Albert Baussan is at the origin of the creation of Leader Price

It is as green as a Chartreuse and she sells at the price of foie gras. It is the Extra green (35 euros 250 ml bottle) latest olive oils "grands crus" at olive & Co. Bright colour is that olives have been pressed just mature as early as October. Also should in be not less than 14 kg for 1 litre of nectar where 3 or 4 kg are sufficient for current quality oils. "The olive is ripe, it gives more oil. "Some leave them too long on the tree, at the risk of giving a product with a bitter taste", explains Eric Verdier, "oléicologue" of his State, which ensures the quality of the products of olive & Co. created 12 years ago by the Marseillais Olivier Baussan, the inventor of the concept L'Occitane en Provence, teaches it surfing the craze for the cuisine of the South, Italy in mind, and the benefits of the Cretan regime where olive oil is Queen.

A niche narrow, but carrier since it meets the expectations of the indulgence, while satisfying the requirements of the well-being and health. Oliviers & Co has developed a network of shops (franchise for the most part): 80-this day in the world, including 50 in France, achieving 12 million turnover. And the recent change of shareholder has led to the establishment of a new concept of stores both more readable and more contemporary.

That it is reassured, olives & Co was not purchased by giant food, with the risk of fading it often involves. It is the uncle of founder, Albert Baussan and his wife Yolande, who resumed the case. Eighty years, the new owner of olive & Co has a successful career in the retail experience. Albert Baussan is at the origin of the creation of Leader Price. The discount to the deli, there was one not crossed, even more happily that the couple Baussan is at the head of an olive grove of 80 hectares of the area Tras-os-Montès, North of the Portugal. All of the oils sold by Oliviers & Co, pressed locally is also bottled property and returned to the logistics platform of Mane, Haute-Provence.

Raw and millésimes

As for wines and what is done in Italy, where talking about "Orchard", olives & Co offers a selection of wines and vintages. Sold in bottles, these oils are the fruit of the large olive terroirs of the Mediterranean: 20 in total, in addition to "classical" from Aix-en-Provence, the Peloponnesian, Sicily and Andalusia. "Traceability of our oils is total tree to the mill, prior to shipment of the lots to the Portugal where their taste and chemical qualities will be tested, or five points of control," explains Eric Verdier, who recalled that the first French AOC was awarded to Nyons olive oil, followed by those of the Valley of the leases, the country of Aix, of Nice (which the fruits are harvested very late in January) and Corsica.

In addition, flavored oils, tapenades, purées of vegetables and other "turnings" cooked by chefs as Jean André Charial, the Ousteau de Baumanière, Eric Fréchon of Bristol, Alain Llorca du Moulin de Mougins, Gerald Passedat du Petit Nice or Giovanni Ciresa of Bauer. If olive oil and its derivatives are still more than 43 of the assortment, teaches there was Assistant of "classical" Mediterranean cuisine, pasta and Italian rice, biscuits Corsicans, honey of scrubland. Latecomers: bio cosmetics (SOAP, products of beauty and care) and accessories for the kitchen.