Our
Mill
Our story
An olive-making tradition
dating back to 1873
Frantoio Sallemi is one of the oldest olive oil producers in Sicily. Since 1873, in Comiso, the Sallemi family has been devoted to olives: the mill was the place where local farmers brought their harvest to be pressed, while the Sallemis selected the finest batches.
For generations, the oil was sold unpackaged, as was the custom in the past. The turning point came in 1999, when Raffaele Sallemi realised that quality and packaging were the way of the future: the continuous cold-extraction mill was born, and bottling under the Sallemi brand began.
Since then, the company has never stopped growing, combining nearly 150 years of tradition with a constant pursuit of innovation.
For generations, the oil was sold unpackaged, as was the custom in the past. The turning point came in 1999, when Raffaele Sallemi realised that quality and packaging were the way of the future: the continuous cold-extraction mill was born, and bottling under the Sallemi brand began.
Since then, the company has never stopped growing, combining nearly 150 years of tradition with a constant pursuit of innovation.
About us
One family, one mill, five generations
Behind every bottle there is a family that has made oil its life. Today the company is run by the Sallemis, each with a well-defined role: Raffaele oversees sales, his wife Pina handles administration, and their son Luigi manages production at the mill.
It is this family continuity, passed down from generation to generation, that is the secret of a company which for over a century has upheld the same values: reliability, honesty and professionalism.
It is this family continuity, passed down from generation to generation, that is the secret of a company which for over a century has upheld the same values: reliability, honesty and professionalism.
The land
The home of Tonda Iblea
The province of Ragusa is one of Sicily's areas with the strongest vocation for olive growing, and our oil is born right here, in the heart of the Monti Iblei. The star is Tonda Iblea, the region's queen cultivar, which thrives in the area of Chiaramonte Gulfi, just a few kilometres from our mill.
Alongside it, we grow and select Nocellara del Belice, Biancolilla, Verdese and Moresca: each cultivar with its own characteristics, each olive chosen to bring out the very best of our land.
Alongside it, we grow and select Nocellara del Belice, Biancolilla, Verdese and Moresca: each cultivar with its own characteristics, each olive chosen to bring out the very best of our land.
Our method
Tradition and technology, from harvest to bottle
The finest olives are hand-picked and brought to the mill within a few hours, to be processed while still fresh. Here, a continuous cold-extraction system preserves the scents, aromas and properties of each cultivar. But quality does not end with extraction: the oil is stored in silos with a nitrogen system, in climate-controlled rooms, to protect it from light, air and heat. This is how every bottle keeps the freshness of the very first day intact.
Awards
Award-winning quality,
in Italy and around the world
Over the years, our commitment has been recognised by the most important olive oil events in the sector, from Sol in Verona to the Orciolo d'Oro in Gradara. In 2025, Frantoio Sallemi was awarded the Mastro d'Oro prize by the Region of Sicily.
We are members of the DOP Monti Iblei Protection Consortium, and our flagship oil — Re Olio DOP Monti Iblei — is now also available in an organic version. These awards confirm what we have always believed: quality is not a goal, but a way of working every day.
We are members of the DOP Monti Iblei Protection Consortium, and our flagship oil — Re Olio DOP Monti Iblei — is now also available in an organic version. These awards confirm what we have always believed: quality is not a goal, but a way of working every day.
Around the world
From Comiso to tables all over the world
The quality of our oil has long crossed the borders of Sicily. A significant part of our production is destined for export, with a presence that over the years has extended to Asian markets and the United Arab Emirates. A journey that brings Sicilian character and the flavours of the Monti Iblei to tables all over the world.
