Business from Zero. How they grew up. Roxana Mihai took the DolciConi gelateria to the heart…

♦ DolciConi generated a turnover of 80,000 euros in 2023, with a profit margin of 20% ♦ “Every week we have a new flavor”, says the founder of the business.

Gelateria DolciConi, started in 2015 by entrepreneur Roxana Mihai in Bucharest, continued to grow in a crowded market, and in the midst of a health crisis, the founder of the business decided to move to a larger space, close to the University of the Capital. Plans for the future aim to stay on the market, but also a possible expansion in 2025, especially since the entrepreneur’s daughter has started to take the first steps in the family business.

“We moved because it was necessary, the previous space was quite small. Now we are in the Italian Square, near the Spiru Haret High School, quite close to the University. It’s quite a large space, I tried to make it welcoming, like the living room of a house. The fact that it is a family business has helped us a lot to endure. I work with my husband, my mother helps me a lot and my daughter, who turned 19, is starting to get involved as well”, said Roxana Mihai.

She added that in recent years, many gelaterias have opened in Bucharest, but also in the country, which shows the potential of the market.

“The year 2024 started very well because we had beautiful weather, people eager to go outside for a walk. We are open in the winter, people started to eat ice cream even in the cold season, it can be eaten at home, while watching a movie”, said Roxana Mihai. She specified that a differentiator of DolciConi compared to other gelaterias is the flavors, creating new recipes periodically. “I am a lover of new flavors, of new attempts, every week we have a new flavor. I play with the flavors, I had lavender-infused chocolate, I also made popcorn from sweet potatoes.”

“People come specifically to try new things because they know we play a lot with tastes. There are some flavors that should not be missing from the windows – chocolate, pistachio, lemon”, added the entrepreneur.

The plans for this year aim to participate in big events, where new customers learn about the brand. In addition, the founder of the business is also looking at a possible expansion in 2025, in another neighborhood in Bucharest.

“My family helped me a lot in business, they were by my side. An entrepreneur must have time, devote a lot of patience and tenacity, not to be defeated after the first difficulty”, added Roxana Mihai.

ZF and Banca Transilvania launched the Business from scratch project, a platform dedicated to small entrepreneurs, companies that have created over 1.7 million jobs.

⇔ Every business from scratch is a story of ambition, courage and determination. The stories of small entrepreneurs will be published in ZF and on the zf.ro/afaceri-de-la-zero platform.

⇔ In Romania there are over 500,000 micro-enterprises and small companies, where 1.7 million employees work, companies with annual business of 70-80 billion euros.