“Clowned Around at School

Eren Ali's Inspirational Journey

Career Path: Family Printing Business (age 8) > School > Polytechnic College > Design Career > Opened Restaurant

“The key thing in business is how we treat each other, I like to think we have a fair and fun environment with a strong work ethic. "

My Story: I got into catering quite by accident; my design work took me to Bristol where I hired a room in a posh house in Clifton. My landlady Linda was just in the process of opening a new restaurant when I moved in. Well, over the course of the next 6 months I certainly learned a lot about how not to run a restaurant, much of which I put to use when she offered to sell it to me, as it closed down 6 months later. It was full circle funny, how things go round. I roped my old school friend in on the deal and the rest is history as they say! We developed this idea of a Latin American restaurant that had fantastic fresh food, vibrant interiors and great Latin music. Today we have 22 Las Iguanas restaurants around the country and although my friend is no longer with us we managed to build a great business providing employment to over a thousand people we ‘feed and water’ up to 50,000 people per week now.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Job:
Managing Director - Las Iguanas

Advice:
“My mother’s cooking and great attitude to life gave me my passion for food and hospitality which later came in handy! Growing up in a family business really made me understand why we have to work at all; it sort of connected the food on the table and the roof over your head, directly to the money from the customer! "

Countries Worked:
America

The Fun Stuff:

“I support Arsenal nowadays which is a bit scary as I grew up supporting Spurs. I used to Loathe Arsenal but having two young boys who both support Arsenal has worn me down over the years!"

For a full biography of Eren Aliclick here

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