History
Cibaria started out with a single brand of olive oil. Today we’ve grown our product line to well over a hundred items. We are a wholesale distributor for a wide variety of oils from all over the world, plus vinegars, and shelf-stable olives, spreads, and dipping oils. We offer a wide selection of glass bottles. Also available: the sleek Italian Sansone stainless steel fusti that dispenses liquids and protects them during long-term storage. Our products include:
- Olive Oils
- Specialty Oils
- Balsamic Vinegars
- Non-GMO Oils
- Custom-Blended Oils
- Organic Oils
- Infused Oils
- Aerosol Oils
- Commodity Oils
We Have Built Our Reputation On:
01.
A Growing Line of Products from All Over the World
02.
Our Dedicated,
Innovative
Team
03.
Outstanding
Customer
Service
Our sparkling 130,000 square foot manufacturing facility is OU Kosher and organic certified, we hold non-GMO verification, and we are third-party audited.
Our Commitment to Quality Assurance
Every employee plays a part in guaranteeing quality assurance. The following statements confirm we are compliant will all good manufacturing and food-safety requirements:
We hold memberships in these organizations:
We believe in the quality of our products and hold true to our PURPOSE, PHILOSOPHY, and VALUES.
They are the Heart, Soul and Priorities of the company.
We Are Dedicated to Creating Flavorful Possibilities for Life.
We Are Building Relationships with Integrity.
We Strive to Lead with Excellence, Live in Gratitude, Encourage Growth, Embrace Accountability.
Gratitude
We strive to Live in a State of Gratitude – giving us a tool to transform an obstacle into an opportunity to do better and be better.
Growth
Our company culture Encourages Growth and is committed to cultivating an environment conducive to growth with training, mentoring, classes and sharing knowledge to attract and keep the best and the brightest talent.
Excellence
When we Lead with Excellence, we can pivot and demonstrate agility. Those who can adapt quickly to change and respond gracefully exhibit this core value.
Accountability
When a person Embraces Accountability, they see the task at hand, recognize their own aptitude and are intrinsically motivated to finish it. Completing it is a welcomed and foregone conclusion.
Meet Our Team
Kathy Griset
CEO since 1998
Kathy Griset’s journey to success seems straightforward. She started out working in a supermarket in college. Upon graduation, they offered her a management position. After a few years she felt stuck beneath the glass ceiling, but she managed to break out on her own. First, she started a company with former coworkers. That led to a job with the owner of an olive oil company. In 1998 she successfully negotiated with him for its purchase. Now she could take the business where she wanted.
Today, Griset guides Cibaria in its exponential growth as a wholesale supplier. The product line has grown from just one item—olive oil—to hundreds of oils and balsamic vinegars for retail, foodservice, food manufacturing, and soap making.
Griset started out as a single parent of three with no business education beyond her own instincts and experience. Now she sets the company vision, oversees financials, calls on customers—and steers product across the factory floor if necessary. She’s proudly launched many careers in the industry; she’s watched employees work their way up from new hires to positions of leadership. She brought in a management team to expand her reach, while a group of consultants back up her decisions in support of the Cibaria team.
Her goal was to grow Cibaria from its original size. Thanks to the respect she’s gained in the industry plus excellent word-of-mouth marketing, it is now a growing, international company with bright future ahead. Her employees describe her best: “Kathy is the driving force for this company. She is a leader who allows people to drive themselves.” And they say, “She genuinely cares for her employees.”
KaREN MOORE
VP of Sales & Marketing since 1998
The first hire at Cibaria, Karen Moore is responsible for sales and marketing. The customer service department reports to her. She a member of the management team. For this multi-talented employee, every workday is different.
Moore likes that. She’s hard working and creative. Her first sales job as a teenager was home sales for a jewelry company. She went on to several other sales roles. Then she joined Cibaria before the ink was dry on start-up paperwork.
Today she touches every aspect of the company. She prepares for trade shows—from selecting featured items to booth design to designing POS materials. She facilitates a family spirit with out-of-the-box company events. She helps launch new products. She provides product-knowledge for staff and demonstrations for new clients. She gives superlative service to customers. She builds maintains relationships with vendors all over the world. And if that’s not enough, she designs the labels on the products.
Moore appreciates the freedom her job provides. She enjoys knowing her input is valued. She’s having fun. CEO Kathy Griset says Moore is integral to running the company. The two started out together with no formal business education. They sought out every possible course or advisor to take them to the next level. Add into the mix the many lessons learned from day-to-day operations. You end up with powerful partners in administering this dynamic, growing distributorship.
Anthony Accuar
Human Resources since 2020
Recruiting and training; payroll; benefits; compliance with regulations; insurance—these make up Anthony Accuar’s day.
