Much like the Disney heroine Mulan, Giada Zhang, a second-generation Chinese immigrant living in Italy, transformed her identity struggle into a source of strength to steer a leading Asian cuisine venture in Europe
In 1990, after Giada Zhang’s parents made a new home in Cremona, a city in northern Italy, they opened one of the first Chinese restaurants in the area. It soon drew in a loyal clientele, and by the early 2000s, business was thriving.
Eager to share their cuisine with a broader Italian audience, the couple approached a local supermarket to propose selling their Chinese food products. The supermarket, enthusiastic about introducing something new, gave them a chance. Their offerings became a hit, attracting a flurry of customers and orders from other retailers.
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The family-run endeavour has since evolved into a leading supplier of Asian ready-to-eat meals in Europe. Their food, such as spring rolls, xiaolongbao soup dumplings and Cantonese fried rice, is made in Italy and has become a staple in over 15,000 stores across the region.
“Our mission is to bring authentic Asian cuisine to Italian homes, blending traditional recipes with high-quality ingredients and modern production techniques,” says Zhang, the eldest daughter in the family who has served as CEO of the family’s Mulan Group since 2018.
Diversity is a strength
Born in Italy, Zhang struggled to reconcile her Chinese roots with the local Italian culture, leaving her torn between the two worlds during her formative years.
In school, she felt out of place. She mostly spoke Chinese at home, which made grasping Italian challenging. The more complicated coursework intensified her struggles as she advanced to higher grades.
Zhang turned to the dictionary to tackle these obstacles and expand her vocabulary. She also read classic literature—a habit she believed many high-performing students shared—to sharpen her language skills.
One refuge she found during this time was her family’s restaurant, where the rich aromas and flavours of traditional Chinese cuisine gave her a deep sense of belonging.
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A turning point came when Zhang participated in an exchange programme in New York at 17. In this vibrant melting pot, her diverse background was not only accepted but celebrated by those around her. This opened her eyes to the realisation that her roots in multiple cultures were a strength rather than a weakness, inspiring her to embrace her identity fully.
“[Being bicultural] instilled in me values of authenticity, loyalty to my roots and the courage to face challenges head-on,” she says.