Our history & values — Tunisian olive oil at its fair value
In short. Zitouna Export was born of a simple conviction: Tunisian olive oil, long sold anonymously in bulk to other countries, deserves to be marketed under its own origin, at its fair value. From Sfax, the country's leading olive-growing basin, we connect the groves to buyers worldwide with a constant requirement for quality, traceability and fairness towards producers.
Our history
The name Zitouna — "the olive tree" in Arabic — says it all. Tunisia is among the oldest olive-growing lands in the world, and Sfax is its beating heart. For decades, much of this oil left the country in bulk, nameless, to be blended and rebranded elsewhere.
Zitouna Export was born of a refusal to accept this erasure. Backed by the STE AKFER TUNISIA structure (Nehos group / KBC Solutions) (company founding dates and milestones to be confirmed ), our approach consists in bringing two worlds into dialogue: the Tunisian olive-growing field — mills, cooperatives, producers — and the expectations of international buyers in terms of quality, compliance and logistics.
**Company key facts — to be confirmed before publication **
- Year founded: to be confirmed
- Legal structure: STE AKFER TUNISIA (Nehos group) — RC number & legal form to be confirmed
- Head office / office: Sfax, Tunisia — exact address to be confirmed
- Headcount: to be confirmed
- Volumes / campaigns handled: to be documented
We prefer to leave these fields open rather than put forward unverified figures: an exporter's credibility is built on facts, not on approximations.
Our terroir
Our oil draws on two great, complementary Tunisian terroirs:
- Sfax and the Centre — cradle of the Chemlali variety, mild and balanced, the foundation of quality mass production and a pillar of Tunisian export.
- The North (Béja, Téboursouk, etc.) — home of the Chetoui variety, robust and rich in polyphenols, with a premium profile close to the great Italian oils.
Tunisia's hot, dry climate naturally limits pest pressure — a real asset for the organic sector. To go further: our Tunisian varieties and our export offering.
Our mission
To make Tunisian olive oil the best quality-to-price ratio available to international buyers — under its own origin, backed by analyses and with logistics controlled from the port of departure to your warehouse. We want an importer, a bottler or a purchasing group to be able to buy Tunisian with full confidence, with the same documentary rigour as with the major European origins, but at a fairer price — for the buyer as well as for the producer.
Our values
- Product truth. The category announced is always the one on the analysis certificate. No overselling, no vagueness: the COA prevails.
- Traceability. From the grove to the container, every lot is identified and documented.
- Producer fairness. Direct sourcing that pays the Tunisian sector better, without needless layers of intermediaries.
- Reliability. Availability and prices dated and confirmed before any commitment; no broken promises.
- Respect for the terroir. Promoting an award-winning origin rather than diluting it anonymously in foreign blends.
These values translate concretely into our commitments to quality, traceability and sustainability.
Our team
Our strength is a dual culture: that of the Tunisian olive-growing field and that of export markets. It is this dual expertise that makes the difference between a contact that drags on and an order delivered on time, with the right documents. (Team composition and headcount to be confirmed.) Want to join us? See the careers page.
FAQ — History & values of Zitouna Export
What does "Zitouna" mean?
Zitouna means "the olive tree" in Arabic. This name embodies our mission: to bring Tunisian olive oil, from one of the oldest olive-growing lands in the world, under its true origin.
When was Zitouna Export founded?
The exact founding date is being confirmed before publication. We prefer not to put forward unverified company information.
Who is behind Zitouna Export?
The STE AKFER TUNISIA structure, attached to the Nehos group / KBC Solutions. The precise legal notices (RC number, legal form) will be displayed once confirmed.
Where are you based?
In Sfax, Tunisia's leading olive-growing basin (Chemlali variety), close to the mills and the port. The exact address is being confirmed.
What is your mission?
To make Tunisian olive oil available to international buyers at the best quality-to-price ratio, sold under its own origin, with controlled analyses and logistics.
What are your core values?
Product truth (the COA prevails), traceability, fairness towards producers, reliability of commitments and respect for the terroir.
Which terroirs does your oil come from?
Mainly from Sfax and the Centre (Chemlali, mild) and the North (Chetoui, rich in polyphenols). Every lot is analysed in a COI-accredited laboratory.
How is your approach different?
We refuse to sell Tunisian oil anonymously in bulk to be rebranded elsewhere. We market it under its own origin, with transparency and supporting documents.
How do you guarantee fairness towards producers?
Through direct sourcing in the Sfax basin that reduces intermediaries and pays the sector better. Details in our commitments.
Want to work with an origin at its fair value? Request a quote — dated quotation + sample with COA. Also discover our commitments and how to join us.