Who we are
VentiQuattro Food Consulting brings years of expertise and in-field industry experience helping producers, manufacturers and service providers globally, as well as foreign agents and distributors.
The company was envisioned as a business entity when Giovanni Montanelli saw the affinity between the famously inventive world of Italian food production and the receptive California environment, a true incubator of innovation. With the advantage of similar agricultural production environments, the VentiQuattro journey has begun with this Italy-California pairing, with an eye to ultimately building a nationally recognized brand.
At VentiQuattro, we develop export and import markets and operations for our customers, offering a total package - helping our customers to launch and successfully operate an export venture in the food industry. We design and build a company’s overseas marketing and distribution arm from conception to a fully operative and successful venture. If you are looking for a reliable, one–stop solution to your export needs, VentiQuattro can provide it.
Get in touch
To learn more about VentiQuattro Food Consulting, please email us at office@ventiquattro-fc.com or call
+1.415.480.9345
for more information ▸
Our team
Giovanni Montanelli
president & founder
President and Founder of VentiQuattro Food Consulting, Giovanni leads all facets of the company, including development and strategy implementation. He ensures that the values of VentiQuattro are applied consistently, creating a solid foundation for our clients’ success. He also maintains a keen awareness of the import and food industry and is on top of key market trends.
Giovanni has a strong background in international business and over 16 years of experience promoting true best-in-class brands. He brings startup energy and career sales in excess of $36M along with a passion for identifying, training and helping new owners navigate the franchisee journey. As Business Development Director at Espressamente Illy Americas, he honed his ability for masterful contract negotiations, his leadership skills and strong P&L management. He was responsible for crafting and executing the strategy behind Illy’s North American expansion, successfully increasing franchisee royalties from 2.2% to 5%, launching in 6 new cities, and expanding from 8 to 25 stores in 4 years.
His experience also includes store and operations management in France, Belgium and Luxembourg, managing over 40 employees with €1.5M in combined annual revenue.
Giovanni attended Politecnico di Lugano in Lugano, Switzerland, and holds a bachelors degree in Economics & Business. He is fluent in Italian, French, and English. His work is his passion, and he likes to golf, run and travel in his spare time.
Vega Ekstrand
managing partner
Vega Ekstrand is Managing Partner on the VentiQuattro leadership team, bringing a wealth of experience in finance, accounting, and administration. She develops the vision strategies for VentiQuattro; sets and communicates the long term direction of the firm and ensures that the short term goals, objectives and tasks are aligned and adjusted in anticipation and in response to outside forces and internal changes that impact achievement of the firm's vision and strategies.
Vega focused on accounting during her college years and received her bachelors degree in business administration from Universitas Advent Indonesia. Her professional experience includes a position as Financial Administrator for the law firm Joseph J. LaBella & Associates in Texas, a Project Accountant at a World Bank project in Indonesia, and a Joint Venture Accountant at Thiess Contractors Indonesia.
In addition to her extensive experience in business and property management, she has also volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, American Women Association in Jakarta, Indonesia, International Ladies in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam and several other non-profit organizations. She speaks fluent Indonesian and understands some conversational Italian. She has a passion for international travel and has lived in Indonesia, Vietnam, Texas, and California respectively. She is an avid piano player and plays golf occasionally.