L’Oulibo olives and olive oils have a rich Mediterranean heritage derived from several generations of families in Aude, in the South of France.
From their passion for cultivating the tree that symbolises peace, these men founded the L'Oulibo Coopertaive in 1942 in the heart of the Minervois region.
It was a tough start. L’Oulibo survived the devastating Freeze of 1956 that destroyed all but five percent of French olive orchards. It not only survived, but emerged stronger. The Cooperative proudly replanted the best local varieties of olive trees, the Olivière and the Picholine varieties, along with others selected for their flavoursome qualities: the Bouteillan and Aglandau. Later, under the influence of its director Pierre-André Marty, it concentrated production particularly towards, the Lucques of Bize. This exceptional green olive is produced exclusively in the Languedoc-Roussillon region.
Now with 1700 members, 32 employees and an annual production of around 300 tons, L’Oulibo is the only olive oil industry in the region to specialise in the preparation and commercialisation of this particular olive variety. Its olive oil production is around 450 tons, roughly 65 000 litres of olive oil per year.
In 1995, the cooperative invested in the construction of a new oil mill. In 1997, the shop was extended and new offices built. And in 2008 an extension will be completed and the whole plant renewed.
In keeping with this pioneering attitude, the cooperative L’Oulibo has built its reputation in the South of France around this concept, that of being the specialists in the Lucques variety.
It has forged its success by producing quality products whilst keeping to the traditional recipes of preparation.
Its products have won many prizes at the International Agricultural Fair in Paris and many gold medals.
L'Oulibo is constantly adding to its range of products as part of a desire to widen its circle of connoisseurs for its olives, oils, tapenades and olive pastes.
The Cooperative was created to support olive growers and it continues to do this by manufacturing quality products.
L’Oulibo now collects olives from 3 regions in the South of France: Aude, Hérault, Pyrénées Orientales.
Since 1996 and thanks to the boost that France has given to the olive oil industry, many orchards have been planted.
These new plantations will render an annual harvest of 800 tons of olives and 1000 tons of olive oil.
With the development of plantations, the objective remains clear : produce vast quantities and varieties of olives in the Languedoc-Roussilon region and particularly to promote the Lucques and Picholine variety.
Today …
L’Oulibo is aiming to strengthen its presence througout France and expand further into the international marketplace.
L’Oulibo has a product that is unique in the world : the Lucques. Here lies its strength, coupled with an approach that focuses on quality, a marketing strategy, a progressive director and the fact that it is a cooperative.
*The Great Freeze of 1956 destroyed 95% of French orchards, forced the closure of many mills and left a lasting trauma in all minds.