EM Rochdale Awards 2004

Shahid Ahmed and Tara Iqbal are congratulated on winning the Business of the Year Award

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Sunshine Snacks won the prestgious Business of the Year Award at the EM Rochdale Awards on Friday (17 September) evening at Rochdale Town Hall. Sunshine Snacks has gone from humble beginnings to be a major employer in town with a workforce of 37 and owners Shahid Ahmed and Tara Iqbal were delighted to have their hard work and commitment recognised by the judges.

The evenings speakers included Sajjad Karim, Liberal Democrat Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for North West England; Pinky Lilani, the brainchild behind the Asian Women of Achievements Awards (Patron, Cherie Blair), of which she is chairwoman; Adeeba Malik MBE, Deputy Chief Executive of QED-UK; and Mike Ashton, Managing Director of Chamber Business Eneterprises.

The other category winners:

• Young Entrepeneur of the Year: Imran Zahid & Mahboob Asif of O L Solutions
• New Business Start-Up of the Year: Drive UK
• Retailer of the Year: Mobs Mini Market
• Best Business Mentor of the Year: Mohammed Mushtaq of Millennium Translations Ltd
• ICT/Innovation of the Year Award: CTech 2000
• Workforce Development of the Year: T J Refrigeration
• Business Woman of the Year: Rukhsana Hussain of Saz Cosmetics

The judges also gave Younis Ali of Aspire Foods a Special Recognition Award.

Mystery shoppers were used to discern the winners of two further awards:

• Best Ethnic Retailer in Rochdale: Watan Cash & Carry
• Best Service Orientated Business: SA Sewing Machines

The awards recognise and reward the acheivements of ethnic minority businesses for their contribution to the local economy.