Salov Oil weathered the global crisis and is now focusing on India and South America
Turnover of nearly €500 million, with a 3% increase in sales volumes (to 100 million litres) and an EBITDA of €21 million, almost double that of the previous year. These figures were recorded in 2025 by Salov, an Italian olive oil group (headquartered in Lucca) controlled by the multinational Bright Food. These results were achieved despite Trump’s tariffs and new tensions on international markets linked to the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.
“We are very pleased with our financial results,” comments Salov’s CEO, Gianmarco Laviola, “because they show that, regardless of economic crises, Italian-made products, if managed well, can continue to deliver positive results.”
Salov is a group with a strong focus on international markets; over 70% of the company’s turnover is generated abroad, with the United States being the leading market. One of the company’s two brands, Filippo Berio olive oil (the other being the Sagra brand, which is also used for other product categories such as seed oil), is sold in more than 70 countries. “Filippo Berio extra virgin olive oil,” continues Laviola, “is also a historic brand in the US, where it has been registered since 1867 – the same year Coca-Cola was registered. In the US last year, we saw a squeeze on margins due to tariffs, but sales volumes held steady, confirming the confidence of American consumers. We must continue to maintain our presence in the US market, which cannot be replaced in the short term.”
At Salov, however, they are looking with confidence at the opportunities opening up abroad. “We expect great opportunities from the EU-Mercosur agreement,” continues Salov’s CEO. “We recently attended Apas, South America’s leading trade fair. From Mexico downwards, we’re seeing a lot of activity. However, we mustn’t make the mistake of treating these as markets already secured. They present challenges from a legislative and administrative point of view, and we’re working on them, thanks in part to our branch in São Paulo.”
The Tuscan company is also paying close attention to the Indian market, another country with which the EU has recently signed a trade agreement with a major local distributor. “In the international olive oil market,” continued Laviola, “we face a competitive disadvantage compared to the other major producers in Spain and Tunisia. Abroad, they act in unison, occupy large stands at trade fairs and – as in the case of Tunisian oil – the government makes no secret of supporting companies from a commercial perspective. We, on the other hand, are always divided, often at odds with one another, and the task of promoting Italian extra virgin olive oil abroad is left entirely to private brands. A change of pace is needed, both in terms of institutional presence and the sector’s ability to work as a team.”
