Launch of Powerlist and Asda deal shows value of British Asians - Ismail Mulla

Even now, almost a week since Asda’s £6.8bn takeover was announced, it’s hard to believe that two British-born Asians would be heading up the deal.
Roger Burnley will continue as CEO of Asda.Roger Burnley will continue as CEO of Asda.
Roger Burnley will continue as CEO of Asda.

Billionaire brothers Mohsin and Zuber Issa, with backing from private equity firm TDR Capital, are bringing the Leeds-based supermarket back into British ownership after a “pretty public” takeover tussle.

The Issa brothers made their fortune after successfully transforming their business from one rented petrol station into a network of almost 6,000 forecourts across 10 countries.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

What is interesting about the new prospective owners of Asda is that despite their sizable wealth, they remain down to earth, maintaining close links to their community in Blackburn.

Sharon Jandu says there are a lot of hidden gems in the Asian business community.Sharon Jandu says there are a lot of hidden gems in the Asian business community.
Sharon Jandu says there are a lot of hidden gems in the Asian business community.

Roger Burnley, CEO of Asda, says that the pair are “remarkably humble guys” who share the strong local values of the Leeds-based retailer. “They are very down to earth so I know it is going to be a very good experience working with them,” he added.

It perhaps comes from their background. In the early days of Euro Garages, the brothers started from the ground up – taking the dated petrol station model and turning it into a retail experience.

They are an example of the entrepreneurial instinct that exists within the South Asian diaspora of the North.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Just like many other entrepreneurs from South Asian backgrounds, they like to keep a low profile.

Mohsin and Zuber Issa are the billionaire brothers from Lancashire behind the takeover of Asda.Mohsin and Zuber Issa are the billionaire brothers from Lancashire behind the takeover of Asda.
Mohsin and Zuber Issa are the billionaire brothers from Lancashire behind the takeover of Asda.

That’s why it was good to see the launch of the Northern Asian Powerlist, celebrating the achievements of Asian communities across the North of England.

The Powerlist features around 100 “gems” from business, finance, politics and culture.

Often, as is usually the case, they are ignored in favour of their Southern counterparts. Hopefully this list will lead to a greater recognition of the Northern Asian business community. Even if some of those choose to fly under the radar.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Sharon Jandu, project director for the Northern Asian Powerlist, says the reason why people of South Asian descent thrive in the world of commerce is because they are “grafters”.

She added that a lot of them have picked up this work ethic from their parents, who left everything behind in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to build a better life for themselves and their family here.

The parents of the Issa brothers, Vali and Zubeda, moved to the UK in the 1970s to work in the textile industry, moving from Gujarat, India, to Bradford.

This story will be familiar for many British-born Asians across the North.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Ms Jandu says that while many Asians have progressed into thriving professional careers, younger generations who are opting for the business route still hold onto the values of hard work.

“It’s nice to see that the values that the original generations came over with, people like my parents who came over in the early 60s, the younger generation have also got those values,” she said.

It’s a coincidence that the Northern Asian Powerlist was being launched on Friday at the same time as the deal was being announced.

As a British-born Asian of Gujarati origin myself, it is good to see someone from a similar background succeed on such a grand scale in business.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Equally, it is good to see that a fellow Dewsbury boy done good in Roger Burnley who will continue to captain the ship at Asda.

Hopefully, the Northern Asian Powerlist will be the starting point for not only greater recognition of the Asian community’s contribution to British society but also an opportunity to further develop its entrepreneurial potential.

After all, there are 4.3 million British Asians in the UK contributing £120bn to the economy each year.

Their understanding of different cultures, markets and languages can only help Britain economically when it emerges into a post Covid-19 world.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

They will be key to establishing that often talked about ‘living bridge’ between the UK and the emerging markets of the subcontinent.

---

Support The Yorkshire Post and become a subscriber today.

Your subscription will help us to continue to bring quality news to the people of Yorkshire. In return, you'll see fewer ads on site, get free access to our app and receive exclusive members-only offers.

So, please - if you can - pay for our work. Just £5 per month is the starting point. If you think that which we are trying to achieve is worth more, you can pay us what you think we are worth. By doing so, you will be investing in something that is becoming increasingly rare. Independent journalism that cares less about right and left and more about right and wrong. Journalism you can trust.

Thank you

James Mitchinson

Related topics:

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.