Markets: India

Language: English/German

Years in the Industry: 25 years

Years owning Minerva: 9 years

Background:

Ellie has an extensive background in the commodity industry working with a variety of different edible nuts. Ellie currently is the Chair of the NDFTA, the Vice President of FRUCOM, Sits on the stakeholder working group of DEFRA  and the Indian Business Council. Whilst Ellie works very closely with all these external agencies and groups she also markets almonds for Minerva in India one of Minerva’s fastest growing and dynamic markets. Ellie was also a winner of Natwest’s every woman award 2019.

Hobbies:

Managing two sets of twins

Travelling

Reading

Reasons Ellie loves running Minerva:

• Dynamic industry
• Global Interaction
• Focus on customer cultural trends
• Growing business share in emerging markets and exploring their trends
• Everyday is different
• Challenges present opportunities
• Passionate about training and developing the Minerva team

Language: English

Years at Minerva: 9 years

Background: Chris joined the team from an international trade background working at the Chamber of Commerce’s international documentary department. Chris has spent many years developing Minerva’s growing markets inside and outside of Europe across the retail and processing sectors.

Hobbies: Football

Reasons Chris enjoys the almond industry:

• Expanding the Minerva customer base
• Discovering new customers with different requirements
• Constantly talking to customers and growing a trusting relationship
• Publishing Minerva Global publications and customer market information

Languages: French / English / Spanish / Catalan

Years in the industry: 30 years

Experience: Patrick began his career as an administrative and financial director in Bordeaux, in the cocoa, coffee and vanilla trade, the leading French trader. There, he created a dried fruit department which in a few years has become a major player in France.
He then invested in the frozen food industry by introducing Guacamole from Mexico and California to France for the first time, and by developing all of the Tex Mex and then exotic products on the French market.
Having sold this company, he returned to the world of almonds by joining GLM Trading UK in 2002 to stay there for 20 years as an associate trader.
It was in 2023, when GLM withdrew from the market, that Patrick joined Minerva Global.

Hobbies: being a happy dad and grandpa; travel and support the French Rugby team, enjoy Parisian cultural life while caring for its Périgourdine origins.

Why Almonds? surely more contagious than the Covid!!

Markets: Asia

Language: Mandarin, Cantonese, Hakka, Bahasa Malaysia

Years at Minerva: 4 years

Background: Sam was born and raised in a small town in Malaysia where she completed the intermediate stage of ACCA. Sam lived and in New York, New Jersey before moving to the United Kingdom where she has settled down with her husband and two children. With the wealth of experience in the Asian market Sam has developed the Asian market into what is proving one of the most exciting and growing markets for Minerva working with large multi-national food processors.

Hobbies:

Travel with people

baking and cooking.

Food is the common topic

Reasons Sam enjoys the almond industry:

• Having the opportunity to explore a new market
• meeting new people
• Being part of the industry which always full of excitement in terms of market movement.

Markets: Spain, Portugal, South America

Language: Spanish

Years at Minerva: 4 years

Background: Jose grew up in Northern Spain and studied economics at the University of La Coruña. Jose moved to the United Kingdom with his wife and two kids (who in his words, are crazy about Wii, Lego, Star Wars and winding him up). Jose has worked for international exporters globally and brings a wealth of experience in international trade. Jose’s main focus is the Spanish market where some of the largest European almond processors can be found whilst working in the evenings with the developing South American markets.

Hobbies:

Chess

Swimming

Walking

Cycling

Reasons Jose enjoys the almond industry:

• Connected with customers throughout the world
• Have a better understanding of international trade and supply chain networks
• Complex
• Opportunity to learn new things and develop new abilities

Language: English/Mandarin​

Years at Minerva: 2 years

Background: Rita has been deeply rooted in the imported tree nut/dry fruit market in China for over 10 years, with solid network established with traders, wholesalers, retailers as well as E-commerce platforms all over China. Before joining Minerva Global, Rita was appointed by California Walnut Commission as the Consultant for business development and marketing since 2009.