Latest news with #Rustica
Daily Maverick
30-04-2025
- Business
- Daily Maverick
Klein Karoo olive estate wins big globally — again
The modest ambitions of De Rustica Olive Estate in the Klein Karoo have been massively outweighed by the success of their ultra premium quality olive oil. And it's a big deal for the SA olive industry. De Rustica Olive Estate near De Rust, Western Cape, is extracting every drop out of its success on the world stage. Now De Rustica has won a top-tier global olive oil award only two years after taking first place in the premier industry international competition, Evooleum. Now the De Rustica Collection Coratina extra virgin olive oil, assessed in a blind tasting, has been awarded second place overall at Evooleum 2025 with a score of 96 points, and it was again the only olive oil outside of Spain and Italy to be placed in the Top 10. The scale of this success should be seen in context of the Rustica entry having been one of about 1,000 entries from 26 countries. Only four estates worldwide — De Rustica, two from Spain and one from Italy — have achieved multiple top 10 rankings in the last three years. De Rustica was chosen as the 'Evooleum Absolute Best' olive oil in the 2023 Evooleum international competition. (Their Coratina was not entered in 2024.) This latest success is further evidence that SAOlive, which represents the common interests of its members in the industry, punches well above its weight globally in terms of premium quality olive oil, and assists in lobbying for support to further develop the industry in South Africa. South Africa produces 1.6 million kilogrammes of olive oil a year. The scale of global production is 3,000-million tons per annum, 'So South Africa is about half of 1,000th of a percent of global,' Rob Still says. 'Yet here we are winning TOP global awards.' Still worked in the mining industry until he bought De Rustica in 2006, first selling olive oil in 2012. He explains the concept succinctly. 'We wanted to make good olive oil but were pioneers in the area and really had dreams not much more than making the farm work. What has happened is beyond our wildest dreams, but… as we gain self-confidence we are perhaps expanding our dreams.' Some 'WTF!' in Spanish and Italian olive oil circles Asked whether industry people elsewhere in the world now regard South Africa as an olive oil producer of note, Still replied: 'Not really, as we are simply too small. However, these past two awards to De Rustica have generated considerable curiosity and some 'WTF!' in Spanish and Italian circles. 'I suspect that this second award will increase this interest. In my recent travels around Italy I was amazed to be told by several Italians (on realising that I was South African) that a South African farm had just won top honours.' And they were talking to the man himself. 'So there is some awareness of South Africa and De Rustica among industry participants and olive oil lovers but… we remain VERY small.' What this second award does do is confirm De Rustica's place at the 'global top table', Still adds. 'Winning once was surreal but may have been an outlier or fluke. Winning twice in three years — second out of 1,000 entries scored and rated blind by top experts — shows that is no longer chance. It also, I think, really underscores the immense value of De Rustica's sustainable and regenerative practices to nurturing quality.' Success, as is almost always the case, did not come overnight. 'The journey of developing De Rustica has taken 19 years and has been hard,' he says. 'This recognition that De Rustica now really is the real thing in global extra virgin oils is enormously validating and energising and it fills me with the determination and vigour to take the estate to new highs.' And Rob Still's once modest sights have now been set much higher: 'We can now realistically aim to remain consistently in the top five globally,' says the man who once only wanted to 'make the farm work'. DM
Malaysian Reserve
28-04-2025
- Business
- Malaysian Reserve
Rustica Foods Celebrates 25 Years of Excellence and Innovation in the Pizza Industry
MONTREAL, April 28, 2025 /CNW/ – Rustica Foods Inc., a privately held company and leader in Canadian pizza manufacturing, is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year – a significant milestone in a journey built on quality, innovation, and expertise in the agri-food sector. Founded on May 3, 2000, Rustica Foods has grown from a small local business to one of Canada's largest pizza manufacturers. Based in Anjou, Montreal, the company was founded by Richard Morgante and his family and later joined in 2011 by his business partner Vincent Giove. Rustica has undergone a remarkable transformation, moving from fresh pizza production to becoming a leader in both fresh and frozen pizza segments, marketing its own brands Rustica and Mia, while also manufacturing for major private-label brands both domestically and internationally. The company has distinguished itself through its commitment to employee development, the adoption of cutting-edge manufacturing technologies, and strategic market expansion. These sustained efforts have earned it numerous accolades, including being named a finalist for the SIAL Prix Alizé Awards for Innovative Export Strategy, and the Inno-Centre Award, recognizing its outstanding contributions to innovation in the sector. 'As we reach this important milestone, we are extremely proud of how far we've come,' says Richard Morgante, President and CEO of Rustica Foods. 