founders
Claudia M. Pharand
A tale of passion, people and olive oil
Franco-Ontarian Claudia McAllister Pharand has lived in Quebec for more than two decades, is fluent in French, English, Spanish and German, and has Irish blood in her veins. Or perhaps that life fluid is really olive oil, for the marvelous stuff ranks among her great passions, alongside fine wine, music and the arts.
Claudia followed a bachelor´s degree in Communications and German with 18 years in sales, 12 of those as a manager in marketing and advertising. With this solid base, she then launched a highly successful management career in the perilous arts and culture sector. So Claudia is no stranger to business development!
Numerous trips to Andalusia led to a deep love of Spain and a knowledge of the Spanish language. But it was the country´s olive oil that ultimately became her obsession. She greatly admired the artisans who create it and their free sharing of their love of olive oil.
When she realized how little Canadians know about Spanish olive oil, the land it comes from and its many virtues, Claudia decided to share her passion with gourmets in her own country, and to do so just as those Spanish artisans did, with simplicity and warmth.
And if passion and enthusiasm are the basics of business success, Claudia is well on her way. How can you not fall in love with olive oil when she speaks of it with such fondness? The affection flows as naturally as the oil itself.
The Olive & Olives concept perfectly blends Claudia´s business acumen, innate sense of organization and her great passion for olive oil.
Danièle Beauchamp
A partner, a manager, a woman of the world
In Danièle Beauchamp, Claudia Pharand found the ideal partner. An accomplished importer and administrator, Danièle Beauchamp is not one to balk at the idea of travel or foreign cultures. Among her many successes abroad is a decade in North Africa as an executive with one of the region´s largest companies. She shares Claudia´s fascination with the world´s people and cultures. Danièle is an epicure, eager to reveal the many secrets of olive oil to any willing audience. Her managerial experience and fervour will no doubt serve Olive & Olives well. To work with Danièle is to discover that you can indeed be in business and adore what you´re doing.
