Milano targets 20% growth in 2026 as supply-chain strategy fuels growth

Sajjad Ahmad, Deputy Business Editor

Milano by Danube is on track to achieve 20% growth by the end of 2026, as it continues to expand its market presence, strengthen its global sourcing capabilities and invest in supply-chain resilience despite ongoing volatility in international trade.

The brand brought together more than 500 traders and business partners from across Dubai and the UAE at its annual Traders Meet at the Ritz-Carlton DIFC. The gathering provided a platform to discuss market opportunities, showcase Milano’s product portfolio and outline the brand’s strategy for its next phase of growth.

Milano’s projected growth comes against a backdrop of continued volatility in global trade, including higher freight costs, changing shipping routes and evolving supply-chain dynamics. Rather than slowing its expansion, the brand has continued to invest in its UAE operations, strengthen product availability and deepen relationships with its extensive dealer network.

The current geopolitical environment has highlighted how quickly disruptions in one part of the world can affect businesses and consumers elsewhere. For companies dependent on international sourcing, longer shipping routes, freight volatility and uncertainty around delivery timelines have made supply-chain resilience increasingly important.

Anis Sajan, Vice Chairman, Danube Group, said, “The biggest lesson from the current global situation is that supply chains cannot be treated as a back-end function anymore. They have become a strategic part of the business. When shipping routes change or costs increase overnight, you need the flexibility to respond. This is why we have been looking closely at our global sourcing and building a more direct model.”

Despite the challenging environment, Milano by Danube continued to invest in the UAE, opening two new locations during this period. The brand launched a showroom in Deira focused on its export traders, while also opening its first-ever experiential centre in Maleha, Sharjah, designed to offer customers a more immersive experience of Milano’s diverse product portfolio. These investments reflect the brand’s confidence in the UAE market and its commitment to building for long-term growth, even during periods of uncertainty.

Further adding to the ongoing challenges, Sahil Sajan, Director, Milano by Danube, highlighted, “Despite the challenges we faced, including freight rates increasing nearly tenfold from $1,000 to $10,000, we never stopped our imports or compromised on our commitment to. While several players chose to scale down, we continued to invest, maintain supply and support our customers, allowing us to capitalize on the additional market share that became available. We have always believed that every challenge brings an opportunity. Just as we did during COVID, we chose to adapt and act decisively. As a result, instead of slowing down, Milano grew by 20% in this period.”

‘Global Direct’ strategy: Milano by Danube responded to the situation by evolving its sourcing model and strengthening direct procurement from key international markets. Through its “Global Direct” strategy, the company is working to establish more streamlined sourcing routes, strengthen relationships with global manufacturers and respond more effectively to changing market requirements.

Sahil Sajan added, “At Milano, we are looking at the entire sourcing journey that is from the manufacturer to the market and asking how we can make it more efficient. Global Direct is about creating that closer connection with the source while giving us greater agility in the markets we serve. Our traders are the closest to the market, so their feedback is extremely important to us. The Traders Meet gives us the opportunity to hear directly from them, understand the opportunities and challenges they are experiencing and align our plans accordingly.”

Strengthening Milano’s UAE network: The participation of more than 500 traders and business partners underscored the scale of Milano’s presence in the market and its continued focus on building long-term partnerships. As global trade continues to face uncertainty, Milano by Danube is positioning global sourcing, supply-chain agility and strong trader partnerships as key pillars of its next phase of growth.