A FAMILY food business in Oldham has been championed as a shining example to budding entrepreneurs.
Kesan Foods, based at its new premises on Meridian Business Centre, was set up by brothers Mumtaz and Imtiaz Khan.
In the past few years the firm has gone from strength to strength and now employs 20 people.
Oldham Council marked Global Entrepreneurship Week with a visit to one of the borough’s growing businesses.
Mumtaz said: “We have worked very hard to build our business up to where we are today – in a new factory and employing 20 people.
“We are however also very grateful for the support we have received from Oldham Enterprise Trust, Oldham Council and the Business Growth Hub.
"This support has been enormously helpful.”
SUCCESS: Graham McKendrick from Oldham Enterprise Trust, Mumtaz Khan freom Kesan Foods and Cllr Shoab Akhtar, Oldham Council's cabinet member for business and enterprise
The company has flourished after being backed by the council's business growth team, Oldham Enterprise Trust, through funding by the Stoller Charitable, and the Business Growth Hub.
To mark Global Entrepreneurship Week, Oldham Council cabinet member for business and enterprise, Cllr Shoab Akhtar, visited Kesan's base.
The awareness week celebrates and empowers entrepreneurs across the world – especially people who face barriers or may never have considered starting a business before.
It comes as new research has indicated Oldham is among the top 10 entrepreneurial towns in the UK.
Cllr Akhtar said: “I applaud Mumtaz and Imtiaz’s enterprise in growing their business and creating jobs for 20 local people.
“The partnership working between Oldham Council, Oldham Enterprise Trust, the Stoller Charitable Trust and the Business Growth Hub has helped Kesan Foods to thrive.
"Their success is a fantastic example of the entrepreneurial spirit that we have right across the borough.
"Businesses like Kesan Foods are putting Oldham on the map and we wish them every success in the future.”
Chair of Oldham Enterprise Trust, Dave Benstead, added: “When the Stoller Charitable Trust made their generous donation to Oldham Enterprise Trust to support local Oldham start-up businesses, this is exactly the kind enterprise and growth that we hoped to enable and support.”
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