Sourcing policy

The three pillars

Sourcing is a strategic activity for PrimOli, as raw materials constitute a large portion of total costs, but also because PrimOli’s relationship with the producers is the company’s most valuable asset.
Beside undergoing a careful selection of raw materials, we ensure having enough product to satify market needs, despite limited market availability and a high level of supply fragmentation.
For nearly thirty years our procurement policy has rested on three pillars.

Suppliers selection

PrimOli has established lasting relationships directly with the suppliers of the finest PDO and PGI oils, including individual producers, private oil mills and cooperative mills.
In choosing a supplier of PDO and PGI oils we apply many different selection criteria. The most important are: focus on quality across the entire olive-to-oil chain, milling technology, and availability of suitable bulk oil storage facilities.

Relationship with the suppliers

The relationship between PrimOli and its network of suppliers is based on a shared culture of excellence across the entire supply chain, from olive grove to point of sale, resulting in synergic exchanges of information, techniques and expertise.
PrimOli acknowledges that to ensure sustainability it is essential to pay a fair price to those who comply with PDO and PGI certifications that involve effort and investment to meet the amount of regulatory requirements they need to satisfy.

Selection of raw materials

The tasting of bulk oil representative samples from each batch is of strategic importance to PrimOli.
Olive oil tasting requires technical skills but is above all an art. Tasters do not rely solely on their natural gift, but also on their finely tuned experience.
Evaluating the organoleptic profile of an oil with protected designation of origin doesn’t just imply checking that it is free from defects or that it has all the relevant positive attributes, it also means ensuring it matches the typical profile for that production area.