I developed my passion and took my first steps into the extraordinary world of extra virgin olive oil in an olive grove in Sicily many years ago.

This incredible experience led me in 2008 to want to create my own import and wholesale distribution company called ‘Lugano Fine Foods’, whose main goal was, and still is, to bring consumers a new awareness and appreciation for high quality extra-virgin olive oil, but above all by providing informative guidance and training on how to select and taste an extra-virgin olive oil, unlike most other exporters.

My business provides many high-end food and gourmet shops in the greater Toronto area, southern Ontario, Calgary and Vancouver.

As part of my efforts to educate consumers, I regularly collaborate with the Italian Chamber of Commerce and ICE offices in Toronto to promote quality olive oils through food events in collaboration with Italy. I have worked with chefs and wine importers, preparing special tasting evenings involving the pairing of food, extra virgin olive oil and wine.

In addition, I regularly provide advice through demonstrations and training courses held in our flagship partner shops where a wide variety of imported oils are available. I have been in contact with ONAOO since 2013, when I passed the first level course. In 2018, I completed my Level 2 course and became a professional taster.

Sandro Marques is a lecturer on Food Studies and author of several books, including “The Guide to Brazilian Olive Oil”, in its third edition.

As an olive oil taster and writer, Sandro helps olive oil producers develop their storytelling and brand narrative.

He worked as an apprentice at several starred restaurants in Brazil and since 2010 has been a judge at the most important Brazilian food and culinary awards. In 2018 his book “Desserts for Princesses” was chosen by the Brazilian Federal Education Bureau to be distributed nationwide because of its educational content.

He also wrote “What do the astronauts eat?”, a children’s book celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Apollo Mission. Sandro Marques is an international speaker and a judge at several olive oil competitions. In 2016 he became Member of ONAOO where he also started his educational path.

In 2020 he concluded his studies by obtaining the Qualification of ONAOO Professional Taster.

He is married and he has a son (Alessandro) and a daughter (Francesca). Graduated in Food Preparation / Food Chemistry and Technology. In 1995, he obtained the eligibility for the activity of Panel Leader. President of the O.N.A.O.O. since 1997. Member of the Presidential Committee of Federolio.

Former Vice-President of SISSG (Italian Society for the Study of Fatty Substances), of which today he is Adviser. He is Adviser in Charge of Cosmetica Italia and Adviser of Netcomm (Italian E-Commerce Consortium). Since 1991, he has been active in several sectors (from quality assurance to the development of new products and systems) in the family company – Fratelli Carli Spa – of which he is with mandate of the HACCP system.

Since 1996, he has increased an e-commerce activity and other marketing activities. In 1997, he created “Mediterranea” the Cosmetics Division of Fratelli Carli, a complete range of cosmetics based on olive oil. The growth of this project has strengthened the company’s activities. Today, it is increasingly focused on the development of innovative products and projects – in Italy and abroad – for the company’s growth.

I completed my training in O.N.A.O.O. in 2018. Through my work as purchasing director of Mediterranean products, I was also responsible for the olive oil category. Being Dutch, I knew very little about it and luckily I found the training in Imperia and I can safely say it changed my life.

After 12 years I quit my job as purchasing director and continued in the world of olive oil. By now I had also done the Sommelier training in New York as well as the Master Miller training in Jaen, Enough baggage to ask the Ministry to nominate me as a panel leader at the European Union.

In between, I wrote the book “Olive Oil” and this has been translated into English, French and German and still my book brings olive oil lovers the idea to follow in my footsteps and we will meet again in Imperia. O.N.A.O.O. is one big family! Meanwhile, I founded the Olive Oil Institute and the Netherlands has an IOC certified panel consisting of 15 panel members, most of them trained by O.N.A.O.O.

In addition to a panel, the Olive Oil Institute has an electronic nose so that tests can be done not only subjectively but also objectively.

Several universities are also looking for such a method and we expect that this combination will improve quality overall. However, the panel will always exist because how good is good or how bad is bad, that remains a human judgment.