Asian Business Awards: Bestway Group named Asian Business of the Year
By Eastern Eye StaffNov 20, 2021
ONE OF BRITAIN’S leading wholesale companies won the coveted top award at the Asian Business Awards, hosted by Eastern Eye, on Friday (19).
Bestway Group was named Asian Business of the Year at a gala event held at the newly opened Londoner in Leicester Square.
Founded by Sir Anwar Pervez and his school friends, the group runs not only the country’s second largest wholesale chain but also the Well Pharmacy Group as well as Pakistan’s second largest cement business and the country’s third largest bank.
It grew from a single wholesale depot in London to a business whose revenues are now in excess of £4 billion.
In all, 10 awards were presented on the night as the Asian Business Awards returned to their pre-Covid format after pandemic lockdown restrictions last year.
Shailesh and Kalpesh Solanki launch the Asian Rich List with GP Hinduja.
Topping the list were the Hinduja family with an estimated wealth of £27.5 billion, followed by steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal and his son Aditya (14.2bn) and mining magnate Anil Agrawal of Vedanta (7.5bn).
Some 400 guests, among them powerful politicians, multimillionaire entrepreneurs and captains of industry, gathered in a Covid-safe ceremony to celebrate the best of Asian businesses at the Londoner, a luxury hotel in central London, owned by leading Indian hotelier Jasminder Singh.
The Asian Business Awards are hosted by the Asian Media Group, which publishes Eastern Eye and Garavi Gujarat news weeklies as well as the Asian Rich List and the GG2 Power List.
It was the first awards event hosted by AMG after pandemic restrictions were lifted earlier this summer.
AMG managing editor Kalpesh Solanki said, “For 23 years the Asian Business Awards has been seen as the most significant and important way of recognising and encouraging excellence in the Asian business community.”
Noting the impact of the pandemic on people and communities, he said, “Businesses big and small have played a vital and integral role over the past 18 months.
“So it’s our duty to shine a light on these businesses and ensure we collectively applaud the great work of entrepreneurs.
“It’s important we pull the country and society out of these severe times and play our part in rebuilding the economy.”
Britain’s best Asian businesses were recognised on the evening as an array of awards were presented.
Sir Anwar Pervez’s son Dawood collected the Asian Business of the Year Award.
Ritu Sethi, senior partner of The Sethi Partner Solicitors, won the Businesswoman of the Year, sponsored by the Royal Mint. Her commercially successful firm is respected in the industry for the range and quality of its legal work.
Ritu Sethi (in sari) of the Sethi Partner Solicitors, won the Businesswoman of the Year.
Hovis CEO Nish Kankiwala, who has wide experience in running some of world’s biggest food and drink companies, was named The Asian Business CEO of the Year.
Nish Kanikwala of Hovis was the Asian Business CEO of the Year.
India-born Kankiwala is known to spend three weeks every six months visiting Hovis’ factories where he talks to colleagues, seeking their feedback.
Westminster Development Services (Hinduja Group) won the Restoration of the Year award for its work on the Old War Office, which will open as a Raffles Hotel next year and which also is marketing 85 private apartments as OWO Residences.
Sun Mark Limited, an export major with a portfolio of leading own brand products was the winner of the Asian Business Food and Drink Award 2021. Founded by Lord Rami Ranger, it has won many prestigious accolades, among them the Queen’s award for enterprise.
Sun Mark won the Asian Business Food and Drink Award 2021. Lord Ranger’s son-in-law Sunny Ahuja collected the award.
Lord Ranger’s son-in-law, who is in charge of the daily operations of the company, collected the award.
One of India’s best-known banks and a familiar name to most of the community in the UK, the State Bank of India, was named the Asian Business Bank of the Year. Throughout the pandemic, the bank remained open as an essential service and also provided its customers seamless service through its online operations and mobile app.
The Asian Business Property Developer of the Year Award was presented to Westcombe Group, which specialises in taking on Grade II listed buildings – converting schools, hospitals and army barracks into luxury accommodation.
Star Pacific, is one the fastest growing FMCG export wholesalers, was the winner of the Fast Growth Business of the Year award, supported by OakNorth Bank.
Since its establishment in 2010, Star Pacific has worked with some the world’s biggest grocery companies to export more than 500 product lines from its base in Hayes, Middlesex.
Indian industrialist Anil Agarwal, chairman of the Vedanta Foundation and the Anil Agarwal Foundation, was presented the Asian Business Philanthropy Award.
