What buyers should actually specify when buying Greek olive oil
Extra virgin is a legal minimum, not a quality statement. A compliant extra virgin can sit at 0.75 percent free acidity with a marginal panel result, or at 0.20 percent with a clean fruity profile and high polyphenols. Both are legally the same grade and commercially different products.
We quote against the parameters that determine how the oil performs on shelf and in the kitchen, and we supply the lot analysis with the offer so your technical team can verify it before you commit.
| Parameter | Legal EVOO limit | What we typically supply |
|---|---|---|
| Free acidity (% oleic) | ≤ 0.80 | 0.20 to 0.40 |
| Peroxide value (meq O2/kg) | ≤ 20 | 6 to 12 |
| K232 | ≤ 2.50 | 1.6 to 2.1 |
| K270 | ≤ 0.22 | 0.10 to 0.16 |
| Polyphenols (mg/kg) | No limit | 250 to 500+, early harvest higher |
| Organoleptic | Median defect 0, fruity > 0 | Panel certificate per lot |
Why Greek olive oil, and specifically which Greek olive oil
Greece is overwhelmingly an extra virgin producer, with a far higher share of its crop reaching extra virgin grade than the other major Mediterranean origins. The dominant variety, Koroneiki, delivers high phenolic content and a stable, aromatic oil that performs well in blending and in single-origin retail alike.
Regionality matters commercially. Cretan Koroneiki tends toward intense, herbaceous and high-polyphenol profiles. Messinian and Lakonian oils are rounder and often carry PDO status. Northern Greek varieties offer softer profiles suited to buyers whose market resists bitterness.
- Koroneiki, for high polyphenol and aromatic intensity
- Kalamata PDO, pressed from Koroneiki olives, for origin-protected premium retail
- Athinolia and Manaki blends, for softer palates
- Organic certified groves across Crete and the Peloponnese
Why buyers choose theGreex as their olive oil supplier
We work directly with mills and cooperatives, not with the anonymous bulk market. That means we can tell you the grove region, the harvest window, the extraction temperature and the storage conditions behind a lot, and we can reserve tank volume for you at harvest rather than buying whatever is left in March.
For repeat programmes we build a blending specification so the oil your customer buys in November tastes the same as the one they bought in May, which is the part most single-lot suppliers cannot deliver.
- Harvest-time tank reservation for continuity of supply
- Blending to a fixed sensory and chemical target across the season
- Nitrogen-blanketed storage and controlled filling
- Full traceability from grove and mill to bottle or flexitank
Our mill and cooperative network
Our olive oil supply base centres on Crete, Messinia, Lakonia and selected northern Greek regions, combining family mills that produce limited early-harvest volumes with larger cooperatives and bottling plants capable of container-scale programmes.
- Two-phase and three-phase mills with cold extraction below 27°C
- Cooperatives with certified organic grove registers
- Bottling plants with BRCGS or IFS certification and export experience
- Bulk terminals for flexitank loading at Piraeus and regional ports
Quality control on every olive oil lot
- Chemical analysis at an accredited laboratory before shipment
- Organoleptic panel assessment for grade confirmation
- Pesticide residue and plasticiser screening on request
- Counter-samples retained for the declared shelf life
- Tank and bottling line inspection prior to filling
Certifications for olive oil programmes
- EU Organic, with NOP and JAS available from selected mills
- PDO Kalamata and other protected designations, with control body documentation
- BRCGS and IFS certified bottling
- ISO 22000 and HACCP across the network
- Non-GMO and allergen-free declarations
- Kosher and Halal on selected bottling lines
Export capabilities and formats
| Format | Typical use | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Flexitank 22,000 to 24,000 L | Bulk import and local bottling | Food-grade single-use, container-loaded |
| IBC 1,000 L | Smaller bulk and industrial use | Nitrogen headspace on request |
| Drums 190 to 200 L | Trial bulk volumes | Steel or HDPE |
| Glass 250ml to 750ml | Premium retail and delicatessen | Dark glass, custom closures |
| Tin 500ml to 5L | Retail, foodservice and gifting | Full-surface print available |
| PET 1L to 5L | Value retail and foodservice | Lightweight, lower freight cost |
MOQ flexibility on olive oil
- Bulk trials from one to two drums or a single IBC
- Retail producer-branded orders from one pallet per SKU
- Private label from around 3,000 bottles per SKU where stock glass is used
- Mixed pallets combining oil with olives, vinegars and preserves for first shipments
Private label olive oil
Private label olive oil succeeds or fails on two decisions taken early: the sensory target and the packaging economics. We agree the blend profile against your market, then match it to a bottle, closure and case configuration that survives your freight route and hits your shelf price.
- Blend developed to a documented sensory and chemical target
- Stock or custom glass, tin and PET options with realistic minimums
- Label design adaptation, legal declarations and lot coding
- Best-before dating aligned to your stock turn and destination climate
Logistics for olive oil shipments
Olive oil is temperature and light sensitive, and a badly planned shipment can undo excellent milling. We load bulk and packed oil with the transit conditions in mind, and we avoid summer deck exposure on long routes wherever the schedule allows.
