Since its inception, the company has maintained a strong commitment to quality, rejecting 90% of oil that does not meet its strict standards. This pursuit of excellence has been a constant since the company was founded in Córdoba 160 years ago to commercialize Andalusian olive oil. Currently, the brand leads the Spanish market with an 11.4% share, and its Córdoba factory bottled 82.5 million liters of products last year, distributed across 68 countries.
Carbonell's international vocation dates back to 1866. The second generation of the family drove internationalization, making the company a supplier to the British fleet and the Spanish Royal Household before the end of the 19th century. By 1950, it was already a world leader, present in over 70 markets. This global spirit is maintained in the group's expansion plans, which, with 29 main brands such as Carbonell, Bertolli, and Carapelli, seeks to strengthen its penetration in the United States and India.
After two negative financial years, the group closed 2025 with a net profit of 19.7 million euros and an Ebitda of 50 million, a 50% increase from the previous year. This financial improvement has allowed for debt reduction and deleveraging, laying the groundwork for its EVOO-lution roadmap, which projects an incremental Ebitda of 32 million euros between 2025 and 2028.
The Córdoba plant, one of two owned by the company (the other is in Florence), is fundamental to this growth. With a nominal capacity of 200 million liters, more than double its current production, it is prepared for increased demand. Its ten bottling lines, including the main one for the one-liter format which processes 20,000 bottles per hour, are digitized and controlled by artificial intelligence to ensure maximum quality.
“"Olive oil is a food product that cannot be improved, it's not like wine. What we have to do is ensure its quality and preserve it."
Traceability is a priority for Carbonell, which incorporates a unique QR code on each bottle so consumers can access all product information. The control process begins with the reception of tanker trucks, whose samples are analyzed in the laboratory before unloading and storage in temperature-controlled tanks. The company works with 68 Andalusian raw material suppliers, mainly from Córdoba, Jaén, and Sevilla, and generates significant indirect employment in the region.
The Córdoba factory produces 470 different formats, from the traditional tin to the oil cruet bottle, adapting to the diverse cultures and quality standards of markets such as Germany, the Netherlands, Japan, and India. The latter, with 1.4 billion inhabitants and no olive oil production, is a key strategic market, especially after the trade agreement between the European Union and the Asian country that will eliminate tariffs in five years. In India, the group already operates with the Fígaro brand, not only for food consumption but also for cosmetic use, with products like Fígaro baby.
The United States is the other major strategic market, with high purchasing power and growing demand for healthy diets. Despite tariff policies, American consumers value olive oil as a healthy product. The group will continue to promote the Bertolli brand in this country, with production from its European factories. North America and India are expected to contribute four and two million euros, respectively, to the incremental Ebitda planned for 2028.
In addition to international expansion, operational improvement and efficiency of production centers are fundamental pillars. The Córdoba plant, half a century old, is undergoing a renovation process with an annual investment exceeding two million euros, focused on modernizing lines and sustainability. It is the first factory in the world with a zero-waste certificate, recycling over 90% of its waste, and features solar panels and complete digitalization.
“"The Córdoba factory is the first in the world with a zero-waste certificate."
Its laboratory, considered one of the best worldwide for olive oil, analyzes over 20,000 samples annually, guaranteeing the health, purity, and quality of the product. It uses advanced techniques such as near-infrared analysis, which allows reviewing ten parameters in 60 seconds. The goal is to maintain global leadership, with Carbonell present in 4.7 million Spanish households and a 27% growth in global sales volume in 2025, consolidating its position as the number one Spanish olive oil brand in the world, all from Córdoba.
