Two Atlanta friends turned a post-pandemic passion project into one of the most talked-about food brands in the South — and they did it without quitting their day jobs.
Malatrice “Mali” Montgomery and Ayanna “Nikki” Carver, co-founders of Vine & Olive, have grown their premium olive oil and balsamic vinegar company into four thriving retail locations across Atlanta. More impressively, they built every bit of it during lunch breaks, late nights, and weekends — all while holding down demanding full-time careers.
From Full-Time Careers to a Four-Store Olive Oil Brand
Mali is a Certified Physician Associate and Assistant Professor. Nikki is the General Sales Manager for a major media outlet. Between those two titles alone, most people would have no energy left to build a business. Yet together, they did exactly that.
As Black women entering a corner of the gourmet food industry that has historically seen little representation, they had no roadmap to follow. What they did have was a deep love of food, a shared vision, and the kind of determination that does not wait for a perfect moment.
“People always ask how we do it,” says co-founder Mali Montgomery. “The truth is, we’re fueled by joy. This business brings us joy and we try to pour that same joy into every bottle, every tasting, every customer experience.”
What Makes Vine & Olive Stand Out in the Gourmet Food Market
At a time when small retailers across the country are struggling to stay open, Vine & Olive is doing the opposite — it is expanding. The brand offers premium olive oils, flavored extra virgin oils, and balsamic vinegars, all available for in-store tasting. That hands-on, customer-first experience is something big-box retailers simply cannot replicate.
What started as a post-pandemic idea has grown into an Atlanta favorite because the experience feels personal. Customers do not just pick a bottle off a shelf. They taste, they learn, and they leave with something they genuinely love. That model has built a loyal following that keeps coming back.
Furthermore, their timing has proven to be sharp. Consumers today are increasingly drawn to artisanal, high-quality food products that carry a real story behind them. Vine & Olive delivers exactly that — flavor with heart.
Major Milestones That Show the Brand’s Rapid Growth
This year alone, Vine & Olive has racked up an impressive list of wins. The brand landed a feature cooking segment on a national TV show and secured a partnership with Sarah Jakes Roberts’ Woman Evolve Conference. They also completed their first corporate tasting experience in collaboration with KPMG.
On the retail side, they opened two new locations — one inside Atlanta’s Ponce City Market and another on the Atlanta BeltLine near Krog Street Market — bringing their total footprint to four stores in two of the city’s most popular destinations. An airport expansion is also on the horizon, which will introduce Vine & Olive to travelers from around the world.
These are not small achievements for any brand, let alone one built entirely outside of regular business hours. Each milestone reflects a company that is not just surviving — it is accelerating.
Building a Community, Not Just a Customer Base
Walk into any Vine & Olive location and the atmosphere is immediately different from a typical specialty food store. There is no intimidation, no gatekeeping around flavor or culinary knowledge. Just warm staff, great products, and an open invitation to explore.
“We’re not just selling olive oil,” says co-founder Ayanna “Nikki” Carver. “We’re building a community of people who love food, love discovery, and want to make everyday meals taste extraordinary.”
Customers regularly describe the stores as “a happy place.” Many say the team introduced them to flavors they never knew they needed. That kind of word-of-mouth loyalty is difficult to manufacture — it comes from genuinely caring about every person who walks through the door. Even as economic pressures continue to weigh on small businesses nationwide, Vine & Olive’s hospitality-driven model has kept it standing strong.
The Only Black Women-Owned Olive Oil Brand in Atlanta
Vine & Olive holds a unique distinction: it is the only Black woman-owned olive oil brand based in Atlanta. That fact carries weight in an industry that has long been dominated by a narrow slice of voices and backgrounds.
Mali and Nikki did not set out to make history — they set out to share good food. Nevertheless, their success is quietly rewriting what is possible in the specialty food space. Their story is proof that representation in business is not just about presence. It is about building something so good that it cannot be ignored.
Their products can also be ordered online and shipped nationally through VineandOlives.com, extending their reach far beyond Georgia.
What’s Next for Vine & Olive’s Olive Oil Empire
With four locations running strong, a fifth retail partnership already on the horizon, more corporate tasting experiences in the pipeline, and growing media interest, Mali and Nikki are clearly just getting started.
Their journey is the kind of story that does not need embellishment. Two friends, a shared love of food, and the refusal to let a busy schedule become an excuse. They built Vine & Olive one bottle at a time, and they are not slowing down.
For anyone who has ever wondered whether it is possible to build a real business while still showing up fully for a full-time career, Vine & Olive is the answer.