01/09/2005
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Homegrown Success with a Global Input - from Eurofoods
One of Britain's fastest growing frozen food companies is exploiting the full potential of the internet to connect his operations around the world.
Euro Foods, based in Newport and chaired by Shelim Hussain, 32, has factories in Bangladesh and depots in Croydon and New York. The business has a UK turnover of approximately £55m.
Broadband access allows full integration between the different branches of the company, which has just opened a £3.5m cold storage facility in Newport. The facility will store 2,000 tons of frozen and dried goods and house a poultry processing plant.
Mr Hussain said the company was now looking to accelerate its growth by making acquisitions. He ruled out any early trade sale.
He said: "My plan is to grow the business into a blue chip company and float it eventually."
Around 1,500 people are employed in the factories in Bangladesh.
He said: "Everything has broadband now. The whole group is set up as one company. Without it we would not be growing at the rate we are."
The computer servers for the Euro Foods network are based in Newport. Half a million pounds has recently been invested in software to ensure the company can operate in real-time communications.
Euro Foods' main customers are found in the Bangladeshi, Indian and cheese catering sectors. The goal is now to expand beyond this base to mainstream supermarkets and day-to-day food services.
The next phase of growth at the Newport base will be a prawn and spices processing plant. The 40 staff are employed at the site come from the UK, Bangladesh, Barbados and Pakistan.
Euro Foods began as a partnership between Mr Hussain and his two best friends in 1993 and became limited company in 1995. Its development has been nurtured by Business in Focus, which has provided mentoring and management and marketing support, as well as helping with grant applications.
Mr Hussain said: "What we find is, Welsh businesses grow to a level and either they get taken over or to the headquarters move to England.
"I think the Government needs to do more to keep business in Wales."
