Olive Oils from Spain: Asia, With Japan Taking the Lead, Consolidates Itself as the New Golden Destination for European Olive Oils

PR82713

TOKYO, January 31, 2019 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/ --

The International Olive Oil Council (an institution belonging to the United Nations

Organization dedicated to the olive tree and its products) estimates that for the period

2019/2020 the consumption of olive oils will grow by 6.4% worldwide, reaching more

than three million tons. These figures confirm the unstoppable progress of the consumption

of this product.

During the first nine months of 2019 Japan, China, South Korea and Taiwan

imported around 108,000 tons of olive oil, mostly with European Union origin.

It is worth mentioning that Greece, the largest consumer per capita in the

world, consumes around 125,000 tonnes per year.

Japan stands out as the first consumer of olive oil in Asia. Up to September it

had imported 53,890 tons of olive oil, 26.16% more than in the same period in

2018. The growing success of Spanish olive oils among Japanese consumers has

played a major role in these spectacular figures. Spain exported 33,917 tons to

Japan, 35.78% more than in the first nine months of 2018. This achievement

placed oils from Spain with a 62.94% share over total imports, consolidating their

leadership since 2014. This share has grown around 20 points during the last decade.

Additionally, these outstanding figures endorse the important commitment that

Olives Oil from Spain has made for this market, which has materialised in an ambitious

promotional campaign, carried out in collaboration with the European Union and launched

at the beginning of 2018. The Olive Oil World Tour (https://oliveoilworldtour.jp/ ) has been

focused on Japan, with a series of activities that have been well received by the Japanese public:

Promotional videos shown on digital billboards (March, October and November)

Shown on the five digital billboards at the Shibuya Crossing in Tokyo.

This programme reached a cumulative total of around 130 million passers-by.

Booth at Haneda Airport (9-17 Oct.)

Among other activities, introducing more than 300 types of extra virgin olive oil.

This programme reached around 1.4 million booth visitors and passers-by.

Cooking show for the press (9 Oct.)

Mr. Daisuke Nomura, Chef and Owner of acclaimed shojin restaurant Sougo in Roppongi,

cooked an original Washoku menu incorporating extra virgin olive oil for the Japanese press,

with the exposure translating to about 7.5 million viewers and readers.

Original Washoku menu offered at Sougo (10-31 Oct.)

This menu prepared by Mr. Nomura at his cooking show was made available at his

restaurant, Sougo, for three weeks.

The campaign website and social media accounts in Facebook

[https://www.facebook.com/OliveOilWorldTourjp/ ] and

Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/oliveoilworldtourjp/?hl=es ] were also used alongside

the above programmes to promote European olive oil. They provided a constant stream of

related information including recipes and the health benefits of olive oil.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1084183/Olive_Oil_World_Tour.jpg  

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1084184/Olive_Oil_Showcooking.jpg

SOURCE: Olive Oils from Spain