1 What is your current position?
I am Founder and Chief Executive Officer at Kolak Snack Foods.
2 What are your proudest achievements?
This has been a successful year and we have created an additional 250 jobs in the Park Royal Industrial Estate. At the prestigious West London Business awards Kolak Snack Foods won the top award of “Overall Business of the year” for the second year running and also won” Park Royal Business of the Year “along with two other awards. Our business has been identified and nominated as one of the top European Growth Companies by Europe’s 500 Job Creating Companies. Kolak has been named in The Grocer's 50 fastest-growing privately owned food and drink companies. I am very proud of my team and that we are a family business who retains family values. We are happy with our continued progress, especially in such a tough economic climate.
3 What inspires you?
People – my career has allowed me to meet people from all over the world, all types of circles & backgrounds. The number of different conversations and people I’ve met over the years has provided continuous inspiration.
4 What has been the biggest obstacle in your career?
There were a lot of people who said it could not be done. Bharat and I wanted to prove them wrong and we didn’t want to accept defeat. We sacrificed a lot of blood, sweat and tears to achieve what we have.
5 Who has been the biggest influence on your career?
I am fortunate there have been many. But my father has been my greatest influence. I learn a lot as a boy working in my father’s shops in Uganda and then in London’s North Harrow. He has been a real inspiration.
6 What is the best aspect about your current role?
The success of the company has allowed us to create jobs in an area of London which still has pockets of depravation. I also like the aspect of looking to the future and further developments. Rikin was instrumental in setting up the new site and in developing the new business that came with it.
7 And the worst?
Early on like a lot of business’s we went through a period when our cash flow started to run dry. It was a very bumpy ride. All our family savings had been used up. We were approached by some old family friends Pradipard and Manish Dhamecha who already had a successful business. They invested and the business was restructured and went from strength to strength ever since.
8 What are you long term goals?
To hand over more responsibility to Rikin who has brought so much to our business and must take credit for our recent fantastic achievements. For him to make it bigger and better. I want to secure the future of the business and would like to leave a sustainable legacy. Our long term goal is to make sure we continue to be closely aligned to their needs in what we are trying to achieve.
9 If you are Prime Minister, what one aspect would you change?
To create a climate where business can thrive and create wealth and jobs for our country’s people. There is a lot of red-tape and barriers to entry to get your business off the ground. I think the government could do more to simplify the legislation and providing new and small business with more support and funding.
10 If you were marooned on a desert island, what historical figure would you like to spend your time with and why?
Mahatma Gandhi for his great teachings. In particular”Before the throne of the Almighty, man will be judged not by his acts but by his intentions. For God alone reads our hearts”.
11. What is your approach to your employee’s?
Kolak has always had a very diverse workforce and we are committed to providing an inclusive working environment in which everyone is treated fairly. We believe that having people from different backgrounds, with different life experiences and talents is a real bonus for our business and for our customers. That's why respecting and valuing the diversity of our people is central to our vision and who we are.
