandemic.

Olive Alexanders, Aberdeen

Budding entrepreneurs, Emily Hailstones and Hayley Fisher, are the founders of Olive Alexanders, delicatessen in Aberdeen. The super tasteful purveyor of cheese, fine wine, meats & larder goods delivered locally and UK nationwide is a sweet nod to Emily’s great grandparents Olive Hooper and Alexander Hailstones.

Having launched on the 19th March the duo have already garnered quite the following on Instagram for their exquisite taste for the finer things in life.

Brought up in a foodie family, Emily trained as a chef at the renowned Little Chartroom, in Edinburgh under Head Chef, Roberta Hall. While qualified sommelier, Hayley, assists in pairing the deli’s wines with your food selection.

Currently an online business the couple has great plans to bring Olive Alexanders to the high street later this year. Back in the 1950s Emily’s great grandfather, Gordon Farquhar, owned the greengrocer and florist Farquhar and Son’s on St Swithin Street, while Hayley’s family in the area were potato farmers for generations. “It is nice to bring it back to how it used to be, I think that is the perfect example of what local independents should be and that’s what we want to bring back.”

The current offering is a choice of both set and customisable meat and cheese boxes containing crackers, chutneys and olives. As well as the Olive Alexanders wine subscription where you can have a bespoke selection of wines delivered to your door monthly. Follow the deli here to see what comes next.

Phil+Sophy, Kirkcaldy

Phil+Sophy is a destination for homewares & lifestyle products expertly curated by Simone Robertson-Wright. With over 20 years of luxury retail experience working for brands such as Harvey Nichols, Mulberry & Emporio Armani Simone has become quite the interiors aficionado having spent the last five years of her career at Habitat.

The selection of cushions, ethical cleaning products and Moroccan baskets, garden furniture, prints, candles and more available on the Phil+Sophy site is a veritable feast for any interiors lover, and particularly those with a boho or mid-century aesthetic looking for a standout purchase. Having launched her online shop on the 21st March, Simone is currently focused on growing her offering, where storage will allow but with her background in retail surely a bricks and mortar venture can’t be too far off. Follow Simone here to follow her journey.

Afternoon Tea by Rose, Leith

Rose Gregory should have been enjoying her 12 month sabbatical, travelling South and Central America in 2020, but we all know what happened there. The pastry chef and baker managed to escape rural Bolivia via Madrid in March of last year and arrived home just before lockdown.

Her first thought was to return to work at The Company Bakery which she did full time but as boredom set in for the rest of us, Rose decided to fulfil a dream of bringing her celebration cakes and dainty sized breads to an all together different afternoon tea experience and Afternoon Tea by Rose was born.

From her flat in Leith, Rose began creating a mouthwatering and entirely insta-worthy version of the classic treat. Homemade twists on the fondant fancy, custard cream and jammy dodger along with grown-up sounding sandwiches like sourdough baguette with white truffle egg and rocket and Isle of Mull, homemade chilli jam, and beurre noisette “finish at home” mini toastie have made the monthly teas a hit with the foodies and fashionistas of the capital, the last offering selling out in under five minutes.

As life begins to return “normal” Rose intends to keep up her new venture going, “the pandemic has changed the way people view food, they want to support independents who produce high quality, handcrafted products,” says Rose who also has her eye on collaborations and possibly pop-ups later this year. Follow her here for more information.

Sisters Are Doing It For Themselves…part 2