Q&A with Fernando Ortega, CEO of ILOVEACEITE US.
1. Tell us a bit about ILOVEACEITE US.
ILOVEACEITE US, Inc is a Spanish olive oil company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. ILOVEACEITE USworks with distributors, wholesalers, retailers and food-service companies throughout the United States to deliver olive oil products produced in Spain.
Since establishing U.S. headquarters in San Antonio, TX, ILOVEACEITE has expanded distribution to locations in Colorado, California, Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina and Idaho.
2. What gave you the idea for your business and how did it start?
Spain is the largest producer of olive oil, responsible for 44 percent of the world’s supply.
Following the grand tradition of Spanish olive oil, the company has a heritage dating back to 1950 when ny grandfather began work in the olive oil business.
In 2009, as a third-generation olive oil producer, I combined my Spanish heritage and passion for entrepreneurship to start in Spain ILOVEACEITE. In 2011 we founded our subsidiary in Poland and in January 2016 in the States.
3. What’s your favorite thing about your job?
Wouh! Many things, not only one. I think the main is one is to give to our customer the real and true flavor of Spain. When I sell a bottle of our olive oil We’re sharing one of the most antique product in the world with more than 6,000 years old. Even How is our relationship around the food. Both of them are the best things of my job. When the people are taking delight of our olive oil they can travel to our olive groves and enjoy our Mediterrean food culture. It fantastic how brilliant are their eyes when that happens!
4. What are your keys to making yourself productive?
I’m full of energy. I try to eat, feel and live healthy. We have only one body, one heart, one brain. We need tr treat them as best we can. Body, giving healthy work out: sport, good food, yoga… Heart, giving love and greatfulness. Brain, training it every day, being creative… is more important to learn than to know.
5. Tell us one long-term goal in your career.
When I moved to the States I knew it was the bigger market in the world. Then I felt so small. In these two years I learned to think big. Whatever you want, wherever you are, think big. Then now I want to make my company the bigger olive oil brand in the States.
6. What’s the most valuable lesson you’ve learned through the course of your career?
I learned a lot of them. I love to learn every day. But I think is very important to be honest. Be honest with yourself and the others. Be polite and be punctual. Be funny, positive and treat others as the same way as you want they treat you. It’s easy.
7. What advice would you give to others aspiring to succeed in your field?
Work! I believe in work and trust in yourself, There isn’t any secret.
8. What are your favorite things to do outside of work?
I love to run, to ride my Harley, to take photos or feeling lost in a back road in The States. I love to travel. To stop in the middle of nowhere and shot an old truck figuring out why it finished in that place I try every day to refill my body with creative things.
9. Name a few influential books you’ve read and/or websites you keep up with that you’d recommend to readers.
I read many Spanish books and authors. I have a cuople of special books: my first book when I was a child (poetry and old stories Gustave A Bécquer) and one modern: ‘Change your mind’ (Rod Junkis). I love to find motivation in music and movies. Sometimes the best thing to do is going to dance country wearing your hat. What’s else!
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Twitter.com/iloveaceite_us
www.iloveaceite.us
Personal:
Facebook.com/fernandorortegavallejo
Instagram.com/69vagamundos
Twitter.com/69vagamundos
linkedin.com/in/fernandorortega69
www.fernandortega.com