Anil Agarwal Foundation was presented the Asian Business Philanthropy Award.
The group is involved in charitable initiatives relating to education, health, ecological projects, sport and culture. Agarwal’s Healthy Villages Campaign, backing his Nand Ghar scheme, aims to improve rural healthcare centres and eradicate malnutrition, provide education and vital welfare services in India.
And in a year which showed the important role carehomes play, Angel Care/MS Care plc won the Care Home Operator of the Year, with Sandip Ruparelia, managing director of the company, collecting the award.
Ruparelia and his family run some the country’s leading care and nursing homes, including a purpose-built home for elderly Asians in Harrow, north London.
B&M CEO Simon Arora, Bestway’s Dawood Pervez and Vedanta’s Agrawal also took part in a panel discussion to talk about the impact of the pandemic and how businesses play a vital role in communities.
Guests at the event gave generously to Pratham, an education-focused charity in India.
Tributes were also paid to Ramniklal Solanki, who founded Garavi Gujarat, and who passed away in March 2020.
His son Kalpesh said, “We miss him dearly. He was a true pioneer; a leader and a heavy weight in his field winning accolades for his journalism.
“He received honours from the Queen - both an OBE and CBE, but his biggest honour was to help thousands of people and more importantly he gave us a voice. Not just a voice but one that was respected and heard.”
BBC presenter Nihal Arthanayake hosted the event, where sponsors and supporters included the Koolesh Shah Family Foundation, OakNorth Bank, The Londoner Hotel, Royal Mint, The Westcombe Group and Zee Entertainment UK.
To purchase a copy, see www.easterneye.biz/ARL/subscribe/ or via email Saurin Shah saurin.shah@amg.biz or by calling 0207 654 7737.
AN ASIAN man has been arrested in Birmingham as part of an investigation into the use of social media to promote people smuggling, the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) said on Monday (15).
The 38-year-old British Pakistani man was detained during an NCA operation in the Yardley area. He is suspected of using online platforms to advertise illegal boat crossings between North Africa and Europe.
“The dual national was arrested on suspicion of facilitating illegal immigration and is now being questioned by NCA investigators. Digital devices were also seized and are being examined,” a statement said.
The agency released footage of the arrest, showing officers informing the man he was being detained in connection with the facilitation of illegal migration into the European Union during 2023 and 2024.
“Tackling organised immigration crime is a top priority for the NCA, and this is one of around 100 live investigations into individuals or networks suspected of such activity,” said senior investigating officer Nick Matthews. “We are targeting criminal networks in every way we can, including their social media activity and those promoting dangerous crossings online. Our enquiries are ongoing.”
The arrest comes amid wider government efforts to curb illegal migration. Ministers said record numbers of employers have recently been banned from sponsoring overseas workers after they were found misusing visas to bypass immigration rules.
“Those who abuse our system will face the strongest consequences,” said minister Mike Tapp. “We will not hesitate to act against companies exploiting vulnerable staff or undercutting British workers. These practices will not be tolerated.”
According to the Home Office, deportations of people with no legal right to remain in the UK have risen by 13 per cent over the past year, with 35,000 removals recorded. The department said enforcement action against criminal gangs is now at “the highest level on record.
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The young tapasvis seated during the community celebration
THE Jain community in London came together for a historic celebration, honouring five teenagers who successfully completed the eight-day Athai Tap fast, one of the most respected spiritual practices in Jainism.
The children – Moksh Shah, Labdhi Mehta, Mithil Shah, Svara Gandhi, and Dylan Shah – each from different families, were recognised for their discipline, devotion, and inner strength. Athai Tap involves abstaining from food for eight continuous days, a test of both body and spirit, undertaken as a way of seeking spiritual progress and self-control, according to a statement.
More than 300 members of the community gathered at the Potters Bar Derasar to mark the milestone earlier this month. The event began with the teenagers arriving in a limousine before walking down a red carpet, where they were greeted with cheers, blessings, and warm embraces.
The programme reflected the joy and unity of the occasion. Mothers of the tapasvis performed a graceful welcome dance, siblings gave heartfelt and creative introductions, while fathers joined together in a lively stage act. Devotional Jain songs were played, before the celebration concluded with a spirited Raas Garba dance that saw people of all ages joining in with colour and energy.
For many in attendance, the event was more than a celebration of fasting. It was a reminder of the strength of faith, the value of cultural roots, and the inspiration that young people can provide when they commit to tradition and spirituality, the statement added.
