Perween Warsi CBE - Founded ready meals giant S&A Foods in 1986

Name: Perween Warsi CBE Nationality: Indian Companies run: S&A Foods Unappetising samosas were the inspiration for Perween Warsi CBE to start the kitchen table business that became the ready meal food empire that is £65m-plus turnover S&A Foods. Perween Warsi’s story is fairly typical of most entrepreneurs. Frustration at a lack of customer satisfaction drove her desire to do better and provide an alternative. While it was a disappointing samosa from a supermarket that drove her, the route to supplying major multiples is typically a torrid one and the fledgling entrepreneur had to start with the basics. In 1986 Warsi began supplying Indian finger foods to a local takeaways and delis. That same year she started Derby-based S&A, aged 30, named after her sons Sadiq and Abid. When she entered a blind taste test to supply Asda on a national basis the young business was still operating from her kitchen. Her foods secured a contract, but like many entrepreneurs the tender had been won without having the production capability to fulfil it. Asda consented to wait while finance was secured to fund the opening of a factory. In order to comply with the supermarket’s strict health and safety standards the factory was re-tiled overnight at the eleventh hour in order to start production on time. A year later in 1987 the growth of the business demanded a new purpose-built factory. Needing funding to finance the expansion Warsi opted to sell S&A to Hughes Food Group. When Hughes fell into financial difficulties a year later Warsi looked to buy back her business. It wasn’t until 1991 with funding from venture capital firm 3i that Warsi and her husband managed to regain control in a management buy-out. Since that point the S&A has gone from strength to strength, innovating with the first ‘meal for one’ concept, ‘curry pots’ and balti meals in ‘authentic’ woks. Other international cuisines followed, making S&A far more than a maker of curries. Such market leadership prompted expansion into European markets. Her management, staff training and proactive relationship with workers’ unions – all of which are discussed with Entrepreneur TV – helped to establish S&A and Warsi herself as a much-lauded entrepreneur. Four years after the MBO Warsi won the Woman Entrepreneur of the World award. And in 1997 she was awarded an MBE for services to business with a CBE following in 2002. In 2004 she and her husband Talib regained 100% equity in the business when she bought out 3i’s stake. The company now employs in excess of 600 at its Derby base, producing over a million ready meals each week. Perween Warsi herself now takes the role executive chairman and CEO and in 2004 her personal wealth was estimated to be £63m. The kitchen table tycoon tag has rarely been more appropriate.

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