Quick Answer: Our top pick for salami on a charcuterie board is Olli Salumeria (4.5 out of 5). Best value: Volpi Genoa Salame. Splurge: Fra' Mani. We ranked 7 widely sold options on how they work on a board, published taste tests and awards, ingredients, value and how easy they are to find.
Grocery salami ranges from greasy and bland to genuinely great. These are the brands with the strongest record in taste tests and awards, ranked for how they work on a board.
How we ranked these: these are researched picks, not a side-by-side tasting. We scored each product on published taste tests and awards, its ingredient list, price and where you can buy it, plus how that style of product behaves on a board. Sources are listed at the end, and the full method is on our buying guides hub. Prices and stock last checked September 2026.
Our picks at a glance
| Pick | Rating |
|---|---|
| Best overall: Olli Salumeria ($$) | ★★★★½ 4.5 |
| Best value: Volpi Genoa Salame ($$) | ★★★★½ 4.3 |
| Best splurge: Fra' Mani ($$$) | ★★★★☆ 3.8 |
The full ranking
| Product | Rating | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Olli Salumeria ($$) | ★★★★½ 4.5 | An easy mixed platter |
| 2. Volpi Genoa Salame ($$) | ★★★★½ 4.3 | The classic Genoa |
| 3. Columbus Salame ($$) | ★★★★☆ 4.2 | Widely available quality |
| 4. Fra' Mani ($$$) | ★★★★☆ 3.8 | Heavily awarded |
| 5. Creminelli Fine Meats ($$$) | ★★★½☆ 3.7 | Premium flavors |
| 6. Boar's Head Hard Salami ($$) | ★★★½☆ 3.5 | Sliced to order |
| 7. Applegate Naturals Uncured Genoa ($$) | ★★★½☆ 3.5 | Uncured option |
1. Olli Salumeria
★★★★½ 4.5 out of 5 · Best overall · Best for: An easy mixed platter · $$ mid-range
Olli's Antipasto pack puts four salami varieties in one package and won Sporked's Best Selection. Olli says it uses vegetarian-fed, antibiotic-free pork, and its Salamini line won a 2023 Mindful Award. (Source: The National Provisioner.)
- Why we like it: Four styles in one pack. Well-reviewed.
- Keep in mind: Pricier than basic brands.
- Where to buy: Whole Foods, Target, most grocery.
2. Volpi Genoa Salame
★★★★½ 4.3 out of 5 · Best value · Best for: The classic Genoa · $$ mid-range
A family business making salami in St. Louis since 1902. Its Genoa is mild, garlicky and easy to fold into a salami river. (Source: Wikipedia.)
- Why we like it: Classic flavor. Reasonable price.
- Keep in mind: Not as widely stocked as mass brands.
- Where to buy: Grocery, Whole Foods, Trader Joe's.
3. Columbus Salame
★★★★☆ 4.2 out of 5 · Best for: Widely available quality · $$ mid-range
Columbus Calabrese ranked second in Tasting Table's salami test for its nuanced pepper heat, and Sporked named Columbus Italian Dry its best Italian salami.
- Why we like it: Easy to find. Several styles.
- Keep in mind: Some varieties are spicy.
- Where to buy: Most grocery stores.
4. Fra' Mani
★★★★☆ 3.8 out of 5 · Best splurge · Best for: Heavily awarded · $$$ premium
Founded by chef Paul Bertolli. Fra' Mani has won 12 Good Food Awards, and its Toscano took Best in Class at the 2023 World Charcuterie Awards. (Source: The National Provisioner.)
- Why we like it: Heavily awarded. Traditional methods.
- Keep in mind: Hard to find. Expensive.
- Where to buy: Specialty grocers, online.
5. Creminelli Fine Meats
★★★½☆ 3.7 out of 5 · Best for: Premium flavors · $$$ premium
A Salt Lake City salumeria founded in 2007 by Cristiano Creminelli, from a family of Italian salumi makers. It won a Sofi Award in 2013 and makes unusual flavors like Barolo and truffle. (Source: Wikipedia.)
- Why we like it: Distinctive flavors. Good ingredients.
- Keep in mind: Expensive. Smaller packs.
- Where to buy: Whole Foods, specialty grocers.
6. Boar's Head Hard Salami
★★★½☆ 3.5 out of 5 · Best for: Sliced to order · $$ mid-range
Sporked's best hard salami, with strong pork flavor and good fat content. Buying it sliced at the counter means fresher edges than a tray.
- Why we like it: Sliced fresh. Everywhere.
- Keep in mind: Hard salami is less nuanced than Genoa.
- Where to buy: Deli counters.
7. Applegate Naturals Uncured Genoa
★★★½☆ 3.5 out of 5 · Best for: Uncured option · $$ mid-range
Reviews split: Sporked named it the best Genoa, while Tasting Table ranked it near the bottom as fatty and chewy. A fair pick if you want uncured.
- Why we like it: Uncured. Easy to find.
- Keep in mind: Mixed reviews.
- Where to buy: Most grocery stores.
How the scores break down
Each product is scored 1 to 5 on five things, then weighted: how it works on a board (30%), published taste tests and awards (25%), ingredients (15%), value (15%) and how easy it is to find (15%).
| Product | On the board | Reviews and awards | Ingredients | Value | Easy to find | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Olli Salumeria | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4.5 |
| Volpi Genoa Salame | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4.3 |
| Columbus Salame | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4.2 |
| Fra' Mani | 4 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 3.8 |
| Creminelli Fine Meats | 4 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 3.7 |
| Boar's Head Hard Salami | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 3.5 |
| Applegate Naturals Uncured Genoa | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 3.5 |
What to look for on the label
Label check: Pork (and maybe veal), salt, wine and spices. Long ingredient lists with fillers or corn syrup are worth avoiding.
Skip: Pre-sliced salami that has been sitting in a tray. The edges dry and curl. Buy a chub and slice it, or buy it at the counter.
For what salami pairs with and how to serve it, see the genoa salami guide. To see every ranked guide, visit our charcuterie buying guides.
Salami questions
What is the best salami brand for a charcuterie board?
Olli Salumeria, for its well-reviewed variety pack, with Volpi Genoa as the classic single choice.
Is Genoa or hard salami better for a board?
Genoa is softer and more garlicky; hard salami is drier and firmer. Genoa is easier to fold and more versatile.
How much salami per person?
Meat in total: 2 oz per guest before a meal, 3 oz when the board is the party food, 4 oz when it is dinner. Salami is usually part of that.
Sources
- Sporked: Best Salami (updated Mar 2025)
- The National Provisioner: Olli Salamini wins 2023 Mindful Award
- Wikipedia: Volpi Foods
- Tasting Table: 9 Salami Brands, Ranked (2025)
- The National Provisioner: Fra' Mani (Apr 2025)
- Wikipedia: Creminelli Fine Meats
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