Popular Italian Olive Oil Brand Filippo Berio Now Owned by Chinese Government

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Filippo Berio, one of the most well-known Italian olive oil brands, is actually majority-owned by Bright Food, a Chinese food conglomerate that is itself owned by the Shanghai Municipal People's Government. The brand was founded in 1867 by Filippo Berio, but has changed ownership over the years, with the Chinese government now controlling the company through its stake in Bright Food.

Why it matters

The ownership change of this iconic Italian brand by the Chinese government highlights the globalization of the food industry and the increasing influence of Chinese companies in acquiring well-known international brands. This raises questions about the authenticity and origins of products that consumers may associate with a particular country or culture.

The details

Filippo Berio olive oil is owned by the Italian company Salov, which was purchased in 2014 by Bright Food, a Chinese conglomerate that is majority-owned by the Shanghai Municipal People's Government. The brand was founded in 1867 by Filippo Berio, who began selling his own olive oil after being introduced to the industry in Tuscany. Despite accusations of false advertising over the oil's non-Italian origins, Filippo Berio has maintained a prominent brand presence through marketing campaigns.

• Filippo Berio founded the olive oil brand in 1867.
• In 1911, counterfeit Filippo Berio olive oil was already being sold in New York.
• Bright Food, the Chinese conglomerate, purchased a majority stake in Salov, the Italian company that owns Filippo Berio, in 2014.