Discover the Best Places to Buy Olives & Capers in the UK — Guide, Tips and Quick Recipes

Why olives & capers are kitchen essentials

If your kitchen were a toolbox, olives and capers would be the little multi-tools you reach for again and again. They add instant brightness, salty tang, and a Mediterranean soul to everything from salads to Sunday roasts. Whether you're tossing a handful of pitted olives into a quick pasta or stirring a spoonful of capers into a buttery sauce, these tiny flavor boosters make simple food taste like you’ve spent hours in the kitchen. And the good news? You don’t need to cross the Channel to find excellent varieties — many UK stores stock a wide range, from budget jars to artisanal Mediterranean imports.

Top UK retailers for olives and capers

When shopping in the UK for olives and capers, you’ll find options across big supermarkets, discount chains, premium grocers, and specialist delis. Each type of store has its sweet spot — think Tesco for convenience and value, Waitrose for premium provenance, and Ocado for specialist brands. Below I break down what to expect at key retailers so you can shop smarter, not harder.

Tesco

Tesco is the go-to for everyday shopping, with a reliable selection of own-brand olives and international names. Expect jar sizes around 6 to 12 ounces for ready-to-eat olives, often available in brine or oil-packed options. Tesco’s Mediterranean aisles usually include staple flavours like black olives, green pitted olives, and mixed marinated jars suitable for salads or snacking without breaking the bank.

Sainsbury's

Sainsbury’s mixes value and quality: you’ll find budget-friendly packs alongside a stronger range of premium or organic options. Their larger stores typically stock snack-size jars and 10 to 14 ounce tubs ideal for entertaining. If you like marinated olives — garlic, chilli or lemon — Sainsbury’s often carries tempting own-brand varieties and a few imported classics.

Waitrose

Waitrose tends to be the place for provenance and carefully sourced products. Look here for heritage olive types, oil-cured varieties, and capers packed with minimal preservatives. Jar sizes and packaging often skew premium — think larger 8 to 16 ounce jars and attractive deli-style tubs — and it’s a great spot if you’re after flavour complexity for tapas, grazing boards, or more refined recipes.

Ocado

Ocado’s strength is selection: it aggregates mainstream supermarket lines with boutique and artisanal brands you might not find on the high street. From Greek and Spanish single-variety olives to speciality capers and caperberries, Ocado is ideal if you’re hunting for rarer items. Expect product descriptions to be clear about jar weight — often shown in ounces — and delivery comes straight to your door if you prefer shopping online.

Marks & Spencer (M&S)

M&S puts a premium twist on pantry staples, offering olives and capers that are often dressed or flavoured with herbs and citrus. Their own-brand jars usually come in polished packaging, great for gifting or serving. Portions tend to be in the smaller to medium range, so they’re convenient if you’re creating a curated picnic or want a refined touch for a dinner party.

Asda & Morrisons

Asda and Morrisons compete on price and broad accessibility. You’ll typically find economical jars in 6 to 12 ounce sizes, and both stores carry supermarket-brand capers and olives alongside some familiar international brands. If you’re feeding a crowd on a budget, these are reliable stops for basic but tasty options that won’t compromise your wallet.

Aldi & Lidl

Don’t underestimate the discounters. Aldi and Lidl frequently rotate premium-sounding olive and caper products as part of their weekly special buys, often in strikingly good-quality jars at lower prices. These special offers are worth checking for limited-edition imports or single-origin items — the classic supermarket surprise where you might score a gourmet jar for a fraction of the usual cost.

Booths and regional delis

If you live in the North or are visiting, Booths and local delis are goldmines for artisan olives and capers. Regional shops often source from smaller importers and will sell items by weight from deli counters, allowing you to taste before you buy. This is the place to hunt for unusual varieties like oil-cured Ligurian olives or extra-large Sicilian olives for a real flavour upgrade.

Planet Organic and specialist online shops

For organic, biodynamic, or specialty Mediterranean products, Planet Organic and UK-based online specialists carry curated ranges, including organic capers, salt-reduced options, and hand-packed olives from specific groves. These shops are perfect if you prioritise traceability, ethical sourcing, or particular farming methods — expect slightly higher prices but also detailed product information.

How to choose the right olive for your dish

Picking an olive is like choosing a spice: the right one transforms the dish. For salads and light pasta, go for green or Castelvetrano olives for their bright, buttery profile. For roasting or stews, black oil-cured olives add depth and a slightly smoky edge. If you’re assembling a tapas board, offer a mix of pitted green, marinated Kalamata, and stuffed olives so guests can pick their favourite. When in doubt, consider size (larger olives make a lovely garnish), texture (firm vs soft), and whether you want pitted convenience or the fuller flavour of unpitted fruit.

Capers: small but mighty

Capers may be tiny, but their punch is disproportionate — a briny, lemony pop that wakes up sauces, salads, and fish dishes. You’ll usually see them sold by jar, often in brine, and they’re typically measured in small ounces. A teaspoon or two can elevate a lemon-butter sauce for fish, and they’re indispensable in classic dishes like chicken piccata or puttanesca. Buy capers labelled by size if you care about presentation: smaller capers tend to be more floral and prized.