Attendees described the event as a proud moment for London’s Jain community.
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Enninful also gave his view on a recent American Eagle campaign featuring actress Sydney Sweeney
Former British Vogue editor-in-chief Edward Enninful says “anti-woke” rhetoric is influencing fashion.
He warns the industry is reverting to European and super-thin beauty standards.
Enninful has launched a new inclusive media venture, EE72, with Julia Roberts on its debut cover.
He dismisses rumours of a fallout with Anna Wintour, saying she supported his departure from Vogue.
He also commented on recent advertising controversies, including Sydney Sweeney’s American Eagle campaign.
Fashion industry ‘in flux’
Edward Enninful, the former editor-in-chief of British Vogue, has warned that fashion risks going backwards on diversity, with super-thin and European looks once again dominating as the beauty norm.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Radical with Amol Rajan during London Fashion Week, he said that “anti-woke” and anti-diversity sentiment was “having a moment.”
“I think we’re potentially going back to an industry that’s just sort of, ‘one type is the norm, being European is the norm, being super-thin is the norm’,” he said.
Launch of EE72
Enninful, who left British Vogue in 2023, has launched a new media platform called EE72, describing it as “inclusive.” Its first quarterly print edition highlights the beauty of women over 50 and features Julia Roberts, 57, on the cover.
The title takes its name from Enninful’s year of birth, 1972. He said he felt it was “the perfect time” to return to the industry, which he described as “in flux” and still facing “a lot of work to be done.”
Champion of diversity
Born in Ghana, Enninful came to London as an asylum seeker. He became fashion director of i-D magazine at 18 before being appointed as the first Black editor-in-chief of British Vogue. He used the role to champion broader representation, saying he wanted to reflect “the world we live in today.”
Asked if he believed an “anti-woke moment” was taking place, he agreed, saying: “Woke is a dirty word. We see what’s happening in the world politically. So anything that’s not deemed as normal or the norm is seen as wrong.”
Departure from Vogue
Enninful also addressed speculation about his relationship with Dame Anna Wintour, who is stepping down as editor-in-chief of American Vogue after 37 years.
He dismissed claims of a falling out, explaining: “When I took the job, I gave myself five years and I did six. Anna asked me to give them a year’s notice so they could find my replacement, who turned out to be Chioma Nnadi. So it was my decision to leave.”
He said Wintour had been “very supportive,” adding: “Anna and I, we text each other all the time. You’re going to see us together.”
Advertising controversy
Enninful also gave his view on a recent American Eagle campaign featuring actress Sydney Sweeney, where the strapline “Sydney Sweeney has great jeans” drew criticism.
Some suggested the wordplay implied a racially exclusive beauty standard, while others said the outrage was exaggerated. Enninful commented: “I thought people really read into it probably deeper than I would have… But then on the other hand, I guess if you have a blonde woman sitting there talking about her jeans, it will trigger some people.”
He concluded that the reaction reflected how “the population is quite divided.”
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The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said the new contract with Apollo Tyres runs until March 2028. (Photo: BCCI)
INDIAN cricket has signed Apollo Tyres as its new lead sponsor after fantasy sports platform Dream11 ended its contract following a government ban on online gambling.
The men's team travelled to the United Arab Emirates for the ongoing Asia Cup without a sponsor on their shirts after Dream11 exited the deal, which was worth about $44 million and was set to run until 2026.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said the new contract with Apollo Tyres runs until March 2028. While the value was not disclosed, the board said it is higher than the previous deal.
"The new partnership, secured after a rigorous bidding process, represents a substantial increase in sponsorship value, signifying the immense and growing commercial appeal of Indian cricket," the BCCI said in a statement.
BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia said, "We are excited about this being Apollo's first major sponsorship in India cricket, which speaks volumes about the sport's unparalleled reach and influence. This is more than a commercial agreement; it's a partnership between two institutions that have earned the trust and respect of millions."
Apollo Tyres Vice-Chairman and Managing Director Neeraj Kanwar said, "Cricket's unmatched popularity in India and worldwide makes it an honour for us to become the national team lead sponsor of Team India."
The Apollo Tyres logo will appear on the jerseys of the Indian men's and women's teams across all formats.
Last month, the Indian parliament passed a law banning online gambling. The government said gambling platforms had caused financial distress, addiction and even suicide, and were linked to fraud, money laundering and terrorism financing. Fantasy sports apps such as Dream11 continue to operate, though for prizes and not cash.
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