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The
famous Mumtaz Group is continuing its expansion drive with a factory
in Calderdale. Mumtaz Ventures Ltd, the ambient products business arm
(food stored at room temperature) of the top curry house brand,
opened a new factory in Orchard Business Park, Mytholmroyd, in January.
It invested
£100,000 on refurbishment, creating offices, a warehouse, a
production site and a factory shop - which opened last week. A
further £250,000 will be ploughed in this year. To mark its
arrival in town it sent out 230 presentation packs to surrounding
houses.
Commercial
director Bill Kimberling said: "People trust Mumtaz. "Our
curry sauces have no water, starch or preservatives and it tastes
exactly the same as if you had food in the restaurant. We are in all
the multiples. The brand is small but it's quality that wins the day."
In the last
four years the popular Bradford restaurant has lifted its name into a
global brand. It began with £1 million investment into the
launch of a Halal baby food range - using ingredients suitable for
Muslim dietary needs - four years ago. It is still the only producer
of such products in the world, distributing to 41 countries.
Two years ago
Mumtaz Ventures launched 103 products to line supermarket shelves
across the country, ranging from curry sauces and pakora mixes to
salad dressings, chutneys, oils and mayonnaise, which are now also
exported. Leading chef Stuart Green was brought in as development and
production manager.
The business
moved to the Mytholmroyd site after outgrowing its former home near
its Bradford restaurant in Great Horton Road. So far seven local
people have been taken on as employees, making a workforce of 15. Now
a factory is being built in America, as a joint venture deal, as the
company embarks on the US and Canadian markets.
Mumtaz has
launched a five-year-plan to open a chain of restaurants, beginning
with Leeds six weeks ago, and to be followed by Manchester, London
and Birmingham.
"It's
a roaring success," said Mr Kimberling. "In a
climate when people are not supposed to be spending, our customers
are. We're bucking the trend."
Bradford-based
Mumtaz Food Industries Ltd, selling chilled and ready meals and
lassies, is the third arm of the brand. Mumtaz recently won the brand
of the year award at the Asian Business Network awards and also a
Yorkshire Forward export award for its baby food.
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