Ayr food manufacturer nominated for prestigious awards

Punjab Pakora was founded by Vinita and Kushal Duggal in 2013.

An Ayrshire food producer has been nominated for two prestigious awards at the Scotland Food and Drink Awards and the SME National Business Awards.

Punjab Pakora, based in Ayr, are shortlisted for the Family Business of the Year Award at SME National Business Awards while their signature Cauliflower Bites are finalists for the Snacks and Accompaniments Product of the Year at the Scotland Food and Drink Awards.

Founded in 2013, the business has gone from strength to strength under the Duggal family as they supply products to a range of supermarkets across the UK.

Dhruv Duggal, son of founders Vinita and Kushal, spoke of the family’s pride at being nominated.

Of the SME National Business Awards, Dhruv said: “We’re up against quite a major lineup because it’s UK-wide. We’re up against 10 or 12 companies. It’s a great opportunity to be part of it.

“Punjab Pakora was started by my parents in 2013 and I joined the business in 2018. They started off small, just producing for local Asda stores and grew from there.

“We started supplying Aldi in 2014 and we’ve made our name and our mark from Aldi. The brand grew in popularity.

“We had one product in 2013 to 15 products on shelves 10 years later. It took us a while but after the first couple of years it has really taken off.

“Next year is going to be an even busier year as we launch more ready meals and frozen meals. It has been sustained and continuous growth.”

Originally from Punjab, the Duggals moved to Scotland in 2004 where they initially settled in Prestwick before moving to Alloway.

In December, the SME National Business Awards will take place at Wembley Arena in London after the Scotland Food and Drink Awards in October.

Of the Cauliflower Bites nomination, Dhruv added: “That launched last year and the feedback has been absolutely brilliant.

“In Sainsbury’s, it has been one of the best selling products since launch even though we’ve worked with Sainsbury’s for six or seven years. This has been one of our biggest launches to date with them.”

Later this year will be the return of Aldi’s Diwali range and Punjab Pakora will once again feature on the shelves.

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Dhruv said: “Our Diwali event with Aldi which is major for us and a big event for them as well. It is a brand new category that we have actually created.

“It’s an event they had never done before and we’ve made them realise the potential.

“We did Diwali with them last year and because of last year’s success, they are taking on this year as well. It is ongoing now and it is a big festival for Hindus.”

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