The exact country count varies slightly across current SALOV communications: one source states over 70 countries, while another describes the brand as known in 75 countries.[2]

Filippo Berio

Filippo Berio was born on December 8, 1829, in Oneglia, Liguria, near Genoa. During his youth, his family relocated to Lucca in Tuscany, a region with a longstanding tradition of olive cultivation and oil production. It was there that Berio developed his interest in olive oil manufacturing.[2]

By the mid-19th century, he had established a reputation for producing high-quality olive oil by focusing on careful olive selection and controlled harvesting and pressing methods, eventually gaining recognition as a significant Italian producer.[2]

Establishment of the brand

The Filippo Berio brand was officially registered in 1867, following more than a decade of Berio’s experience in olive oil production. The first recorded sales under the brand occurred in Lucca.[2]

The business quickly adopted an international orientation. During the 1870s, Filippo Berio began exporting olive oil to North America, supplying Italian importers alongside hotels, restaurants, and retailers. This early international expansion became a defining element of the brand’s identity. The oil also received awards at exhibitions in Lyon and Paris during the same decade, helping to establish its reputation beyond Italy.[2]

After Filippo Berio’s death

Filippo Berio died in 1894 at the age of 64. His business legacy was continued by his daughter, Albertina Berio, and his business partner, Giovanni Silvestrini.[2]

In 1896, the Filippo Berio trademark was registered in the United States. Throughout the early 20th century, it became one of Italy’s major exported olive oil brands, building an international reputation for Italian olive oil. Unlike many domestic grocery brands, exporting to overseas consumers was integral to the business from its earliest years.[2]

Formation of SALOV

A pivotal development occurred in 1919 when Albertina Berio and Giovanni Silvestrini joined other Tuscan entrepreneurs to establish SALOV — Società Anonima Lucchese Olii e Vini. Silvestrini had previously been a business partner of Filippo Berio.[2]

SALOV eventually became the corporate entity responsible for preserving and developing the Filippo Berio legacy. Today, SALOV S.p.A. owns the Filippo Berio brand and produces its oils. The company also owns the Italian oil brand Sagra.[2]

International expansion

Filippo Berio continued to expand internationally throughout the 20th century. Key milestones include:

• 1867: Filippo Berio brand registered in Lucca.
• 1870s: Export expansion into North America.
• 1896: Filippo Berio trademark registered in the United States.
• 1919: SALOV established.
• 1940s: Olive oil production interrupted during World War II.
• 1950s: Production resumed using more modern olive-growing techniques.
• 1987: SALOV North America established a subsidiary in New Jersey.
• 1999: Filippo Berio UK established a subsidiary in London.
• 2004: SALOV moved production to a modern facility in Massarosa, near Lucca.
• 2011: A representative office was established in Singapore to support Asia-Pacific expansion.
• 2019: Filippo Berio launched in the Italian domestic market as part of SALOV’s centenary year.[2]

The 2019 Italian launch was notable because, despite being internationally successful for over 150 years, the brand was only then introduced to the Italian market by SALOV as a dedicated premium offering.

Although primarily recognized as an olive oil brand, the Filippo Berio product range has broadened over time.

Olive oils

The core portfolio comprises various grades and styles of olive oil, including:

• Extra virgin olive oil
• Classic olive oil
• Specialty extra virgin olive oils
• Italian extra virgin olive oil
• Flavoured olive oils
• Organic products in selected markets
• Specialty and premium selections

The specific portfolio varies by country, as Filippo Berio adapts its products to individual market preferences and consumer demands.[1][2]

Other food products

Beyond olive oil, Filippo Berio has expanded into categories such as:

• Pesto
• Pasta sauces
• Vinegars
• Olives
• Other Mediterranean-inspired foods

These extensions allow the brand to position itself as more than solely an olive oil producer, although olive oil remains its defining category.[1][2]

Quality control is central to the brand’s positioning. SALOV describes its approach as covering the entire production chain, from ingredient selection and harvesting through pressing, blending, testing, and bottling. The company emphasises traceability and rigorous controls throughout production.[2]

The quality system includes laboratory testing and external certification. SALOV states that its production operations are certified against standards including ISO, BRC, and IFS. Filippo Berio products also hold certifications such as Kosher and, where relevant, Halal and organic certifications.[2]

