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Lorenzo
1880. A Gift from the King. Fencing was once more than a sport: honour and even love could be decided at sword’s point. Lorenzo Barbera Sr brought pride to the young Italian nation by defeating a French champion. King Umberto I, impressed by the Sicilian’s victory, gifted him his golden watch.
1890. Palermo: A New Chapter. The Barbera family moved from Menfi to Palermo, where the former hunting grounds of the Princes of Buonfornello in Piana dei Colli became Villa Barbera.
1894. Where It All Began. Oleifici Siciliani was founded with the Florio family; today it is known as Premiati Oleifici Barbera.
1900. Our First International Awards. Barbera represented Sicily at the 1900 World Fair in Paris, winning gold. More gold medals followed at the World Fairs in Saint Louis (1904) and Palermo (1906).
Manfredi
1910. Bottled Olive Oil. Lorenzo and his son Manfredi had an inspired idea: bottle extra virgin olive oil in glass, using the same bottles used for Marsala. For the first time, Sicilian olive oil could travel safely across the Mediterranean and Atlantic.
1930. Steadfast and Strong. While the Florio family liquidated many businesses, including Oleifici Siciliani, Lorenzo and Vincenzo continued alone, founding “Lorenzo e Vincenzo Barbera Oli”. The two brothers focused on the local market during difficult years.
1935. Manfredi Senior: The Colonel. From the 1930s, the company was led by Manfredi Sr, Lorenzo’s son, known as “the colonel” for his military precision and dedication. His passion for olive oil and careful selection of raw materials soon led him to head the International Olive Council.
1950. The Unfiltered. During the economic boom, Barbera introduced unfiltered must oil. People now living in growing industrial cities could finally enjoy olive oil just as it is when freshly pressed.
Lorenzo
1960. The Saracen Olive Tree. The 1960s were a complex decade for Palermo, whose rapid growth demanded space for new citizens. As the city expanded, a centuries-old olive tree at the heart of the Barbera estate was lost. Before that majestic tree, Lorenzo saw his father cry for the first time and later wrote the moving poem Death of a Saracen Olive.
1970. Lorenzo: The Poet. Love for one’s homeland can take many forms. Manfredi’s son Lorenzo, known as Renzino, chose poetry and literature. Through his writings he portrayed Sicily as a land of dreams, irony and deep humanity.
MANFREDI
1980. Manfredi: The Master Olive Oil Maker. Times of crisis can make us stronger. When Manfredi Jr joined the family business, he brought lessons learned travelling across Sicily with his grandfather, visiting mills and selecting olive oils. His insight led to the creation of Frantoia, a tribute to the feminine spirit of our land.
1990. Barbera Conquers America. This decade marked a new beginning with entry into international markets. With Frantoia, Barbera began its own journey of discovery across the Atlantic.
2000. The Experimental Olive Mill. At the start of the new century, investments strengthened production with the Custonaci plant and the experimental mill. These were years focused on the future, represented by Lorenzo and later Carlo, the fifth generation of the family.
2010. The Olive Oil Supply Chain. The company strengthened its bond with the land. The supply chains of COFIOL and ORO Sicilia reflect a long-standing commitment to supporting olive growers and promoting the territory.
Today: Industry 4.0. The story continues
The present is an opportunity to get back to our roots, while looking to the future. A new agriculture 4.0 farm has been developed in these years, where new growing techniques are used for the promotion of native Sicilian production.
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