Zouk in takeaway link-up with Asda

Zouk, which has restaurants in Bradford and Manchester, will run the takeaway which opens on Friday.

It was developed after customers at Asda asked for a more authentic takeaway experience.

Now the Leeds-based supermarket chain is trialling the idea at its Small Heath store in Birmingham. The menu will include specialist dishes like Lamb Nihari and the aromatic Goan Fish Curry and starters include the Punjabi Lollipop, a speciality from the mountainous regions of Kashmir.

These dishes have never been seen before outside of a restaurant, according to Zouk.

Amjad Bashir, chairman, said: “We’ve worked hard with the Asda team to meet this exciting challenge and put the accreditation, staff and logistics in place to deliver the project. It’s been a real journey of discovery and we couldn’t be happier with the end results as we truly believe we’re working with Asda to create a UK first.”

Shaun Willis, store manager at Asda Small Heath, said: “Our new restaurant quality curry experience is truly original and has a dazzling array of Asian flavours that won’t be found in any other supermarket in the whole of the UK.”

Zouk Deli prices range from 40p to 50p per item for starters and from £3.25 to £3.50 for main courses.

Last year Mr Bashir – who was born in the Punjab and couldn’t speak a word of English when he arrived in Britain as an eight-year-old in 1960 – flew out to Pakistan to help provide aid following floods which left millions of people homeless.

The Zouk restaurant in Bradford, which was founded by Mr Bashir with his sons Mudassar and Tayub in 2006, can accommodate more than 100 diners.

In November 2008, Mr Bashir, a former Thornton Grammar School boy, invested £1m in a restaurant in Chester Street, Manchester.

He hopes to eventually make Zouk a global brand.