Colavita 100% Italian extra virgin Oilve oil and Pasta in India

Company Release, July 27

New Delhi

Colavita Italy, one of the world's largest olive oil brands, recently announced the launch of authentic Italian Extra Virgin Olive Oil, and “Colavita Pasta” in India. Colavita has introduced the three grades of Olive oil, namely “Colavita Extra Virgin Olive Oil” - a Certified Authentic Product of Italy, “Colavita Pure Olive Oil”, and “Colavita Pomace Olive Oil”, and several variants of pasta, including “Colavita Penne Rigate”, “Colavita Spaghetti” and others.

“Colavita Extra Virgin Olive Oil” is the most superior quality of Olive Oil, derived from the finest Italian Olives. The Italian government, through the CERMET organization, granted Colavita the much coveted ability to declare “Certified Authentic Product of Italy” on its extra virgin olive oil labels, which reaffirms consumers worldwide of the fact that “Colavita Extra Virgin Olive Oil” is obtained exclusively from Italian olives, regarded as the source of the finest Olives in the world. The brand is available across cities like Mumbai, New Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata, Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Pune, Cochin, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Jaipur, and Pondicherry.

“Colavita Extra Virgin Olive Oil” is the highest grade of Olive Oil, cold-pressed from the best fruit of the olive tree, it is the natural juice squeezed from Italian olives one day after the harvest. It has less than 1% free oleic acid, and exhibits superior taste, color and aroma.. The company's efforts to maintain strict quality standards have been recognized by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) that has found Colavita to be in compliance with the ISO 9002 quality system. It is available in packs of 250 ml, 500 ml, 1 litre, and 5 litres, and is priced at Rs. 160, Rs. 290, Rs. 540, and Rs. 2200

“Colavita Pure Olive Oil” is a fine amalgamation of refined olive oil and extra virgin olive oil. Some portion of the oil obtained from the cold press has impurities, this oil must be refined using mechanical, thermal and/or chemical processes. The resulting "refined olive oil" is largely colorless and tasteless. Before the resulting product is sold the producer blends into the refined olive oil a percentage (15%) of quality extra virgin olive oil to provide color and taste. The brand is available in packs of 250 ml, 500 ml, 1 litre, and 5 litres, and is priced at Rs. 135, Rs. 240, Rs. 425, and Rs. 1850.

“Colavita Pomace Olive Oil” is the residue oil that is extracted by chemical solvents from previously pressed olive mash. This oil must be highly-refined to remove chemical impurities. Like pure olive oil, refined olive-pomace oil is enriched with virgin olive oil prior to sale. This grade of olive oil does not have any taste, aroma, or color. The brand is available in packs of 1 litre and 5 litres and is priced at Rs. 295, and Rs. 1250.

“Colavita Extra Virgin Olive Oil” may be used for cold preparations like pasta/fruits/raw vegetable salads and puddings, in order to display its superior taste, aroma, and flavor. “Colavita Pure Olive Oil” is best suited for light frying as this grade of Olive oil has a slight taste, color, and aroma to it. “Colavita Pomace Olive Oil” is best suited for deep frying.

Due to its fatty acid composition (high content of mono unsaturated fats), olive oil is a zero cholesterol oil and has a beneficial impact on controlling cholesterol levels and thus has a unique part to play in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. It is also believed that antioxidant substances such as vitamins E, K and polyphenols which are found in olive oil, delay aging and prevent carcinogenesis, liver disorders and inflammations. It is very well tolerated by the stomach and is believed to lower the incidence of gallstone formation as well as promoting bone mineralization, and is therefore excellent for those who have bone calcification problems. In all, a superb ingredient as far as health benefits are concerned.

Colavita Pasta Company is one of the most modernized in all of Italy with state of the art machinery and laboratories. It produces pasta with a capacity of over 3000 tons per month, and offers a variety of over 75 different cuts and shapes. The various categories of shapes are Regular, Decorative, Soup Pasta, and Special shapes. The brand is available in 500 gram packs & is priced between Rs. 70 for the regular shapes, and Rs.195 for special shapes.

The company also offers "Don dell'Olivo", Colavita's line of traditional Italian vegetables in extra virgin olive oil. A complete range of select garden fresh vegetables which Colavita harvests at the peak of perfection with special care and attention: tasty artichokes; firm, plump eggplant; tender asparagus; red juicy tomatoes; sweet, crunchy peppers and mouth watering mushrooms. An elaborate range of Colavita Pasta Sauces is also available, with variants like Bolognese, Napoletana, Arrabiatta, Basil, Olives and Capers, and Mushroom, and are priced at Rs. 150 per bottle.

Colavita USA has also established the “Colavita Center for Italian Food and Wine” in 2001, at the “Culinary Institute of America's” (CIA) Hyde Park campus in New York. The Center designed as an authentic 18,000 square foot Tuscan Italian palazzo, is the only Center of its kind in the world, the CIA has been using the Colavita Center to significantly improve the quality and authenticity of Italian cuisine in the United States.

confronted by the greatest realities of the Olive Oil and Pasta sectors. Technology today may be more advanced, but Colavita 100% Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Colavita Pasta continue to honor their commitment to ensuring fine quality---the same as in 1912.

Mr. Rahul Agarwal is the man behind establishing Colavita India. His strength lies in his dedicated team of professionals who work towards creating awareness, and educating consumers about the benefits and superiority of the Colavita brand of Olive Oil. The company has now gained a firm hold in the Indian Olive Oil market. Colavita products are now available in select retail stores across the country. The company has successfully launched its products in cities like Mumbai, New Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata, Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Pune, Cochin, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Guwahati, and Hyderabad, and is planning to further expand into other cities as well.

For further information contact:

Shalini Gupta / Taruna Singh

Enterprise Public Relations

Phone: 011 – 26526826-29 / 26515681

Email: gshalini@loweindia.com / staruna@loweindia.com