Face to face with: Ciccolella | SANA Partner

November 2025

The Ciccolella family has owned large plots of land in the province of Bari since 1878, with around 8,000 Coratina and Ogliarola Barese olive trees. Today, after more than four generations, the company—led by Giuseppe Ciccolella—produces a superior quality Extra Virgin Olive Oil, the result of passionate work in the fields and the careful management of the best technological resources.

Our green approach and the use of sustainable farming practices define our philosophy: “We do not inherit the land from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.” Guided by these values, Giuseppe Ciccolella personally oversees the cultivation of the olive trees and every stage of the production process, from harvesting the olives to pressing and bottling.

This results in a premium Extra Virgin Olive Oil made exclusively from olives grown on our estate. Our EVOO stands out for its organoleptic properties, aroma, color, and the characteristic taste of our native cultivars.

The quality of our oil is further enhanced by innovative packaging that combines practicality with elegance.

What inspired your participation in SANA Food 2026, and what goals or expectations are guiding you in this new edition?

This year, we are expanding our range of certified organic products. Starting with the Organic Cru (a blend of Coratina and Ogliarola Barese), we have extended the certification to Cagnara DOP (monocultivar Coratina), Cru di Puglia IGP (blend of Coratina, Ogliarola Barese and Favolosa), and Fuara (monocultivar Leccio del Corno).

Participating in SANA Food 2026 is a natural step in this journey: we want to strengthen our presence in the organic sector and engage with companies that share our philosophy of sustainability and respect for the land.

Our main goal is to reinforce our brand positioning in the organic market, establish new business collaborations, and communicate to the public the authentic value of an extra virgin olive oil produced in full respect of the environment.

Today’s consumers are increasingly conscious about health and well-being. How has this awareness influenced your production choices or inspired new product concepts?

The growing attention of consumers to food quality has reinforced our belief that a high-quality extra virgin olive oil should be not only tasty but also healthy and sustainable.

For this reason, we have chosen to invest in organic production, the use of low-impact agricultural practices, and immediate pressing of olives after harvest to preserve the oil’s nutritional and antioxidant properties.

Moreover, through our olive oil tourism experiences, we aim to raise awareness about extra virgin olive oil as a fundamental food for health, highlighting the connection between territory, quality, and well-being.

Tradition and innovation often go hand in hand in a company’s growth journey. How do you manage to honor your roots while giving them a contemporary interpretation?

Before being olive oil producers, we are observers of nature. We have learned to let the land guide us, as previous generations did. From this heritage comes our concept of innovation: combining traditional agricultural knowledge with modern technologies and sustainable practices.

Today, our company is fully organic and powered by clean energy thanks to a photovoltaic system that provides autonomy for most of the year. Production waste is reused as natural fertilizer.

In this way, we maintain a strong connection to our roots while interpreting it in a contemporary way, through constant commitment to quality, environmental respect, and the beauty of our territory.

Transparency, sustainability, and traceability have become essential values in today’s market. How do you bring these principles to life in your distribution practices?

For us, transparency means clearly communicating every stage of the process, from the field to the bottle. All our products are fully traceable and made exclusively from olives grown in our own groves.

We also pursue sustainability in distribution: we use plastic-free packaging, recyclable materials, and collaborate with partners who share our environmental commitment.

In this way, every bottle becomes a tangible testament to our dedication to quality, authenticity, and respect for the land.