Former Footballer Scores at World Olive Oil Competition

OPG Brunela from Croatia has won an award at the 2023 NYIOOC World Olive Oil Competition, the world's largest olive oil quality contest.

The award at the world’s largest competition is a confirmation of quality, but also an additional incentive to persist in producing even better extra virgin olive oil.

Vjeran Paić and Nikica Cukrov

The Dalmatian producer, run by a former professional footballer and lawyer, earned a Silver Award for a medium-intensity blend.

Owner Vjeran Paić, the lawyer, said winning the award was a "great pleasure."

“Winning at the NYIOOC is a great success,” added Nikica Cukrov, who played for the region's most well-known team, Hadjuk Split.

“The award at the world’s largest competition is a confirmation of quality, but also an additional incentive to persist in producing even better extra virgin olive oil,” the two producers added.

In the 2022/23 crop year, the company produced 300 liters of extra virgin olive oil using traditional methods. Paić and Cukrov said they both look forward to the future.

Held each spring in New York, the NYIOOC World Olive Oil Competition is the world's most prestigious olive oil contest. Its annual listing of award winners is considered the authoritative guide to the year’s best extra virgin olive oils.

The complete list of winners can be viewed in the Official Guide to the World's Best Olive Oils.