A place in the Absa Top 10 recognises the work that begins long before an oil reaches the judging table. From caring for the trees and selecting the right moment to harvest, to milling and storing the oil, each stage requires skill and precision. The results reflect the combined efforts of growers, agricultural workers, millers and producers, whose decisions shape the character and quality of every bottle.
Through its continued partnership with SA Olive, Absa supports a platform that raises awareness of local olive oil businesses and brings their achievements to a wider audience. The partnership places business development alongside the celebration of excellence, helping producers strengthen their position in local and international markets.
Senior Marketing Specialist at Absa, Shaun Saal says: “The Absa Top 10 Olive Oil Awards celebrate the dedication and ambition of South African producers. Through our long-standing partnership with SA Olive, we want to help turn that recognition into lasting opportunities for their businesses. By connecting producers with retailers, distributors and buyers, we aim to help them reach newcustomers, build stronger brands and grow over the long term. We also want more international markets to discover the exceptional quality of South African Extra Virgin Olive Oils and the people behind them.”
The CEO of SA Olive, Wendy Petersen says: “Every harvest asks something different of a producer. Experience matters, but so does the willingness to observe, adapt and make careful decisions throughout the season. These winning oils reflect that balance, and the work of teams whose contribution deserves to be celebrated alongside the finished product. We thank Absa for helping us bring these achievements to a wider audience. Our hope is that these awards encourage more people to explore South African EVOOs, get to know the producers and make local olive oil part of their everyday lives.”
The 2026 Absa Top 10 celebrates a season’s work while demonstrating the depth and diversity of South African olive oil production, with each winning oil bringing its own distinctive character to the selection. As these oils find their way into shops, restaurants and home kitchens, they bring the flavours of this year’s harvest to South Africa’s tables, setting a benchmark for quality and giving the industry much to build on as it looks towards the next season.
Consumers can discover this year’s winning EVOOs in stores by looking out for the Absa Top 10 stickers on the top ten oils and the SA Olive award stickers identifying this year’s gold, silver and bronze medal winners.
| Yolisa Mlungwana, Regional Segment Head at Absa Private Banking (Left) and Wendy Petersen, CEO of SA Olive (Right) |
Shaun Saal, Senior Marketing Specialist at Absa (Left), and Wendy Petersen, CEO of SA Olive (Right)