'Our success is driven by the passion of our team, the loyalty of our partners, and our constant commitment to innovation.' Recognized as a trusted co-manufacturer for several national brands, both in Canada and internationally, Rustica Foods continues to expand globally. With the introduction of new pizza product lines and the ongoing integration of advanced manufacturing technologies, the company is agile in responding to market trends and consumer expectations. In 2025, Rustica proudly unveils its new Detroit-style pan pizzas, launched under the Rustica brand. This bold and savory innovation is entering a rapidly growing segment of the Canadian market. Selected for SIAL Innovation 2025, this makes Rustica the only Canadian producer of this type of pizza. This launch adds to an already rich portfolio, which includes the top-selling stuffed crust pizzas in Canada, rising crust pizzas, pizzeria-style stone-baked crust pizzas, fresh tomato pizzas, long-shelf-life pizza crusts, and a variety of other innovative products – all proudly made in Canada, primarily with locally sourced ingredients. Looking ahead, Rustica Foods will soon begin construction of a third production facility, set to open in early 2026. This expansion is part of an ambitious $65 million growth plan, made possible by a strategic partnership with the Fonds de solidarité FTQ and Export Development Canada (EDC). This significant investment will allow Rustica to modernize its facilities, automate production lines, acquire cutting-edge equipment, and increase manufacturing capacity while accelerating its global development. 'This strategic partnership will allow us to fast-track key projects, including the launch of new innovative products and expanding our export markets. We are proud to work with partners who share our vision for sustainable growth driven by innovation,' says Vincent Giove, Vice President & CSO of Rustica Foods. As Rustica Foods celebrates 25 years of excellence, the company remains true to its core values while continuing its mission: to deliver quality, innovation, and leadership in the pizza industry. Website: Instagram: LesAlimentsRustica LinkedIn: Aliments_Rustica Facebook: LesAlimentsRustica TikTok: RusticaPizzaFanClub
Cision Canada
28-04-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
Rustica Foods Celebrates 25 Years of Excellence and Innovation in the Pizza Industry
, April 28, 2025 /CNW/ - Rustica Foods Inc., a privately held company and leader in Canadian pizza manufacturing, is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year – a significant milestone in a journey built on quality, innovation, and expertise in the agri-food sector. Founded on May 3, 2000, Rustica Foods has grown from a small local business to one of Canada's largest pizza manufacturers. Based in Anjou, Montreal, the company was founded by Richard Morgante and his family and later joined in 2011 by his business partner Vincent Giove. Rustica has undergone a remarkable transformation, moving from fresh pizza production to becoming a leader in both fresh and frozen pizza segments, marketing its own brands Rustica and Mia, while also manufacturing for major private-label brands both domestically and internationally. The company has distinguished itself through its commitment to employee development, the adoption of cutting-edge manufacturing technologies, and strategic market expansion. These sustained efforts have earned it numerous accolades, including being named a finalist for the SIAL Prix Alizé Awards for Innovative Export Strategy, and the Inno-Centre Award, recognizing its outstanding contributions to innovation in the sector. "As we reach this important milestone, we are extremely proud of how far we've come," says Richard Morgante, President and CEO of Rustica Foods. "Our success is driven by the passion of our team, the loyalty of our partners, and our constant commitment to innovation." Recognized as a trusted co-manufacturer for several national brands, both in Canada and internationally, Rustica Foods continues to expand globally. With the introduction of new pizza product lines and the ongoing integration of advanced manufacturing technologies, the company is agile in responding to market trends and consumer expectations. In 2025, Rustica proudly unveils its new Detroit-style pan pizzas, launched under the Rustica brand. This bold and savory innovation is entering a rapidly growing segment of the Canadian market. Selected for SIAL Innovation 2025, this makes Rustica the only Canadian producer of this type of pizza. This launch adds to an already rich portfolio, which includes the top-selling stuffed crust pizzas in Canada, rising crust pizzas, pizzeria-style stone-baked crust pizzas, fresh tomato pizzas, long-shelf-life pizza crusts, and a variety of other innovative products – all proudly made in Canada, primarily with locally sourced ingredients. Looking ahead, Rustica Foods will soon begin construction of a third production facility, set to open in early 2026. This expansion is part of an ambitious $65 million growth plan, made possible by a strategic partnership with the Fonds de solidarité FTQ and Export Development Canada (EDC). This significant investment will allow Rustica to modernize its facilities, automate production lines, acquire cutting-edge equipment, and increase manufacturing capacity while accelerating its global development. "This strategic partnership will allow us to fast-track key projects, including the launch of new innovative products and expanding our export markets. We are proud to work with partners who share our vision for sustainable growth driven by innovation," says Vincent Giove, Vice President & CSO of Rustica Foods. As Rustica Foods celebrates 25 years of excellence, the company remains true to its core values while continuing its mission: to deliver quality, innovation, and leadership in the pizza industry.
