Bradford ethnic food firm takes the top honours at Asian Business awards (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Bradford ethnic food firm takes the top honours at Asian Business awards

8:12am Tuesday 6th April 2010 in

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A Bradford-based ethnic food company that is opening up new international markets has been named business of the year.

Mumtaz Ventures Ltd, the innovation and manufacturing arm of the growing Mumtaz Asian food group, triumphed at the 2010 awards held by the Asian Business Development Network.

Two other Bradford firms also clinched ABDN awards and Mohammed Aslam, chef and head of the Shipley-based Aagrah restaurant chain, received a lifetime achievement award.

Chocolate-loving Swiss consumers have developed a taste for curry and spices and boosted overseas trade for the Bradford-based food group.

Mumtaz Ventures Ltd has beaten its rivals to open up trade in the Alpine region. Demand has been such that the company has doubled its original export targets in Switzerland in the first two months of trading there.

Sales of ambient sauces, spice mixes and chutney are expected to exceed £1 million in the months ahead, and Mumtaz is planning to introduce further lines in Switzerland and neighbouring countries to expand its global business.

Bill Kimberling, commercial director for Mumtaz Ventures Ltd, said: “The Swiss public have really taken to ethnic food, and because Mumtaz is the first major player on the scene we’re making quite an impact.

“Products have been flying off the shelves, and our initial sales targets have virtually doubled overnight. It’s quite remarkable, and long may it continue.”

Mumtaz gained a foothold in Switzerland with the support of UK Trade and Investment after using its Overseas Market Introduction Service to sound out potential leads and contacts.

Customers include the Coop, Switzerland’s second-largest retail chain, which Mumtaz supplies through the MGM distributor group.

It took time to turn that potential into firm listings, with multi-language labelling creating a further headache, but Mr Kimberling is determined to capitalise on the current momentum and take the brand into further new markets.

“We also have a firm eye on neighbouring markets like Liechtenstein, Germany and Austria, where there is further untapped potential to aim for.

“We’ve already received initial orders from Liechtenstein, and we’re confident the rest will follow.”

Gill Greaves, UKTI international trade adviser, said: “By taking advantage of UKTI services like the OMIS the company is now represented in more than 40 different markets overseas."

Information about UKTI services is available online at uktradeinvest.

gov.uk or by calling 0845 6048 048.