TRS 50th Anniversary - A Success Story

The British love of spicy Indian foods has helped the UK traditional Asian foods sector to grow steadily over decades and created a hugely popular, growing and vibrant food sector. The Indian foods sector now includes some of the biggest and most successful companies in the UK.

2009 sees the Golden Anniversary Celebrations of the founding of one such company and a brand synonymous with the highest quality standards of any Asian food producer - TRS.

Started 50 years ago, one man, Taherally Rehmanji Suterwalla (the "TRS" of the famous brand name), had a vision that would enable a company with humble beginnings as a small wholesale outlet to grow into an international business empire and become one of the UK's most successful Asian business stories. The original business concept (like all the best business concepts) was simple - to bring to the fast growing UK Asian population the finest ingredients and provisions from around the world, a taste of home for those far from home.

Originally beginning with a small wholesale outlet based in East London serving the local London community and complemented by the first TRS Cash & Carry in Southall, TRS was a pioneer in importing and distributing famous Indian branded products into the UK and soon became a destination for favourite brands from home.

The reputation and demand for TRS products grew to the point where the company now comprises approx 250,000 sq ft of state-of-the-art manufacturing, packaging, warehousing and distribution centres in Southall and Leyton which now serves Asian communities in the whole of the UK, Continental Europe, Scandinavia, USA and Russia.

Today, the company is managed from its head office in Southall by Fakhruddin, Hatim, Siraj, Mansoor and Iqbal Suterwalla, the 5 sons of Taherally Rehmanji Suterwalla who all continue to follow the founders core business principle. The introduction by the brothers of modern distribution and warehouse facilities has ensured the fame of the TRS brand which now has the status of a national brand and distribution within mainstream supermarkets as well as its strong, core independent grocery business.

The TRS Cash & Carries in Southall and Leyton and the TRS Wholesale delivered service are still as busy and bustling as they ever were during the last 37 years and continue to be an essential and popular service with UK grocery and catering businesses. Indeed, anyone tucking into a plate of curry, dal and rice or any other Indian delicacy in London, Birmingham, Bradford, Manchester or Glasgow is almost certainly enjoying the mouthwatering flavours of ingredients originally supplied by the TRS facilities in Southall and Leyton.

A 50 year anniversary is a time to pause and reflect on achievements and TRS's biggest achievement is the loyalty of its customers. The TRS brand would not have become what it is today without the continued, loyal support of its customers. Some of whom have grown with TRS from similar small beginnings to become large independent supermarkets.

TRS would like to extend its heartfelt thanks to all its trade and individual consumers who by their continued support have allowed TRS to grow with its customers to become the success story it is today.

Whether it is the excellent service enjoyed by trade customers of the TRS Cash and Carries and TRS Wholesale, or the high quality and wide range of products enjoyed by individual consumers, both will continue to enjoy the excellent value for money which is a cornerstone of the TRS business philosophy.

Thank you to all our customers and consumers worldwide for a most enjoyable 50 years serving you, we hope it continues for the next 50 years!