Seems like that would be enough for one person, but he also remains open. Wherever there’s a need in the company, he’s there to help. Solid, steadfast, and committed to getting things done. That’s what others see in him.
With a background in food manufacturing operations, he’s familiar with all the required audits, training, and certifications. With an MBA, he had a broad range of business knowledge. He’s a troubleshooter.
He finds the free health coverage is a great recruitment tool. Put in a dollar amount, that can add hundreds of dollars per month to a paycheck. That, plus the family-first philosophy and generous paid time off—these add to the quality of life for employees. Accuar says the company is looking for different skill sets, depending on the position. Those with an entrepreneurial spirit and those willing to remain in the same role over time are equally welcome. One thing is certain: if you are ready for a long-term work commitment, Cibaria can find the right spot for you.
Brian Koenigsdorf
Operations Manager since 2022
If Cibaria is going to keep growing, we’re going to need bright staff like Brian Koenigsdorf on our team.
As operations manager, he plans and oversees all the steps of the bottling process, from having all the products and materials available at run time to ensuring the equipment is good to go. Safety, efficiency, and continuous improvement are the hallmarks of his work.
The clinking of bottles, the sun-kissed aromas of oils and vinegars, and the hum of the equipment make up his day. He keeps an eye out to make sure everything runs without a hitch. There is little time for mistakes in his line of work; if they do occur, they need to be handled at once. Just as importantly, they need to be learned from.
When you consider the many of bottles that get filled, packaged, and distributed under his watch, you might wonder if he has time to think about the people he works with. The answer is yes! Koenigsdorf has deep interest in those who operate the machinery. Without them, none of these processes would take place.
In fact, he cares about the entire Cibaria team, the suppliers, the distributors, and the customers who enjoy our fine products.
Maria Wallace
Sales Manager Since 2022
Looking for a partner in the food industry? You’ll find it in Maria Wallace. She understands all the elements of fine foods and their distribution. She is adept at getting the right products into the hands of the right people.
People. Grocers, restauranters, and chefs all know that top-quality ingredients are the foundation of their success. Wallace understands their unique needs, and she goes out of her way to meet them.
Product. She is always tuned in to innovations in the industry—both domestic and international. Her passion is sharing her extensive knowledge about gourmet foods at sales events and one-to-one with customers.
Process. Wallace is highly skilled at brand building, launching marketing campaigns, and driving sales growth across all channels..
With her passion for food, her understanding of flavors and pairings, and her sales acumen, she is a tremendous resource for all Cibaria’s clients.
Sergio Nunez
Quality Assurance Manager Since 2022
The quality assurance manager works behind the scenes to provide critical services in the food industry. Sergio Nunez has spent his entire career checking off the boxes to meet the requirements for this role. He knows his stuff.
This multi-faceted job is far more complex than you’d expect. Every part of the site and all aspects of food handling are under his domain. New suppliers must pass inspection. Shelf-life and nutritional information must be provided for every product. Nunez creates food safety plans. Customer complaints go to him for resolution.
He doesn’t work in a vacuum. He partners with everyone in the building to ensure the highest quality standards are met. He works with lab technicians and sanitation staff, and he liaisons with the agencies that oversee the food industry. Everything related to food quality at Cibaria is noted, documented, and passed along to management and relevant agencies.
When we say we have the finest ingredients, he backs us up.
Nunez is excited to be part of the Cibaria team. That goes both ways! We feel extremely fortunate to have someone with his excellent credentials on staff.
Lee Anne Crawford
Customer Service Manager since 2007
Customer service is not just about filling orders or inputting data in the system. It’s about building bonds of trust over the years. LeeAnn Crawford thrives on the relationship she’s built with Cibaria clients. She makes sure they get the top-quality service they deserve. They know they can trust her to keep them informed about any issues that might affect getting their products out in a timely manner
Crawford heads up the customer service team. She’s there to receive and process orders and to follow up with any questions. She’s a hands-on manager who constantly strives to streamline her methods; her morning meetings keep her team informed about supply issues and best practices.
Her work has gained the full respect of the entire Cibaria team. They appreciate her ability to keep product flowing out to an ever-growing circle of satisfied customers.
Ana Mendez
Marketing Assistant since 2022
Ana Mendez started out as an intern at Cibaria. A B.A. in Spanish with a concentration in business were the perfect background for tackling accounting, invoicing, and updating the website. She took on all sorts of projects—even helped with Spanish translations as needed. This experience was the perfect transition from school to the real world of employment. All the business skills she learned led to her quickly being hired as Marketing Assistant. Ana loves the clear and open communication throughout the company. It makes everything possible. And staff love having her fresh energy, her can-do attitude, and her next-generation insights. It’s a win-win arrangement for everyone!
A Guide to The World of Olive Oils