Ashok Lakhani founder and Chief Executive Officer of Kolak Snack Foods Ltd was a winner at the prestigious EY London and South Entrepreneur of The year awards 2015.
On winning, Mr Lakhani told the Asian Voice, “I am very proud to win such a fabulous award especially considering the wide range of excellent entries reflecting the quality and strength of the London and South business sector and its renowned entrepreneurial spirt.
“This is fantastic news and reflects on the hard work of the Kolak team .Our success is built upon focusing on the needs of high street retail customers and developing a strong team here at Kolak .We are happy with our continued progress ,especially in such a tough economic climate.”
Kolak Snack Foods were established in 1984 and are known as one of the most successful snack manufacturers in the UK market place. The business supplies the majority of the high street retailers with Kolak branded and retailer own label snacks. The company has delivered 30 years of unbroken growth and is recognised as a quality producer of competitively priced products. Dedication to its delivering for customers and speed to market has driven Kolak’s growth ahead of the snack category. Kolak moved to its current site in 1995, starting with a staff of 100 and now employs more than a 1,000 people.
The company’s turnover has almost trebled from £32 million in 2008 to over £100 million today. Since starting his company Kolak Snack Foods in 1984, Ashok has achieved 30 years of unbroken growth, from producing 28,000 packets of crisps and snacks a week to more than 25 million and supplying all the major supermarket chains with own-label snacks. Ashok has invested £17.5 million in the past two years including the opening of a state-of-the-art factory producing extruded snacks and flavoured crisps Ashok’s accomplishments has been most notable over the last five years as he has bucked the trend in food and drink manufacturing to achieve double-digit growth each year. Today Kolak has been driven to even greater heights by his natural entrepreneurial spirt as he has led Kolak into new markets with new customers and new exciting innovative products.
Ashok still remains extremely ambitious and with his brother Business Director Bharat and son, Managing Director Rikin Lakhani he aims to continue strengthening Kolak’s position as one of the foremost privately owned crisp and snacks producers in the UK.
EY Entrepreneur Of The Year is the most prestigious business award for entrepreneurs .It has been running for 17 years in the UK. The award makes a difference through the unique way it encourages entrepreneurial activity amongst those with potential and recognises the contribution of people like Ashok who inspire others with their vision, leadership and achievement.
