Olitalia reported a turnover of 311 million and investments of 45 million euros.

The Olitalia group closed 2024 with revenues of €311 million, 10.5% higher than the previous year, and announced €45 million in investments for 2025 to expand its two plants, one in Forlì and one in Spilamberto, in the province of Modena. The rising price of olive oil has undoubtedly helped revenue growth, but the group's processed product volumes have also increased: "Last year we reached 96 million liters, previously we were at 92," says Angelo Cremonini, chairman of the family group. His father, Giuseppe, founded Inalca with Luigi. The two brothers then went their separate ways, and in 1983, Giuseppe founded Olitalia, which is now led by his siblings Angelo, Camillo, and Elisabetta.

The positive financial results are also reflected in the group's commitment to investing in future development. The group has already allocated €45 million to expand its two facilities: €30 million will go to the Forlì plant, where the oil is produced, and will be used to increase production capacity by 20% as well as improve logistics and energy supply. The remaining €15 million will be invested in the Acetaia Giuseppe Cremonini, part of the group and producing in Spilamberto, with the goal of increasing production from 20 to 35 million bottles per year.

Olitalia is growing in Italian retail, but especially abroad, which now accounts for 40% of its revenue: "Asia is our most important market," explains Angelo Cremonini, "while the US accounts for 20% of our exports." Olitalia isn't too concerned about US tariffs: "In the United States," explains the president, "we don't primarily sell olive oil, but Frienn, an innovative product specifically for frying, developed in collaboration with the University of Bologna. The US-made alternative to this product is American soybean oil, but we can't fear its competition because its performance is significantly inferior."

After a year and a half of skyrocketing extra virgin olive oil prices, bottle prices have now dropped in supermarkets. But consumers' eyes are firmly on the upcoming olive oil season, both in Italy and Europe: what does Olitalia predict? "Agronomists," says Angelo Cremonini, "tell us that until a month ago, the 2025-26 season was looking almost record-breaking. In Spain in particular, which is Europe's largest olive oil producer, olive tree blossoming was at its peak, and there was plenty of rain in the spring. The extreme heat recorded in June added some uncertainty to the picture, but as of today, I can say that the 2025-2026 season will be, if not excellent, at least good." For Cremonini, however, this shouldn't necessarily lead to a further drop in shelf prices for olive oil: "Large-scale retailers," he says, "continue to use olive oil as a decoy product, and this isn't good, because upstream, olive growers must be able to be fairly compensated."

For the Olitalia group, the vinegar business represents just a €23 million fraction of its overall turnover, but it's growing rapidly: "We started from zero in 2009 and have reached 7.5 million liters," says Angelo Cremonini. The bulk of the balsamic vinegar market is abroad, but sales have been declining recently: "I believe that many foreign palates need a less acidic and slightly sweeter product. We're already conducting research on this issue among younger consumers in the German and US markets. I think we should discuss this issue soon within the protection consortium."