Ottolenghi olive oil hits Waitrose shelves
Yotam Ottolenghi has partnered with Citizens of Soil to release an extra‑virgin olive oil that will be sold exclusively at Waitrose, with a price tag of £24 for a 500 ml bottle.
Product details and tasting notes
The oil comes from olives grown in Tuscany and Umbria, regions the chef says he has known since childhood. According to the brand, the flavor profile includes “herbaceousness with artichoke, a chicory‑like bitterness, almond nuttiness, and strong pepper.” While harvest variations may cause minor differences, the “green, bitter and peppery profile” is said to stay consistent.
Designed as a finishing oil, the label recommends drizzling it over burrata, roasted vegetables or fresh bread rather than using it for everyday cooking. It arrives on 10 August.
Supply chain and sustainability focus
Citizens of Soil sources its oils from independent family growers across the Mediterranean who practice regenerative farming. Olives are harvested and milled within hours to preserve freshness, flavor and nutritional quality.
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Charlotte Kissane, the oil buyer for Waitrose, noted that food lovers are “increasingly seeking out premium, small‑batch finishing oils that put flavour and sustainable farming first.” She added that the partnership aligns with the retailer’s values, saying the collaboration “produces an extra virgin olive oil of extraordinary quality built for finishing and drizzling.”
Sarah Vachon, founder and olive‑oil sommelier at the company, explained that their growers “prioritise flavour, nutrition, and nature over yields.” The collaboration was a natural fit because of the chef’s preference for the region’s olives and the firm’s commitment to soil health.
Yotam Ottolenghi, chef and co‑founder of his namesake grocery brand, added: “Good olive oil changes everything – it’s my most used ingredient, by a country mile. Working with Citizens of Soil on our own oil, sourced from Tuscany and Umbria – regions I’ve known since childhood – is the perfect fit.”
The launch follows an expanded partnership with Waitrose earlier this year, which added new dressings and fresh deli items to the retailer’s shelves. The brand first entered the Waitrose market in April 2024 and later broadened its grocery reach to Sainsbury’s and Ocado in February.
