Shan Foods
Shan Foods (Private) Limited is a Pakistani producer of packaged spice mixes, primarily used in South Asian dishes. The company was established in 1981 as a single-room operation by its founder, Sikander Sultan, in Pakistan and quickly grew from there to becoming a major player in the packaged spice mixes industry.[1]
 | |
| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Food processing Packaged spice mixes |
| Founded | 1981 in Karachi, Pakistan |
| Founder | Sikandar Sultan |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Website | www |
Currently, the company portfolio of products is available in over 150 countries, across 5 continents, and consists of recipe mixes, plain spices, ready-to-cook sauces, cooking pastes, dessert mixes, cooking condiments, and accompaniments as well as instant noodles.
The company also has a research and development department that is responsible for developing new products and improving existing ones.
History
Shan Foods (Pvt) Limited started off in 1981, as a cottage industry operation, operating out of the home of the company's founder Sikander Sultan. He, along with his wife, started making spice mixes at their home, experimenting extensively to come up with unique offerings, which instantly picked up a loyal fan base both, at home and with Pakistanis who had moved to Western Countries, such as USA and Canada.[2]
Today, Shan Foods is one of Pakistan's largest manufacturers and exporters, and their offered range is considered synonymous with the traditional authentic taste of Pakistan coupled with convenience and ease.
In 2021, Shan Foods agreed terms with Unilever Pakistan to sell it's 60% stake for $2 billion but the deal didn't go through at the end due to some unknown reasons.
Controversies
In July 2023, reports from the German media indicated a ban on the products exported by the company in the German market due to the alleged presence of Ethylene Oxide, a fumigant and pesticide, which is known to pose serious health hazards including cancer upon consumption and is banned from food production in Europe. The news was shared by the Pakistani politician Khurram Shehzad on his Twitter account which caused a backlash against the company by the general public in Pakistan. In response to this, Ideal Foods Traders GmBH, a German retailer of Asian food products issued a statement in which it was clarified that only specific batches of 12 products from Shan Foods were recalled from the market. After an initial unwillingness to respond to media questions asked from its spokespersons, the company officially rejected these claims on its Twitter account as "incorrect and misleading", claiming that its products were safe for consumption and met health and safety standards.[3][4]
References
- Foods, Shan. "Shan Foods - About discover our philosphy, vision and mission". Shan Foods. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
- Tirmizi, Ariba Shahid, Farooq (14 March 2021). "Why Shan Foods should actively consider an IPO". Profit by Pakistan Today.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - Hussain, Kashif (18 July 2023). "German authorities allegedly ban 12 Shan Food products". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
- "Fact Check: Germany did not ban Shan products". Aaj English. 16 July 2023. Retrieved 19 July 2023.