What OLVEA does

OLVEA Group is a family-owned French supplier of natural specialty oils founded in 1929 and headquartered in Saint-Léonard, Normandy. The group produces and distributes vegetable oils (shea, argan, olive, sesame, avocado, macadamia) and omega-3 fish oils to industrial customers in the cosmetics, nutrition, food, and pet-food industries, with disclosed annual turnover of 200 million EUR, more than 300 employees, 10 global sites, and sales of more than 60,000 tons of oils per year across 90+ countries. Production is vertically integrated into origin countries through facilities in Burkina Faso, Morocco, Kenya, and Mauritania, and refined in France at the OLVEA Green Technologies eco-refinery inaugurated in 2018. The product portfolio spans commodity and specialty grades, including the OLVEA Shea esters line (Silky Shea, Creamy Shea) launched in 2016.

The group's commercial proposition is built on sustainability certification and traceability: it holds EcoVadis Platinum and Gold (2025), a CDP score of A-, MSC, GMP+, Kosher, Fair for Life, Friend of the Sea, and adheres to the UN Global Compact, with a stated target of 100% responsible sourcing by 2029 (97% achieved). These credentials underpin long-term supply partnerships such as the L'Oréal Solidarity Sourcing program in Burkina Faso (working with thousands of women shea producers) and the IQI pet-food ingredients partnership. Upstream sustainability initiatives include a 2017 Fishery Improvement Project in Mauritania securing responsibly sourced omega-3 fish oils.

OLVEA operates a B2B, sales-led go-to-market with direct relationships to formulators and brand procurement teams, pricing on a quote basis for industrial ingredient contracts, and sustained presence at flagship industry trade shows (Vitafoods, In-Cosmetics, BIOFACH). Revenue is generated through sale of certified vegetable and fish oils into cosmetics, nutrition, food, and pet-food customer segments across 90+ countries. The 2018 creation of the OLVEA Foundation formalizes corporate social responsibility and producer-support activities in origin communities.

Name

OLVEA

Legal name

OLVEA Group

Website

https://olvea.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1929

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

OLVEA Group is a family-owned French supplier founded in 1929 that produces and distributes certified vegetable oils and omega-3 fish oils to cosmetics, nutrition, food, and pet-food manufacturers across 90+ countries, with 10 global sites and 60,000+ tons sold annually.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Natural Oils (Vegetable and Omega-3 Fish Oils)

NAICS

Fats and Oils Refining and Blending (311225), Soybean and Other Oilseed Processing (311224), Starch and Vegetable Fats and Oils Manufacturing (31122)

SIC

Fats & Oils (2070)

akta.pro primary industry

Specialty & Tropical Oils Processing (Avocado, Sesame, Peanut, Rice Bran, Grapeseed) (AFAKAEAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Omega-3 & Specialty Lipids (Fish/Algal Oils, EPA/DHA, MCTs, CLA, Phospholipids) (AFAJAKAC), Vegetable Oil Crushing & Refining (Soy, Canola/Rapeseed, Sunflower, Corn, Cottonseed) (AFAKAEAA), Fats, Oils & Lipid Ingredients (Specialty Oils, MCTs, Structured Lipids) (CRADAOAL)

Keywords

• Vegetable oils supplier
• Omega-3 fish oils
• Cosmetic raw materials
• Nutritional lipid ingredients
• Sustainable oil sourcing

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint-léonard

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Vegetable oils sales: Sale of vegetable oils including olive oil, argan oil, Shea butter, sesame oil, avocado oil, and macadamia oil for cosmetics, food, and pharmaceutical applications.
2. Omega fish oils sales: Sale of omega-3 rich fish oils for nutrition and nutraceutical applications.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

OLVEA supplies and refines premium vegetable oils (Shea butter, Argan, Olive, Sesame, Avocado, Macadamia) and Omega-3 fish oils for the cosmetics, nutrition/nutraceutical, and food industries. The company manages vertically integrated, traceable supply chains from producing countries in Africa, with refining performed at its eco-design plant OLVEA Green Technologies in France, and serves B2B customers in more than 90 countries.

Product overview

OLVEA is a family-owned French group (founded 1929, headquartered in Saint Léonard, France) specializing in vegetable oils and Omega fish oils for the cosmetics and nutrition industries. The company operates through two core product divisions — OLVEA Vegetable Oils (Shea butter, Argan oil, Olive oil, Sesame oil, Avocado oil, Macadamia oil) and OLVEA Omega Solutions (Omega-3 rich fish oils) — supported by its eco-refining facility OLVEA Green Technologies. The company also offers specialized cosmetic ingredients including OLVEA® Shea esters (Silky Shea and Creamy Shea). With over 90 years of experience, more than 300 employees, 10 sites worldwide, and operations in France, Burkina Faso, Morocco, Kenya, and Mauritania, OLVEA emphasizes sustainable sourcing, integrated supply chains, and CSR commitments including biodiversity protection and responsible lipid sourcing for nutrition applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• OLVEA Vegetable Oils
• OLVEA Omega Solutions Omega-3 rich fish oils supplied to nutrition and nutraceutical brand customers, with a focus on responsible sourcing, traceability from sustainable fisheries, and certifications including MSC, Friend of the Sea, and GMP+ B1.
• OLVEA Fish Oils Fish oil products sourced from sustainable fisheries, certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC-C-55881) and Friend of the Sea, supplied for nutrition and cosmetics applications.
• OLVEA® Silky Shea Cosmetic raw material derived from Shea butter, designed for skin care applications, introduced as part of OLVEA's new Shea esters range for the cosmetics industry.
• OLVEA® Creamy Shea Cosmetic raw material derived from Shea butter, designed for skin care applications, introduced alongside OLVEA Silky Shea as part of OLVEA's Shea esters range.
• OLVEA Green Technologies Eco-Refining Service Eco-design refining of vegetable and omega-3 fish oils at OLVEA's French plant, one of Europe's first green and eco-design refineries, providing certified processing capacity (GMP+ B2) for the group's oil product lines.

