Shelim Hussain MBE, owner of the Euro Foods Group and Founder of Kukd.com won the EY London & South Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2015 at a ceremony at the Tate Modern.
Shelim Hussain MBE is a Bangladeshi-born British entrepreneur. He has worked in restaurants since the age of 11 and started the Euro Foods Group at the age of 17 with a £20 investment. Euro Foods Group is now a leading international manufacturer and distributor of frozen and fresh foods, with a UK turnover in excess of £104 million and a worldwide turnover of $200 million. It employs over 200 staff and has food processing units in Newport, Barking and Sunderland and is the largest supplier to UK Indian restaurants and takeaways.
Shelim Hussain MBE, founder of Kukd.com said:
“The success of South Asian businesses in Britain today is integral to the success of the UK. Indian restaurants alone have contributed over £4.2 billion to the UK economy. South Asian and also non-Asian businesses integrating into the UK from Europe and internationally bring new opportunities, new skills, and a positive working ethos into the country. This ‘spirit of entrepreneurialism’ helps to create local jobs whilst inspiring the younger generation too.”
More recently Shelim Hussain MBE has been preparing to launch a new enterprise Kukd.com (a new online takeaway ordering and table reservation service) in the autumn. Kukd.com will be developed by the industry, for the industry, so wants to work with independent local high street restaurant and takeaway businesses now to ensure they create the e-commerce and support services they need to compete in the ever growing online ordering industry.
Shelim Hussain was appointed a Member of the British Empire in 2003 for his services to business in Wales and in the same year won the Eastern Eye Young Achiever Award, presented by HRH the Prince of Wales.
The EY Entrepreneur of the Year Programme is about discovering exceptional companies and business leaders and is committed to supporting entrepreneurs. There were a total of 132 finalists who together, employ a total of 81,200 people and achieve a combined revenue of £8.7bn across the UK. The Programme is endorsed by Social Enterprise UK, the CBI and the Department for Innovation and Skills.
Shelim Hussain MBE commented, “I am delighted to have won the EY London & South Entrepreneur of the Year award. The EY awards are highly respected amongst entrepreneurs of all ages and it is an honour to be recognised for my work founding Euro Foods and Kukd.com”.
