The second-tier cooperative society Oleoestepa is a company founded in 1986, which produces and markets extra virgin olive oil.
Currently this cooperative group brings together more than 7,000 farmers working around 61,000 hectares of olive groves, representing an ecosystem of more than 7 million olive trees cultivated using integrated and organic production techniques to guarantee their sustainability.
Cold extracted extra virgin olive oil is produced by the 18 associated oil mills located in the provinces of Seville, Córdoba and Malaga. The oil is marketed under the Oleoestepa brand in its Hojiblanca, Arbequina and Selection, Maestro Oleario, Estepa Virgen and Egregio (organic) varieties and the company operates throughout the national territory, also exporting to practically all the countries of the European Union as well as the United Kingdom, China, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Canada and the United States, among other countries.
Philosophy and values
Oleoestepa’s mission is to market all the olive oils produced by the associated oil mills, distinguishing itself by achieving top efficiency and exceeding the expectations of our customers. This is how it pursues its ultimate goal, serving and satisfying the needs of oil mills and associated farmers, providing them with sustained profitability.
Our vision is to make Oleoestepa a benchmark of quality for the producers and marketers of extra virgin olive oils the world over, valuing our output and making our farms profitable.
The values underpinning Oleoestepa’s actions are based on:
- Customer orientation. At the centre of our attention, we seek to ensure customer satisfaction and exceed their expectations.
- Sustainability, Health and Safety. Permanent compliance with all legal requirements underpinning our Quality and Environmental Management System, and ensuring our business strategy dovetails with the preservation of our environment.
- Ethical conduct. We act with professionalism, moral integrity, loyalty and respect for people.
- Innovation. We promote continuous improvement and innovation throughout the process from the olive farms to the points of sale, in order to achieve the highest quality of our products and services based on profitability criteria.
- Social Commitment. Due to the economic, social and cultural importance that the olive grove sector represents for our environment, Oleoestepa works to help its neighbouring community develop and grow. This unwavering commitment is integral to its strategic decision-making processes.
History
- Creation of Oleoestepa SCA, a union of 14 cooperatives.
Premios
- First Prize for Best EVOO at EXPOLIVA
- Incorporation of Cooperativa Pontanense (Puente Genil) to Oleoestepa SCA
- Inauguration of new facilities, with an industrial plant, laboratory and tasting panel.
- Incorporation of Cooperativa La Inmaculada de la Roda de Andalucía to Oleoestepa SCA
- Grandfather and granddaughter image launch in Oleoestepa oil range
Premios
- Prize for Best Spanish EVOO MAGRAMA
- First Prize for Best EVOO at EXPOLIVA
- Incorporation of Cooperativa Arbequisur to Oleoestepa SCA
- Start of Integrated Production Certification
Premios
- Prize for Best Spanish EVOO MAGRAMA
- Start of Environmental Management Certification ISO:14001
- The study carried out by the Organisation of Consumers and Users (OCU) ranks Oleoestepa’s products as the best extra virgin olive oil
Premios
- First Prize for Best EVOO at EXPOLIVA
- Constitution of Estepa Protected Designation of Origin
- Expansion of facilities.
Premios
- Prize for Best Spanish EVOO MAGRAMA
- The study carried out by the Organisation of Consumers and Users (OCU) ranks Oleoestepa’s products as the best extra virgin olive oil
- Start of ENAC Oleoestepa Laboratory Certification, for oil and olive analysis
- Launch of the ESTEPA VIRGEN premium range
- Start of Food Industry Certification IFS and BRC.
- Recognition of Estepa PDO by the EU
- Start of Organic Production Certification
- KOSHER product certification
- EGREGIO launch, premium ecological proposal
- The study carried out by the Organisation of Consumers and Users (OCU) ranks Oleoestepa’s products as the best extra virgin olive oil
Premios
- First Prize for Best EVOO at EXPOLIVA
- First Prize for Best EVOO Mario Solinas COI
- Incorporation of Cooperativa de San Juan (Villanueva de San Juan) into Oleoestepa SCA (17th).
- Official supplier of AVE and Long Distance lines Spain
- Official provider of the Spanish Paradores Network
- Official provider of Top Chef Spain program
- Official provider of Top Chef Spain program
Premios
- Prize for Best Spanish EVOO MAGRAMA
- First Prize for Best EVOO at EXPOLIVA
- Best of Class (Mejor de su categoría) Los Angeles EVOO Competition
- Olive Japan Grand Prix
- Gold Award NY Competition
- BIOFACH best organic EVOO award
- Launch of Oleoestepa Organic
- NON-GMO Product Certification
- The Junta provincial government recognises Oleoestepa as the first Agrifood Priority Associative Entity of Andalusia
- Oleoestepa joins the Comprehensive Sustainability Decalogue maintained by the Agrifood Industry
- Start of works to expand industrial plant
- The study carried out by the Organisation of Consumers and Users (OCU) ranks Oleoestepa’s products as the best extra virgin olive oil
- Oleoestepa is first olive company to obtain the IQNet SR10 Certificate for social responsibility management
- JASS organic production certification
- First Prize for Technical Innovation at Expoliva 2019 for the new analytical solution for whole olives devised by FOSS and the Oleoestepa laboratory.
- Oleoestepa receives the Cooperative of the Year 2020 award at the Spanish Agrifood Cooperative Awards
- Incorporation of Cooperativa Agrojara SCA (Martín de la Jara, Seville) to Oleoestepa SCA (18).
- Inauguration of the industrial plant expansion
- The study carried out by the Organisation of Consumers and Users (OCU) ranks Oleoestepa’s products as the best extra virgin olive oil
- The Virgen de la Oliva de Mollina cooperative joins the Oleoestepa cooperative project (19th associated cooperative)
- Oleoestepa launches the first extra virgin olive oil in a bottle made entirely from recycled plastic
- Oleoestepa achieves the renewal of the BRC certificate with the highest degree
- The Oleoestepa laboratory first to achieve accreditation in the comprehensive analysis of olive oil and olives
- Eco-Garden organic production certification (Taiwan)
Governing bodies
Assembly
The partners participate directly in the management of the cooperative through various management bodies. One of them is the General Assembly, the highest representative body of Oleoestepa. Amongst its functions is the requirement to appoint the Permanent Council and the President. In 2020, the General Assembly ratified the Governing Council and the President of Oleoestepa, Jesús P. Juarez Martín.
Governing Council
Between the assembly and the managing direction, this body is in charge of ensuring its proper functioning. They are the representatives of
the members of each of the associated cooperatives, ensuring the rights of members are respected and the cooperative is correctly governed.
General management
The steering committee is headed up by the managing director, Álvaro Olavarría, in charge of coordinating the different areas of activity undertaken by the cooperative.
