Curry Club launches to support UK's Asian restaurants

Cardiff restaurateur Mike Ahmed has set up a new organisation to give support to Asian restaurants and takeaways and help drive more customers through their doors.

The British Curry Club​ aims to represent the interests of the UK`s 12,000 curry houses and their estimated 80,000 workers as well as widen the appreciation of curry through national marketing and advertising campaigns. It is being launched with a £1m marketing budget.

Ahmed, owner of the Spice Merchant restaurant in Cardiff, said although the Indian restaurant market is large, it is mostly made up of independent family-run businesses and therefore needs help in promoting itself against chain restaurants and other sectors of the industry with large marketing budgets.

He said: “Through membership of the British Curry Club restaurants can for the first time benefit from large-scale promotion of the spice sector, which will include more family oriented dining. Our support will be vital with over 150 curry restaurants closing down so far this year, due to tough economic times and a skills shortage in the UK.”

The British Curry Club has recruited a team of 20 account managers to work with member restaurants and has produced Point of Sale material. The club will also involve a two-for-one dining card and an online takeaway service.

To join or for more information visit www.britishcurryclub.co.uk​