Curry manufacturers savour taste of success in Switzerland

Mumtaz Ventures' sales of sauces, spice mixes and chutney soared in January and February and now the firm is aiming for 1m of sales this calendar year, having been aiming for 594,000. Now it plans to add more lines and go into neighbouring countries.

"The Swiss public has really taken to ethnic food, and because Mumtaz is the first major player on the scene we're making quite an impact," said Bill Kimberling, commercial director for Mumtaz Ventures.

"Products have been flying off the shelves It's quite remarkable, and long may it continue."

Mumtaz, established in 1978 as takeaway in Bradford by Mumtaz Khan, is now a multi-million pound business. The firm, which has 150 staff, got started in Switzerland with the support of UK Trade and Investment after using an overseas market introduction service to sound out potential leads and contacts. Mr Kimberling said: "The challenge in the months ahead is to increase what we have in Switzerland by introducing a wider range of products and expanding our customer base.

"But we also have a firm eye on neighbouring markets like Lichtenstein, Germany and Austria, where there is further untapped potential to aim for. We've already received initial orders from Lichtenstein, and we're confident the rest will follow."

Three years ago Mumtaz Ventures launched 103 products in supermarkets across Britain, ranging from curry sauces and pakora mixes to salad dressings, chutneys, oils and mayonnaise. Leading chef Stuart Green was brought in as development and production manager.

Now the firm is represented in more than 40 overseas markets.

Last year Mumtaz launched a five-year-plan to open more restaurants, beginning with Leeds, and to be followed by Manchester, London and Birmingham.