For many young people, McDonald’s has been, and still is, a training ground for the world of work. For some, however, it was something more. In 1986, on March 20, to be precise, the first McDonald’s restaurant in Italy opened in Rome’s Piazza di Spagna, not without controversy.
At the time, Amedeo Avenale was only 20 years old and was part of the young crew that kick-started the multinational’s adventure in Italy. Today, 35 years later, he is a successful entrepreneur who manages eight franchised restaurants of the famous brand in Rome, Aprilia, Nettuno, Pomezia and Velletri, with a total of 320 employees.
A coveted award
His success, however, does not stop there, and in 2020, he was the only Italian winner of the Golden Arch Awards, the highest award given by McDonald’s to 40 of the more than 36,000 Franchisees in 119 countries. Avenale received the coveted award for meeting the countless quality standards of the parent company in the eight restaurants he owns, licenses and operates, including customer opinions, employee satisfaction and implementation of the American giant’s founding values.
Avenale’s story is a story of perseverance and determination, together with that of a multinational company attentive to merit, people and equal opportunities. During his professional development, Amedeo Avenale also had the opportunity to cultivate his studies and earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree in economics.