Pak Foods, which has two stores in Nottingham, turns 30 years old this weekend
Oscar Fisher Trainee Reporter
06:00, 23 May 2026
Pak Foods on Sneinton Dale, Sneinton(Image: Nottingham Post)
One of Nottingham’s most recognisable businesses turns 30 years old this weekend – but it all started with ‘five brothers’ and a dream.
The origins of the business trace back to the mountainous village of Kandore in Dadyal, Azad Kashmir, Pakistan, where the founding family came from a strong farming background.
After losing their parents at a young age, four brothers, together with their two sisters, were brought up by their uncle, Mohammed Hussain, and aunt, Maqbool Jan, who were already raising six children of their own.
Despite these circumstances, they were raised within an “exceptionally close-knit” and “supportive” family environment.
The four brothers – Mohammed Altaf, Mohammed Abdul-Razaq, Mohammed Nawaz and Mohammed Ramzan – were joined by the uncle’s eldest son – Mohammed Ashfaq – to help form what would later become known as Pak Foods.
Their journey to the UK began in 1961, when their uncle moved to England, initially working in a Lancashire mill before relocating to Nottingham in the early 1970s to work at British Celanese in Spondon, Derby.
Over time, family members followed, including Abdul-Razaq and Mohammed Altaf, who had to quickly adapt to a new way of life, overcoming language barriers, cultural differences and harsh early conditions.
Despite these challenges, they pursued education and began working in Nottingham across sectors, including hospitality and banking.
In 1989, with money borrowed from family members, they opened their first convenience store in Radford, and the business grew quickly.
Within a year, they had generated enough capital to open another store in West Bridgford and take over a travel agency, further strengthening their commercial experience.
In 1993, their brother Mohammed Nawaz joined them in the UK to support the growing business.
By 1995, the family had set their sights on something much bigger – a supermarket, which opened in Normanton, Derby, a year later – with the flagship site still going strong today.
The first Pak Foods opened on 23 May 1996, generating £8,000 in sales on its very first day – far exceeding expectations, particularly given that lenders had suggested it would take a month to reach such figures or would fail completely. This marked a defining moment in the company’s growth.
It went on to open two supermarkets in Nottingham itself, opening its first store in Sneinton in 2006, and then another in Forest Fields in 2021.
Thirty years on, with an annual turnover of around £70m, operating nine stores and employing around 300 people, Pak Foods has evolved into one of the UK’s most successful independent supermarket groups while remaining firmly grounded in its family-led values.
One of the brothers who paved the way all those years ago is Mohammed Abdul-Razaq.
The 67-year-old said: “Really, our success is again due to the community, the way they supported us. And it’s beyond any words.
“All the brothers have since taken a step back, and the younger generation has taken over, but to be honest, they’ve taken it to another level.
“The customer always, and has always, come first. I think that’s the most important thing, and I think that’s why we’ve seen success since day one.
“To our customers, thank you for your continued support over the years, it really means so much to us.”
To celebrate the 30-year anniversary, Pak Foods hosted in-store events across all nine branches on Saturday, May 23, featuring “unbeatable” promotional offers for customers and giveaways, with prizes in each store including a Samsung 55-inch television.
