Getting to know... Shezad Aslam

In the latest instalment of Bdaily’s Getting to know... feature, which looks at the person behind the business profile, Shezad Aslam, founder of Shipley-based Indian restaurant and ingredients firm Aagrah Foods, talks about his passion for cricket, his experiences of growing a business in the fast-moving consumer goods sector and why Yorkshire is such a great place to oversee a commercial venture... 

We know you as the founder of Aagrah Foods, but who is the person behind the title? Tell us a little about what makes you tick... 

I’m a proud Yorkshireman, who loves being outdoors, especially if that involves a cricket field. 

These days, with young kids, it’s not always easy to find time to play, so a lot of my spare time is spent with them, which I really value. 

When I do get a quiet moment, I enjoy painting and drawing, fitting it in around running the business and family life.

Did you always want to work in the food and drink sector? 

Not at all.

I wanted to be a cricketer, then a dentist. 

I went on to become an engineer in a food manufacturing business, and eventually brought together my family’s restaurant background with my corporate experience to start my own food business. 

It’s been quite a journey.

What’s the best bit about your job? And the worst? 

The best part has to be the food and the events. 

I love being out and about, meeting people, talking about our products and connecting with others in the food and drink industry.

The toughest part is dealing with setbacks. 

That could be a product being delisted or a retailer deciding not to move forward after weeks or months of conversations. 

For a small business, those moments can have a big impact and bring a lot of pressure.

What do you consider to be your greatest achievement?

Completing our first fundraising round back in 2019 stands out. 

At the time, the business was turning over just over £100,000, yet we raised £290,000. 

I genuinely thought we might get laughed out of the room when pitching to investors, but that didn’t happen. 

We believed in the products, managed to get others to believe in them too, and that was the moment I truly realised we could build a great fast-moving consumer goods brand.

How do you relax outside of work? 

I’d love to say I run marathons or take on Ironman challenges, but that’s definitely not me! 

I try to play cricket for my local village club when I can, and I enjoy getting out on my mountain bike. 

I also love experimenting with new recipes whenever I get the chance.

What makes Yorkshire such a great place to live and work? 

Yorkshire is a brilliant place to build a business because everything feels close and connected. 

The main cities are nearby, there’s a strong network of suppliers – from ingredients to packaging – and many major retailers are based here too, so you can source most things locally. 

And when you need to switch off, you’re never far from incredible countryside and outdoor spaces, which makes it easy to reset and recharge.

Tell us something about you we didn’t know...  

I very nearly became a dentist.

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