Greater London Enterprise Awards 2021

22 | Greater London Enterprise Awards 2021 in our family and we work like a family by growing together.” It is this core ethos of being ‘family-centric’ that has enabled Oriental Foods to flourish once again and receive the prestigious accolade of Best Frozen Indian Snacks Manufacturer 2021 in the Greater London Enterprise Awards from SME News. Whilst the future looks bright for the firm, Krunal is keeping any developments very close to his chest for now and simply “taking things as they come!” Contact: Krunal Patel Company: Oriental Foods Ltd Web Address: www.oriental-foods.co.uk Steeped in tradition, Oriental Foods Ltd creates tantalising and authentic Indian cuisine made to genuine recipes that have been passed down through the generations. We speak to Krunal Patel about the firm, its commitment to the local community, and how it strives to be the best it can be. With a history spanning more than 25 years, Oriental Foods Ltd is a family-run business with roots in India. Founded in the early nineties by Mrs Bhavna Patel, Oriental Foods came about when Bhavnaben realised there was a lack of authentic Indian snacks available on the market. She began by making snacks for local functions using her traditional family recipes and was approached by more and more clients. Business was expanding and Bhavnaben began adding more and more snacks to her repertoire to cater to larger caterers and functions, including traditional Indian treats such as samosas, kachoris and the like. Today, Oriental Foods is now well-established in the frozen Indian food industry, with an ever- growing client base, and is one of the leading frozen food specialists in the UK, particularly London. Offering services such as next day delivery and customer branding on the products ensures that the firm continues to differentiate itself from competitors, time and again. All recipes for the savouries continue to be based on the time-honoured classics from Bhavnaben’s grandmothers in India and, recently Bhavnaben’s eldest son, Krunal Patel, has also joined the management team to keep the family-run feel of the company. “We strive to be the best, and we are the best frozen Indian snacks manufacturer in the UK,” says Krunal. “Our chefs work tirelessly around the clock to ensure that the customers enjoy the traditional homemade taste in a healthy manner.” The company is committed to helping to support the local community and the snacks are prepared using locally sourced ingredients wherever possible, as well as placing a large emphasis on trying to preserve the nutritional value of food products in a natural way, without adding any preservatives. Best Frozen Indian Snacks Manufacturer 2021 It is not just about using local produce, however, for Oriental Foods also believes in giving back to the area and participates in charity work, including supporting Sufra Food Bank by providing bread, drinks and water; giving to the food bank at St Mary Magdalen Roman Catholic Church; and supporting the homeless living in London with food parcels. During the Covid-19 pandemic many businesses were affected, not least the catering and hospitality sector, which saw almost a complete shut down of its services - but Oriental Foods survived, thanks to its close knit team and determination to get through. “The Covid situation has changed the way we are working within the industry and has changed the way we live our lives,” says Krunal. “But we are a family, as well as a business. We believe Jul21224