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.

George was born in Athens in 1978. He graduated with a Master of Science in Civil Engineering in 2002 and worked as a construction project manager until 2012.

For the past 10 years, he has developed an in-depth knowledge and appreciation for the cultivation and production of high quality olive oil, after undertaking a number of accredited training programs in Italy and Greece.

His understanding of the olive fruit and talent in sensory analysis has driven him to consistently produce EVOOs that have achieved top positions in most international olive oil competitions for his company Hellenic Fields.

In 2019 he began his journey of becoming a certified taster, which he completed by achieving the ONAOO Professional Taster Qualification in 2022. Currently he is honing his skills and knowledge even further by participating in tasting panels, as well as expanding his company’s portfolio of EVOOs with new varieties and blends.

From 1988 to 1993 Sandro worked as a Buyer for “Despar Ceda Srl”.

From 1993 to 1999 he worked as Category Manager for “Reggiana Alimentari”. Since 1999 he has been Category Manager for “NORDICONAD”.

From 2017 to 2020 he was Director for FIORFIORE CASH & CARRY Srl. From 2021 to 2022, he is Category Manager for CURACASA; from August 2022, he is the contact person for CONAD NORDOVEST Sales Management with the Localism Project.

Sandro has also been an ONAOO Professional Taster since 2012.

Japanese-born, I’ve been living in several countries including 16 years in Italy to undertake my studies.

I grew professionally as Export Manager for the Mitsubishi Italia S.p.A., in the food sector, developing a great passion for good food especially for olive oil that became my main occupation.

Back in Japan, now I work as Procurement Manager for an important company specialized in cheese imports.

In 2016 I’ve started my path in ONAOO ended in 2022 by obtaining the qualification of Professional Taster.

I hope to keep working on my passion.