Quantifiable outcome

• 97% of oils come from responsible sources, goal of 100% by 2029
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• IQIminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 April 2019Partnership agreement to improve quality of both businesses. IQI is a global supplier of premium pet food ingredients; OLVEA provides natural oils sourcing and refining expertise.
• Mauritanian Small Pelagic Fisheries Improvement Project (FIP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 May 2017Long-standing partnership alongside Mauritanian authorities, scientists from IMROP, and industry professionals. OLVEA acts as facilitator coordinating stakeholders, engaging fishmeal and fish oil producers, and securing funding from customers to support field actions. In 2024: 20 participating factories, 8.5 samples collected per 1,000 tonnes of fish during scientific monitoring.
• L'Oréal Solidarity SourcingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOLVEA supplies conventional, organic and fair-trade Shea butters to L'Oréal through their Solidarity Sourcing program, working with thousands of women producers in Burkina Faso. This is a long-term strategic partnership supporting sustainable supply chains.
• United Nations Global CompactcoreOthersOLVEA has been a signatory member since 2015, committed to implementing and promoting 10 principles related to human rights, international labour standards, environment, and anti-corruption. Publishes annual Communication on Progress reports.
• IMROP (Mauritanian Institute of Oceanographic Research and Fisheries)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerScientific collaboration for fisheries research and monitoring in Mauritania as part of the Fisheries Improvement Project.
• OLVEA FoundationcoreOthersPhilanthropic fund of OLVEA Group supporting education, local development, and community initiatives. Since 2013, sponsors high school graduates from Fécamp. Also supports photography festival, podcast production at schools, and career discovery programs.
• Art en SortminorOthersAssociation supporting educational podcasting project at Albert Camus School in Fécamp. OLVEA Foundation co-funded professional audio equipment for students.
• EcocertcoreOthersCertification body for organic and fair trade certifications (Fair for Life, organic certifications) of OLVEA's supply chains.
• OLVEA Vegetable Oils DivisioncoreOthersSubsidiary handling vegetable oils including olive, argan, Shea butter, sesame, avocado, macadamia oils. Operates production in Burkina Faso, Morocco, Kenya.
• OLVEA Omega Solutions DivisioncoreOthersSubsidiary handling omega-3 fish oils for nutrition and nutraceutical applications. Focus on sustainable sourcing through Fishery Improvement Projects.
• Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental NGO partnership. OLVEA is a Target 75 Champion supporting sustainable fisheries improvement initiatives globally.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• AAK: Swedish specialty oils and fats producer serving cosmetics, food, and nutrition with vertically integrated supply chains and a focus on value-added lipid solutions — directly comparable in business model to OLVEA's eco-refining and specialty oil model.
• Sophim: French manufacturer of plant-based specialty oils, butters, and natural cosmetic ingredients — closely comparable as a European specialist in vegetable-derived oils for personal care.
• Berg + Schmidt: German specialty lipid and natural oil supplier serving personal care and nutrition — directly comparable as a European specialty oils specialist with similar shea/vegetable oil orientation.
• Desert Whale Jojoba: US-based jojoba and specialty plant-oil producer for cosmetics — narrower direct peer in the specialty plant oil subcategory that OLVEA's vegetable oils division serves.

Broad incumbents

• Croda International: Global specialty ingredients company with a major personal care and life sciences portfolio; broad incumbent that overlaps with OLVEA's cosmetic and nutrition ingredient segments but operates at much greater scale.
• Cargill: Diversified global agricultural commodities giant with a large oils and fats business including specialty and sustainable supply chains — broad incumbent overlapping with OLVEA's specialty vegetable and fish oil sourcing.
• IOI Corporation: Malaysian plantation-to-specialty-oils group with significant oleochemical and specialty fat capacity — broad incumbent competing downstream in refined and fractionated oils for cosmetics and nutrition.
• Stepan Company: US specialty chemicals producer with an oleochemical and personal-care segment — broad incumbent with overlapping specialty oil and ester functionality relevant to OLVEA's Shear ester line.
• Archer Daniels Midland (ADM): Global agribusiness major with a sizable refined oils, nutrition, and flavors platform — broad incumbent whose scale and vertical integration form the upper bound of OLVEA's competitive set.
• dsm-firmenich: Dutch-Swiss specialty nutrition and ingredients group with significant omega-3 EPA/DHA franchise (including the former Martek) — broad incumbent in OLVEA's Omega Solutions segment and a benchmark for premium nutrition lipid economics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/GroupeOLVEA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/olvea

Compliance12 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about OLVEA