Bertolli facts for kids
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Bertolli Riserva extra virgin olive oil
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| Type | Olive oil, pasta sauce, ready meal, spread, vinegar |
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| Owner | Mizkan (brand and North American pasta sauce) Conagra Brands (frozen food) Deoleo (olive oil) Flora Food Group (spread) Enrico (European pasta sauce) |
| Country | Italy |
| Introduced | 1865 |
| Markets | Worldwide |
| Previous owners | Cirio Bertolli De Rica (SME), Unilever |
Bertolli is a well-known brand of Italian food products. It started by selling extra virgin olive oil, which became very popular worldwide. Today, Bertolli also sells tasty pasta sauces and ready meals. Many different companies around the world make Bertolli products. However, a Japanese company called Mizkan Holdings owns the Bertolli brand name.
Contents
The Story of Bertolli
How Bertolli Began
The Bertolli company started way back in 1865. It was founded by Francesco Bertolli and his wife, Caterina. They lived in a beautiful part of Italy called Lucca, in Tuscany. At first, they sold local foods like wine, cheese, olives, and, of course, olive oil.
Changes Over the Years
The Bertolli family managed the company for a long time, until 1972. After that, the company was bought by different larger companies over the years. One of these was a big Italian group called SME. Later, in 1994, a huge company named Unilever bought Bertolli.
Who Owns Bertolli Now?
Over the past few years, different parts of the Bertolli brand have been sold to new owners.
- In 2008, the olive oil business was sold to a Spanish company called Grupo SOS (now Deoleo).
- In 2012, the frozen food business went to ConAgra Foods.
- In 2014, Mizkan Holdings bought the North American pasta sauce business. Mizkan now owns the main Bertolli brand name.
- More recently, in 2018, the Bertolli spread business became part of Flora Food Group.
- In 2021, a Dutch company called Enrico-Glasbest took over the European pasta sauce and mayonnaise business.
So, today, many different companies make Bertolli products around the world!
Bertolli Products
Bertolli makes a variety of food products for people to enjoy.
Frozen Meals
Bertolli offers frozen meals that are quick and easy to prepare. These include "Meals for One" and "Meals for Two." These meals are designed to be convenient for busy families.
Pasta Sauces
Bertolli is also famous for its pasta sauces. These sauces are a popular choice for making delicious pasta dishes at home.
Lawsuit and Quality Changes
Olive Oil Quality Concerns
Around 2010, there were some questions about Bertolli Extra Virgin Olive Oil. A study from the University of California, Davis suggested that some olive oils, including Bertolli's, might not have met the "extra virgin" standards when they reached customers.
Making Things Right
In 2018, the company that owns Bertolli olive oil, Deoleo, agreed to a settlement. They wanted to make sure their olive oil was exactly as advertised.
- One issue was that the bottles said "Imported from Italy." However, the olives often came from other countries like Greece, Spain, or Turkey. They were only mixed and bottled in Italy. Deoleo agreed to remove this phrase unless the oil truly came only from Italian olives.
- Another concern was that the clear bottles used for the oil might not protect it from sunlight and heat. This could make the oil lose its "extra virgin" quality over time.
New Steps for Better Quality
To fix these issues and ensure high quality, Deoleo made several important changes:
- They started using dark green bottles. These bottles help protect the olive oil from sunlight, which can damage its quality.
- They put in place stricter tests to check the oil's quality.
- They began showing the harvest date of the olives on the bottle. This helps customers know how fresh the oil is.
- They also shortened the "Best by" date on the bottles. This helps ensure the oil stays fresh until it's used.
These changes show Bertolli's commitment to providing high-quality olive oil to its customers.
See also
In Spanish: Bertolli para niños
