A B.Tech failure turning into a successful entrepreneur might sound like a movie plot, but for Sandeep Jangra, it’s real life. Once struggling to make ends meet with a job paying Rs 9,200 a month, Sandeep now heads Pizza Galleria, a pizza chain with over 80 outlets across the country. His journey from a college dropout to managing a multi-crore business is a story of determination, risk-taking, and the willingness to learn something new from scratch.
The Beginning: A College Dropout’s Struggles
Sandeep, hailing from Gohana in Haryana, enrolled in a B.Tech course after school but struggled to pass his exams. After four years, he couldn’t complete his degree and lied to his family, claiming he had passed. With help from his friend Ishaan Chugh, he landed a job in Gurugram, earning Rs 9,200 a month. During this time, in 2014, he tasted pizza for the first time with friends, an experience that unknowingly planted the seed for his future business.
Realizing the Dream: Leaving the Job Behind
Unhappy with his job and dissatisfied with his salary, Sandeep decided to return home and come clean about his academic failure. His decision to quit the job didn’t sit well with his father at first, but soon, his family came around to support him. The idea of starting his own business sparked in his mind, and after considering various options, Sandeep realized that Gohana, his hometown, didn’t have any pizza outlets. He saw this as an opportunity to bring something new to the area.
Learning the Ropes: Pizza Training and Support from Family
Starting a pizza business was no easy task, especially since Sandeep had no experience in the food industry. He decided to get proper training before diving in. After some research, he found a place in Rohtak that offered pizza-making training for Rs 1.5 lakh. His mother, understanding his passion, provided him with her savings to cover the cost of the training. The person who trained him also helped with setting up the outlet.
With the support of his brother, who contributed Rs 3.5 lakh, Sandeep opened his first Pizza Galleria outlet in Gohana in 2015. Before the official opening, he held taste trials, serving pizza to local people, which helped spread word-of-mouth marketing.
Growth and Expansion: Turning a Small Outlet Into a Big Brand
Sandeep’s journey didn’t stop with one outlet. In 2017, he brought his friend Ishaan Chugh, the same friend who had earlier helped him land a job, into the business. Together, they worked on expanding Pizza Galleria, opening outlets in new locations across India.
Today, Pizza Galleria has grown to over 80 outlets across the country, selling more than 20,000 pizzas daily. In addition to pizzas, they offer a range of items like pasta, sandwiches, fries, burgers, and soft drinks, with prices starting at just Rs 69.
Facing Challenges: A Shark Tank Experience
Sandeep and Ishaan’s growing brand even caught the attention of Shark Tank India. They appeared in Season 3 of the popular show but, unfortunately, didn’t receive any funding. Despite this, their business continued to thrive.
In the financial year 2023-24, Pizza Galleria achieved a turnover of Rs 15 crore, and they are aiming for Rs 16 crore in the current financial year. Sandeep’s entrepreneurial journey is not just about personal success; his pizza chain also provides employment opportunities to hundreds of people, contributing to the local economy.