The company operates a modern production facility in Massarosa, near Lucca, equipped with testing laboratories, storage facilities, and advanced packaging technology.[2]

The “Berio Method”

For certain premium Italian products, Filippo Berio promotes the “Berio Method”. This concept emphasises control and traceability from the agricultural stage through production, combining:

• Selection of olives
• Careful harvesting
• Rapid processing after harvest
• Traceability
• Quality testing
• Production controls
• Sustainability practices

The objective is to ensure greater consistency and provide consumers with transparency regarding where and how the oil was produced.[2]

Sustainability has become an increasingly important component of the modern brand strategy. A key initiative is Villa Filippo Berio, an agricultural estate in Tuscany used for research and experimentation in olive cultivation. SALOV states that this project supports research into agricultural productivity, sustainability, and olive biodiversity.[2]

The company has also collaborated with Italy’s National Research Council (CNR) on projects investigating olive-growing techniques and sustainability. SALOV’s sustainability programme covers:

• Sustainable olive cultivation
• Biodiversity
• Agricultural research
• Environmental management
• Carbon footprint reduction
• Resource efficiency
• Worker health and safety
• Product traceability

Its 2024 sustainability reporting lists environmental and management certifications, including ISO 14001 for environmental management and ISO 14064-1 relating to greenhouse gas reporting and monitoring.[2]

The Filippo Berio identity is strongly connected to Italian culinary heritage. Rather than positioning itself solely as an inexpensive cooking oil, the brand has historically emphasised a progression from Italian origin and craftsmanship to international heritage, quality, and culinary enjoyment.

The founder’s name is central to the branding, presenting Filippo Berio as the individual whose personal standards formed the foundation of the company. SALOV describes the name as synonymous with Italian excellence, while the current brand emphasises its combination of historical heritage and modern production practices.[2]

Filippo Berio possesses a distinctive international profile as an Italian heritage brand whose strongest commercial identity developed partly outside Italy. According to SALOV, the brand holds a leading position in several markets, including:

• United States
• United Kingdom
• Belgium
• Switzerland
• Hong Kong
• Philippines
• Indonesia

SALOV describes Filippo Berio as a leading brand in several of these territories and notes that it continues to expand internationally.[2]

Presence in the Philippines

The Philippines is particularly relevant to the brand’s international footprint. SALOV currently lists the Philippines among the markets where Filippo Berio is a leading brand.[2]

Its presence in the Philippine market aligns with the broader international strategy: marketing Italian culinary heritage to consumers outside Italy while adapting the product portfolio to local preferences.

Filippo Berio is currently part of the SALOV Group, an Italian company specialising in edible oils. Established in 1919, SALOV has maintained a connection with the Filippo Berio business since the organisation’s foundation.[2]

As of 2025, Gianmarco Laviola serves as CEO of the SALOV Group. Corporate announcements describe Filippo Berio as one of the group’s principal international brands, with a presence in more than 70 countries.[2]

Filippo Berio has received recognition at various international olive oil competitions and food industry awards. SALOV’s sustainability reporting records awards for different products in countries including the United Kingdom, United States, Switzerland, Brazil, Canada, and Italy. Recent accolades include medals at international olive oil competitions and consumer product awards.[2]

The brand’s history of recognition extends back to the 1870s, when the founder’s oils received awards at European exhibitions.[2]

Several factors distinguish Filippo Berio from many contemporary olive oil brands:

1. Historical brand heritage: The trademark dates to 1867.
2. Historical founder: The brand is named after an actual olive oil producer, Filippo Berio.
3. Early internationalisation: Exports to North America began in the 19th century.
4. Strong Italian identity: The brand story is deeply connected with Lucca and Tuscany.
5. Long association with SALOV: The brand has been linked to the company founded in 1919 by Berio’s daughter, business partner, and other Tuscan entrepreneurs.
6. Global positioning: The brand became particularly significant in overseas markets rather than solely domestically.
7. Modern quality controls: Contemporary production combines traditional expertise with laboratory testing, traceability, and international food safety standards.
8. Portfolio expansion: The brand has developed a wider Mediterranean food range beyond olive oil.
9. Sustainability focus: Agricultural research, biodiversity, traceability, and environmental management are integral to its strategy.[2]

1. Fine Olive Oil Products
2. A passion for Olive Oil | Our Heritage | Filippo Berio