Australian extra virgin olive oil producers gathered in Glenelg, Adelaide on Friday night for the results of the largest and most prestigious awards event in the industry’s calendar – the Australian Olive Association’s 14th National Extra Virgin Olive Oil Awards Show. 13 gold medals were awarded from over 200 entries, which were scrutinised in an intense two-day judging process by 26 olive oil experts, with Best Oil of Show going to Jos and Kathy Weemaes , Gooramadda Olives, North... ...Read more »

Cobram Estate’s Fresh & Fruity Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) was yesterday announced as the Gold and Champion Commercial EVOO winner in the prestigious Sydney Royal Fine Food Show, adding to the brand’s enviable awards portfolio and cementing Cobram Estate’s position as Australia’s leading home-grown olive oil. The winning oil, Fresh & Fruity from Cobram Estate’s Everyday Range, was recognized for outstanding quality and excellence in a competitive field, and... ...Read more »

Spanish food group SOS Corporacion Alimentaria has struck a distribution deal for its Bertolli olive oil brand in Japan.SOS said yesterday that importer Japan Europe Trading Co. (JET) would handle Bertolli to strengthen the brand’s presence in the retail and foodservice channels. “JET is an importer of high-end Italian brands, recognised by the trade and by the Japanese consumer,” SOS said. “Supporting that distribution, JET participates in activities to promote Mediterranean... ...Read more »

The gold medal winners in the 2010 Royal Queensland Food & Wine Show’s Olive Oil Competition were announced this week, with top honours going to products from WA, NSW and Victoria. Table olives were in competition for the first time this year, alongside extra virgin olive oils and flavoured and infused oils. A total of 71 entrants from around Australia – 46 oils and 25 table varieties – yielded three gold medals, plus seven silver and 23 gold. Best Olive Oil of Show went to... ...Read more »

Testing by CHOICE of 28 brands of extra virgin olive oil sold in Australian supermarkets has found that half don’t meet widely accepted international standards.  The consumer group says there needs to be a mandatory Australian standard for all olive oils labelled “extra virgin” to ensure they meet basic purity and quality requirements. Of the oils that failed the CHOICE test, most were imported from Italy and Spain. Nine of the top ten tasting brands were Australian and rated... ...Read more »

Following a record extra virgin olive oil harvest of 15 million litres in 2009, good rainfall and climate conditions this season means that Australia is on track for another bumper year with 17 million litres predicted for 2010. Harvesting is underway in most states and will continue across Australia through to July. Most of Australia’s olives are grown in the east, south and west of the country, with Victoria producing a significant majority of olive oil. Most of the world’s major olive... ...Read more »

Australian extra virgin olive oil producers gathered in Canberra this week for the results of the largest and most prestigious awards event in the industry’s calendar – the Australian Olive Association’s 13th National Extra Virgin Olive Oil Awards Show. Eight gold medal oils have been selected from over 200 entries, which were scrutinised in an intense two-day judging process by 27 olive oil experts, with Best Oil of Show going to Cobram Estate. Chairman of the judging, olive oil... ...Read more »

An Australian Competition and Consumer Commission investigation has discovered that some distributors may have misled consumers with assertions that their product was extra virgin olive oil. As such, three companies have agreed to carry out more testing to ensure they do not fall foul of the Trade Practices Act. “Certain importers, distributors and retailers will now conduct more testing to verify that the extra virgin olive oil they supply is as claimed,” ACCC Chairman, Graeme Samuel,... ...Read more »

Aldi Australia has become the first grocery retailer to commit to the Australian Olive Association’s (AOA) Industry Code of Practice.The Code of Practice has been introduced to guarantee the authenticity and quality of certified extra virgin olive oils and distinguish such products from others in the marketplace. To be certified, every drop of oil in a bottle labelled extra virgin olive oil must meet or exceed standards for quality and must be free of smell and taste defects with a free fatty... ...Read more »

Spanish food company Grupo SOS has taken control of the worldwide, perpetual licence for the Bertolli brand for olive oil, premium vinegar and olives. The €630m purchase from Unilever went through late last month and includes related assets, as well as the sale of the Dante, Maya and San Giorgio olive oil and seed oil businesses. Unilever will, however, retain the Bertolli brand for all other categories including margarine, pasta sauces and frozen meals. “The Bertolli brand remains a priority... ...Read more »