Laila Remtulla, the founder of the Red Rose Award-winning business Laila’s Fine Foods, has been recognised with an MBE for her contributions to the food and drink industry, according to Lancashire Business View. Originally from Tanzania, Laila moved to England in 1976 and established her company a decade later in 1986. What began as a modest home-based venture, with Laila persuading her local delicatessen to stock her handmade samosas and onion bhajis, soon evolved into a thriving enterprise.
Initially operating from her kitchen, the business quickly outgrew its first premises near Boundary Road in Lytham, prompting a move to a larger production facility in Blackpool. Today, Laila’s Fine Foods supplies major supermarket chains across the UK and recently secured a lucrative multi-million-pound contract with Iceland.
In support of its growth, the company received £58,000 from Regenerate Pennine Lancashire, a Regional Growth Fund initiative, to expand its manufacturing space and invest in advanced machinery. This development not only safeguarded 12 existing jobs but also created 15 new positions. Additionally, the business attracted £216,000 in private sector investment for the project.
Now employing 250 staff, Laila’s Fine Foods has seen remarkable growth, with annual sales increasing by 25% since 2011. By 2014, the company projected a turnover of £18 million. Laila Remtulla was officially awarded her MBE in 2015, cementing her legacy as a prominent figure in the British food industry.
Text source: Growth Lancashire’swebsite
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