Zouk in Asda trial

AMJAD Bashir, owner of the Bradford-based Zouk Tea Bar & Grill restaurant business, has begun a trial with supermarket chain Asda to provide the supermarket with fresh curries for its deli counter.

The company has begun producing fresh curries for a number of the supermarket retailer’s stores in the Birmingham area from a new 10,000 sq ft central preparation unit in Bradford after landing the deal, which began earlier this month.

“The food is being freshly prepared every day and we’re producing a broad range of dishes including Goan, seafood, Hyderabadi and Kashmiri cuisine,” Mr Bashir told TheBusinessDesk.com.

He also said that the company was currently looking for sites to add to its fledgling chain. The first Zouk Tea Bar & Grill was opened at Bradford by Mr Bashir in 2006 and he added a £1m restaurant in Manchester in 2009.

He has already signed a deal with the landlord of its Manchester outlet, Merepark, to go into its new £200m Central Village development in Liverpool City Centre when it opens in 2013 and is currently investigating potential sites in Leeds, Birmingham and London.

“There’s a lot going on for us,” he said. “Manchester has been outstanding, and Liverpool still has a large pull in terms of visitors.

“Liverpool has lots of successful buffet-style Indian restaurants, but this is a very different concept and style. It embraces different elements of Indian and international cuisine.” 

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