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My Milano is Tasty
Meet Shreejan co-founder of Doner Club
My Milano is Tasty
Shreejan completed an MBA at Polimi Graduate School of Management (former MIP) and, together with colleagues from GSOM and friends, went on to launch a start-up business called "Doner Club" in the food & beverage industry here in Milano.
Where and what did you study in Milano?
I came to Milano to do my master’s in business administration, I did my MBA at MIP Politecnico di Milano now called Graduate School of Management.
Why did you choose Milano for your degree?
Milano is the Italian city with the highest number of foreign consulates in the world, reflecting its long tradition of openness and inclusion. Milano is European, multicultural, cosmopolitan: a metropolis built around equal opportunities and personal growth for motivated people of all ages and ethnicities who are committed to contribute to the urban community.
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From my past experience in Europe (Berlin, Slovenia, Latvia), I have always found Italy is the most welcoming country for foreigners and Milano is known for its international crowd and culture. Indeed, Italian cuisine made me pick Italy and Milano. For me, more than choosing the best university, it’s all about experience and culture which you find in a city. Milano is a perfect mix for my personal and professional life.
How did you come up with the project for your start up?
One thing is assured: those who love variety in cooking cannot but love Milano. For its traditional dishes such as risotto and cotoletta, as well as because there is no other place in Italy that can boast such a high number of restaurants. The reason? An extraordinary open-mindedness towards others and their traditions, together with the knack of adapting to new situations and playing by the rules learnt over centuries of experience.
The idea was generated by my colleague Pier Carlo. Pier has more than 9 years of experience in the food & beverage industry, with success stories of his restaurant and cocktail bar in Shanghai, China. Pier is my close friend and my colleague from MBA. We observed and experienced that Milano's food sector was taking a turn from traditional, local, and regional food experiences towards an acceptance of an “adventurous” ethnical, flavourful personality. So, we decided to introduce something new, fun and casual. That’s how Doner Club idea and project was born. We decided to introduce Turkish/Mediterranean cuisine with international standards, creating a strong brand image, implementing new innovative tools and easy-going young culture in Milano. #DonerforLife
Tell us more about your project
Doner Club is registered as a fast-food chain in Milano, providing a unique kebab experience to our clients. All our products are being re-engineered with all the elements which are studied from Turkey, providing an authentic taste to our customers. Apart from the product point of view, the inhouse experience is also unique. All our stores have minimalist Berlin style, focusing on 3 main elements: steel, wall, and lighting. Together, these elements complement each other and bring out a young cool environment for a kebab place. Our aim of the project is to open 3 points of sales in Milano 2022 and 5 – 6 points of sales in 2023.
Did your university support you in starting your project? How?
MIP was not involved with the initiation of our project, although we thank MIP for the preparation given to us, the community of alumni, teachers and connections which we have built over the years to help our business thrive.
What do you like about Milano?
Milano: modern, classy, beautiful, and a little crazy
Milano is a great city with great energy. Milano is my second home and its full of interesting people and opportunities.
Do you see your future in Milano? Do you think Milano offers good career opportunities for young people?
If you are a foreign national and are employed by a company with offices in Milano, you’ll join the thriving community of expats that adds to the cosmopolitan character of the city.
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Definitely, I see my future and also my future wife in Milano. In terms of career opportunities, Milano is very international but it can keep getting better and welcome more international culture in the years to come.
Do you have any advice for people who want to come to Milano to study?
The City of Milano heartily welcomes all the international students who decide to come here and study in our schools and universities. We are happy to support you during this time of your life journey. Join the YesMilano International Students community and read our Student Newsletter to keep up with what’s up!
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Try to contact people already living in Milano to know more about the city before coming, to understand where you can buy cheaper groceries and live in a connected area, for example.
What would you suggest to someone who wants to launch a start up in Milano?
I would suggest that they learn more about the bureaucracy here to understand all the permissions and limits.
