Volio is no ordinary Italian grocery store. Instead of the usual products from well-known Italian manufacturers, it offers a carefully selected range of high-quality items from small farmers and family businesses.
The owner of Volio, Alice, embodies the true spirit of an Italian farm girl. Her father operates a farm of about 25 hectares near Rimini. Growing up among olive groves, she learned the craft of olive oil production from an early age. When she grew older, Alice worked for a major technology corporation, leading to her move to the USA. However, her family’s farm remained close to her heart, prompting her to import and sell her father’s olive oil at local markets in Seattle, Washington. In 2014, she moved to Luxembourg with a mission: “I immediately wondered how to bring my father’s farm to Luxembourg!” she shares. Starting at the capital’s weekly markets, she initially imported processed products with longer shelf life: olive oil, pickled fruits and vegetables, jam, etc.
With increasing demand, she began offering products from farmers and artisans in her home region. This led to the conception of a unique store model, realized in two pop-up stores in Esch-sur-Alzette and Differdange. Since August 2023, she has been operating her first official store, Volio, in Junglinster.
From the Italian farm to your table
Many products in the store originate from Alice’s farm and her native region, Emilia-Romagna. This includes wines from the “Group Cevico” winemakers’ cooperative and premium balsamic vinegar from “La Cà dal Nôn” in Modena. The store also features specialties from all over Italy: Sicilian pistachio pesto, chocolate from Piemonte and biscotti from Trieste, authentic Parmigiano Reggiano cheese from Reggio Emilia, Burrata from Puglia, and much more.
“My goal isn’t to offer a vast selection, but to showcase hand-pcked exceptional, specialist-made products”, she reveals. The inventory is ever-changing: “Customers are always curious to see what’s new when they enter the store because we regularly have different products depending on the season and production cycles.” Currently, the store features the iconic Italian Christmas pastry, Panettone. Another very special treat: homemade Piadina, the traditional flatbread from Emilia-Romagna, available plain, to dress with arugula and fresh Italian ham, or filled with tomatoes and mozzarella to heat up at home.
For those whose mouths are already watering but find Junglinster a bit too far, Volio’s products are conveniently available online through their own website.
Meet the Makers
At the core of Alice’s philosophy is creating a direct bridge between producers and consumers, following the direct trade philosophy. She highlights the producers in her store’s presentations and regularly organizes tastings for new arrivals. She also invites the producers to Luxembourg to conduct workshops, explaining their craft and uniqueness of their products.
“I think it’s important for people to understand how the prices of the products are formed. Behind a single bottle of olive oil are many years of hard work, including challenges like rainfall and drought”, Alice explains. “When producers directly talk to customers, it fosters an authentic dialogue. This not only leads to a better understanding from the customers but also a greater appreciation for the product.”
However, bringing the producers to Luxembourg is just the first step. “We plan to organize small trips and tours to Italy in the future, allowing people here to visit the farms and meet the locals.”
…And This Is Just the Beginning!
There’s more planned for the Junglinster store: “The next step is to open a small café, where local residents can comfortably enjoy their espresso with a biscotti”, Alice shares. Another dream she hopes to fulfill is establishing a guesthouse on the farm back in Italy: “There’s a beautiful 200-year-old farmhouse on our farm. The aim is to renovate this house to welcome guests amidst the fruit orchard.”
Volio offers much more than just Italian delicacies; it is a vibrant piece of Italian culture and craftsmanship right in the heart of Luxembourg, lovingly presented by Alice, who knows how to captivate her customers with authentic products and a genuine passion for her homeland.
VOLIO, 2 Iernzwee, 6129 Junglinster
9am – 6pm Monday to Saturday
volio.eu
Pictures: KACHEN