BIG INTERVIEW
DAWOOD PERVEZ
54 ASIAN TRADER 17 OCTOBER 2025
Asian Trader: What does 50 years of Bestway
means to you – as a family, as a business, and
as part of the contribution that South Asians
have made to the UK?
Dawood Pervez: Everyone in the Bestway’
family feels immense pride in reaching this
landmark. For those of us who have been
part of the journey from the beginning, it is
not just about the phenomenal growth of
the business, but also about the wider social
impact. Through the Bestway Foundation,
we’ve been able to support health and
education programmes in the UK and
Pakistan, creating real and lasting change in
the communities we serve.
At its core, this anniversary is a celebration
of Sir Anwar Pervez’s vision. He founded
Bestway on the principle of for independent
retailers, by independent retailers – to provide
better value, consistent availability, and the
right products at the right price. That mission
of helping retailers make margin and grow
their businesses is still what drives us today.
AT: What are the greatest achievements of
Bestway and the inspiration behind them?
DP: Our biggest achievement is first and
foremost the establishment and rapid
growth of the business by Sir Anwar Pervez,
based on his true pioneering spirit and
vision.
Bestway became the cornerstone of the
As Bestway Wholesale
celebrates turning 50
years old, Asian Trader
asked its MD Dawood
Pervez to look back –
and forward – and give
us his thoughts about
the sector, the family
firm, and what he
thinks is coming next in
convenience
On being the biggest and the best
independent retail sector, enabling a
generation of entrepreneurial retailers to set
up in business, earn a good living, and
contribute to British society. For many
immigrant communities, including those
expelled from Uganda and Kenya in the
1970s – our depots became a gateway and an
enabler to social mobility and independence.
At the same time, we grew and thrived in
a period when supermarkets were expand
ing rapidly. While others were in a “space
race,” Bestway stood firm as the home of the
entrepreneurial retailer, and that position
ing has endured to this day.
Today, we are proud to stand as the UK’s
7th largest family business and 13th largest
privately owned enterprise, with a whole
sale arm that now contributes close to £3
billion in sales. It is this combination of
commercial growth and social contribution
that we believe defines Bestway’s legacy and
will continue to guide us into the future.
AT: What are some of your memories of the
early days – how different was it from where
the industry is now?
DP: Some of my earliest memories are of
visiting the depots with my father and being
part of the action. The buzz of retailers
coming in, the energy of the teams, and the
sense of family and community made a
lasting impression on me. From the very
beginning, Bestway wasn’t just about selling
cases – it was about supporting independ
ents to stand on their own feet and thrive.
When our first depots opened, Britain’s
shopping habits were changing dramatically.
People were moving away from the local
butcher, baker, or greengrocer and towards
the big supermarkets. That “space race”
shaped the industry for decades. But even
then, independent retailers kept their place
in society, adding value to their communities,
and Bestway was there to champion them.
By the early 2000s the landscape had
We are proud to
stand as the UK’s
7th largest family
business and 13th
largest privately
owned enterprise
By Andy Marino