Capers vs caperberries

Don’t confuse capers with caperberries. Capers are the unopened flower buds — small, usually less than an inch across — while caperberries are the fruit, larger and often served on skewers. Caperberries bring texture and a milder flavour, which is brilliant on a charcuterie platter. If a recipe calls for nonpareil capers, aim for the smallest size available; they’ll give that refined, aromatic lift chefs love.

Buying tips: jars, brine and oil-packed

When choosing jars, look for simple, short ingredient lists. Brine-packed olives keep longer and often taste brighter, while oil-packed olives can feel richer and more rounded. If you prefer lower salt, rinse olives briefly under cold water to mellow the brine — you’ll lose a little flavour but reduce salt intensity. Jar sizes in the UK tend to range from snack-friendly 4 to 8 ounces to family-size 12 to 16 ounce tubs; choose according to how often you cook with them.

Understanding jar labels and salt content

Jar labels can be dense, so scan for words like "brine," "oil-cured," or "marinated in olive oil" and check for added flavours like garlic or chilli if you want a ready-to-serve option. Salt is often listed in small print; if you’re watching sodium, choose products described as "reduced salt" or select capers and rinse them before use. Remember: a quick taste test at home tells you more than any label, and many supermarket ranges offer similar flavours at different price points.

Storage and shelf life

Unopened jars can sit in a cool pantry for months, but once opened the clock starts ticking. Keep olives submerged in their brine or oil to slow oxidation and off-flavours. If you prefer to decant into a smaller container to save space, top up with a little fresh olive oil or brine to keep them covered. Typical opened jars will stay good for a couple of weeks to a month in the fridge if submerged; capers in brine similarly last several weeks but always use your nose and taste to check freshness.

Refrigeration after opening

Pop opened jars into the refrigerator immediately and use a clean spoon each time to avoid contamination. If an oil-packed jar becomes cloudy or smells off, discard it — rancidity shows itself in a sharp, unpleasant odor. For long-term storage, you can freeze some olives whole in a sealed bag for up to a month, but freezing can alter texture, so it’s best used when texture isn’t critical, such as in cooked sauces.

Recipes and serving ideas

Olives and capers are the perfect quick-fix ingredients you can keep on hand to rescue rushed dinners or boost weekend sharing plates. They shine in salads, tapenades, sauces, and as simple bar snacks. Try sprinkling chopped olives and capers over roasted vegetables, stirring them into tomato sauces, or tossing them with new potatoes and a drizzle of olive oil for an instant side that tastes like sunshine on a plate.

Simple tapenade and toasted crostini

For a quick tapenade, blitz 6 ounces pitted olives, 2 tablespoons capers, 2 tablespoons olive oil, a clove of garlic, and a squeeze of lemon until chunky. Spread on toasted crostini and finish with a grating of hard cheese. It’s a two-minute upgrade that’s brilliant on a Friday evening with a glass of something chilled.

Pasta with olives, capers and lemon

Cook spaghetti and, while it’s finishing, warm 3 tablespoons olive oil in a pan with a smashed garlic clove, a handful of sliced olives, 2 tablespoons drained capers, and a pinch of chilli flakes. Toss the drained pasta into the pan with lemon zest and a squeeze of lemon juice, add chopped parsley, and serve with grated cheese. It’s bright, satisfying, and proof that a few pantry jars can feed a hungry household.

Health benefits and nutrition

Beyond flavour, olives and capers offer nutritional perks. Olives are a source of monounsaturated fat — the sort associated with heart health — and they bring vitamin E and antioxidants. Capers are low in calories but pack flavonoids and beneficial phytochemicals, and their punchy flavour means you use less salt overall when you rely on them for seasoning. Of course, if you’re monitoring sodium, keep an eye on brine-heavy varieties and rinse as needed.

Price expectations and saving tips

Prices vary widely: you can pick up a basic 6 to 8 ounce jar from a discount supermarket for a couple of pounds, while speciality or single-origin jars at premium retailers might cost several times that. To save, buy larger jars if you use olives regularly, hunt discounter special buys for artisan brands, or mix a small jar of premium olives into a larger, more economical jar for a flavour boost without the full price tag. Shopping seasonal promotions and stocking up when prices dip will keep your pantry ready without stretching your budget.

Conclusion

Olives and capers are tiny pantry powerhouses that lift everyday cooking into something memorable. Across UK retailers — from Tesco and Sainsbury’s to Waitrose, Ocado, and specialist shops — there’s a spectrum of options for every budget and taste. Learn a few simple tricks like rinsing brine, storing jars properly, and mixing varieties for texture and aroma, and you’ll find these little jars become some of your most-used kitchen companions. So next time you shop, pick up a couple of new varieties — treat your meals to a Mediterranean twist.