- Flexitank loading supervised at origin, with seal and cleanliness records
- Palletised packed oil with stretch and corner protection
- Incoterms 2020 from EXW to DAP, sea and road
- Certificates of analysis and origin documents issued with every shipment
Markets we supply with Greek olive oil
We ship bulk oil to bottlers and blenders across Southern and Central Europe, packed retail oil to specialty importers in the UK, Germany, the Nordics and North America, and premium PDO and early-harvest lots to Japan and the Gulf where provenance commands a clear premium.
Bulk olive oil supply: drums, IBCs and flexitanks
Bulk buyers, bottlers and repackers work to a different brief than retail buyers. What matters is chemistry, consistency across the season, and the ability to reserve tonnage before the harvest is committed. We source bulk extra virgin, virgin, refined, pure and pomace grades directly from mills, cooperatives and refiners.
Every bulk lot is quoted against a chemical panel agreed in advance, sampled before loading, and shipped with the certificate that matches the tonnage on the bill of lading. Storage before shipment is in stainless steel under nitrogen where the specification demands it.
| Bulk format | Typical volume | Suited to |
|---|---|---|
| Steel or plastic drums | 190 kg per drum | Bottlers taking part loads, first bulk trials |
| IBC totes | 1,000 litres | Mid-size bottlers and food manufacturers |
| Flexitank in a 20ft container | 18,000 to 24,000 litres | Large bottlers and industrial buyers |
| Tanker (intra-EU road) | By arrangement | EU bottlers with tank reception |
Private label olive oil, from bottle selection to shelf
A private label olive oil programme is decided by four things: the oil profile, the bottle, the closure and the label compliance for the destination market. We manage all four rather than handing you a bottling quote and wishing you luck.
Sampling runs on the finished configuration, not just the oil, because a beautiful oil in the wrong closure oxidises before it reaches your shelf.
- Oil profiles: early harvest, standard extra virgin, PDO, PGI, organic, blends to a target chemistry
- Formats: 250 ml, 500 ml, 750 ml, 1 L glass, 3 L and 5 L tins, 10 L catering
- Closures tested for oxygen ingress and for the pour behaviour your market expects
- Label artwork checked against EU Regulation 1169/2011 and destination-market rules
- Lot coding, best-before and traceability printed to your specification
Frequently asked questions
Can you supply bulk olive oil in flexitanks?
Yes. We load food-grade single-use flexitanks of 22,000 to 24,000 litres from Greek terminals, with supervised loading, sealed sampling and a certificate of analysis matching the loaded lot.
What is the minimum order for private label olive oil?
Typically around 3,000 bottles per SKU when using stock glass and standard closures. Custom moulds or bespoke closures raise that minimum considerably, so we usually recommend stock formats for a first launch.
Do you supply organic Greek extra virgin olive oil?
Yes, from certified organic groves in Crete and the Peloponnese, with organic transaction certificates issued per shipment and, where required, NOP or JAS equivalence.
How do you guarantee the oil is genuinely extra virgin?
Every lot is analysed by an accredited laboratory for the full chemical panel and assessed organoleptically by a trained panel. Both certificates travel with the shipment and are issued against the specific lot number.
What polyphenol levels can you supply?
Standard extra virgin lots typically run 250 to 400 mg/kg. Early harvest Koroneiki can exceed 500 mg/kg, and we can source lots qualifying for the EU health claim on olive oil polyphenols where that is required for your positioning.
Can you match a blend we already sell?
Usually yes. Send us a sample and the target chemistry. We will build a blend against it and send trial samples for approval before any commercial commitment.
When is Greek olive oil harvested and when should I order?
Harvest runs from October to January depending on region and style. Early harvest lots are limited and are usually committed in October and November, so buyers wanting that profile should reserve volume before the season starts.
Do you supply PDO Kalamata olive oil?
Yes, with control body documentation confirming the designation for the specific lot and packer. Like all our olive oils it is pressed from the Koroneiki variety, not from Kalamon table olives, which is a common point of confusion.
What shelf life should I plan for?
Typically 18 to 24 months from bottling for packed oil stored below 20°C away from light. For bulk oil intended for later bottling, we agree the storage protocol as part of the contract.
Can olive oil be shipped together with other products?
Yes. Packed oil consolidates well with olives, vinegars and ambient preserves in a mixed container, which is how most first orders are structured.
Do you supply bulk olive oil in flexitanks and drums?
Yes. We supply 190 kg drums, 1,000 litre IBCs and flexitanks of 18,000 to 24,000 litres, in extra virgin, virgin, refined, pure and pomace grades, each quoted against an agreed chemical panel.
What is the minimum order for private label olive oil?
Typically one pallet per SKU for bottled retail formats, or a single drum for bulk trials. Bottle and closure availability, not the oil, is usually what sets the floor.
Can you supply organic extra virgin olive oil with a transaction certificate?
Yes. EU organic certification with the control-body code, plus a transaction certificate issued per shipment, and NOP or JAS equivalence where your market requires it.
Do you provide analysis certificates for every lot?
Yes. Free acidity, peroxide value, K232, K270, delta-K and, on request, polyphenol content and a panel test, issued per production lot rather than per year.
How should we plan orders around the Greek harvest?
Harvest runs from October to January. Early-harvest and high-polyphenol lots are limited and usually committed in October and November, so reserve volume before the season if that profile matters to your positioning.