Briefing
The Andalusian cooperative group Dcoop has called on the Spanish government to intervene in the ongoing sale process for olive oil company Deoleo so that the group remains “Spanish and Andalusian”. Rafael Sánchez de Puerta, Dcoop’s managing director, made the request in an interview on Canal Suron 8 September 2026. He also pointed out that the Italian government had taken a position in the dispute over the takeover and called for a similar role for the central government in Madrid.
The background is a bidding contest in which the Italian company Coricelli submitted a counteroffer of 500 million euros at the end of August 2026. According to media reports, the Spanish bids from Dcoop and Andalusian producer Acesur were lower; media reports put Dcoop’s offer at around 470 million euros. Deoleo’s owners are reportedly considering several offers; no preferred bidder had been formally announced publicly by the latest reports. Media reports said the deadline for the bidding process was at the end of August 2026.
Dcoop argues that retaining control in Spain would benefit regional value creation in Andalusia, protect jobs and secure the stewardship of major brands such as Carbonell and Koipe. Representatives of Andalusian cooperatives and the regional government have called in recent days for a solution with strong regional roots. In principle, there is no legal obstacle to a foreign takeover; however, competition or investment reviews may apply if national interests are invoked.
The dispute over Deoleo is seen in the industry as a test case for the future organisation of the value chain, from olive grove to brand. Observers expect the sellers to announce a decision, or at least set a direction for next steps, by September 2026 at the latest. Until then, terms such as the purchase price, industrial commitments and guarantees on locations remain the main points of contention.
Editor: Daniel Mayer (Article created with AI assistance).