Olive oil is a product increasingly appreciated by the Canadian consumer. Even more so now, as the Canada International Olive Oil Competition has just awarded the quality of a few Spanish aoves, among them Magnun Sess Premium. Our limited edition olive juice has won a well-deserved Gold Medal for its excellent quality.

Just a month ago, our Magnun Sess Premium gave us another joy. This time as a Gold Medal awarded by the Canada International Olive Oil Competition.

It was the first time we participated in this international competition and the result was fantastic. Among all the samples that participated in the event, our limited edition won one of the highest awards thanks to the excellent quality of this Picual olive juice, as complex as it is elegant.

We are very happy and proud of this recognition given to us by the prestigious jury leading the contest, made up of great oil tasting experts from countries as diverse as Spain, Turkey, Greece, Tunisia and Italy.

All of them have agreed on the flavors given off by this aove as a result of the early harvesting of the olives. Its intense fruitiness, its notes of green leaf and grass, its persistent bitterness and spiciness… It is an oil that is reaping several awards in international competitions held in Japan, Dubai, Los Angeles, London…!

Olive oil consumption in Canada on the rise

The organizer of the competition, George Kouvelis, recognizes that this contest is a good option for producers who want to expand globally, since the global olive oil market in Canada has grown steadily over the last 25 years, and will continue to do so, according to ICEX.

As this organization points out, although olive oil is not yet a main ingredient in traditional Canadian cuisine, its consumption in the country’s gastronomy and in homes is progressively increasing.

This increase is largely due to consumer education about the benefits of a healthy Mediterranean-inspired diet, and olive oil has been introduced into Canadian cuisine as a healthier alternative to other cooking oils.

However, although olive oil is a product increasingly known and appreciated by consumers, it has not yet established itself in Canadian households and its consumption is almost exclusively in the largest cities, such as Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver.

For them, it is Italy that projects the image of leader in the sector despite the fact that Spain is the world’s leading producer and exporter of olive oil. The Italian community is very significant in the country, especially in the major Canadian cities.

Canada increases its olive oil purchases

During the 2019/20 season, the volume of olive oil imported by Canada stood at 58,236 t, as detailed by the International Olive Council in its latest report.

Regarding the origin of these imports, Italy stands out as the main importing country. However, although it continues to be the main player in the Canadian olive oil market, its position has weakened in recent years and currently represents a share of 37.8% (21,991 t.), very close to Spain’s 31.3% (18,247 t).

Most significantly, of the total imports, extra virgin olive oil accounts for 45,779 t, which makes this country a great opportunity for both mid-range and high-end or gourmet olive oil producers.