ATUL LAKHANI | SANJAY FOODS
STAY TRUE TO YOU T
he day-to-day stresses and evolutions of running a business – especially over a long period – can take you away from your original dream. Maybe the path you’re on leads somewhere different than you expected, or maybe it runs much further than you could’ve imagined. Being agile to this is vital for longevity in business, but it’s also important to stay true to who you are, no matter where the path leads. Atul Lakhani’s path has taken him to many new places. Born in Uganda, at the age of five he moved to the UK during the 1972 exodus. He grew up to work in his father’s restaurant before pursuing his own dream by founding Sanjay Foods, and later becoming the owner of the IXL Events Centre in Leamington Spa. There were plenty of twists and turns along the way. “Leaving an established family business to pursue my own dreams was somewhat of a mixed bag. On the one hand, it was very exciting to become my own boss and be in charge of my destiny. On the other hand, with three small children and a mortgage to pay, the future – whilst exciting – was not going to be without its challenges.” The original goal was to enter the ready meal market by establishing a food manufacturing facility, but that led to the first fork in the road. “We had enquiries from two big brand supermarkets in the early days, but the limited margins, substantial upfront costs, and 90-day credit facilities made these projects implausible. As a fledgling business yet to develop a brand, it was difficult to command the right price, despite our commitment to offering high quality products and services.” Fortunately, Atul was able to switch to a path that led back to where it all began. “Almost by default, I reverted to my roots in catering and hospitality. After many years of struggle and financial hardship, Sanjay Foods became synonymous with catering for discerning clients.” Atul’s success came from staying true to himself, and
WHAT GIVES YOU HOPE The talented people I employ. I cannot fail to be impressed by their sheer resilience. Having endured a pandemic and the financial crisis, their commitment shows there are people out there who care.
Leaving an established family business to pursue my own dreams was somewhat of a mixed bag identifying an area he could excel in. It’s this advice that he would choose to pass on to the next generation of entrepreneurs. “Stay true to your values and beliefs and continue to pursue your dreams. Your first instinct will usually be the right one. There is no substitute for hard work, but learn to be more strategic and focused along the way. Not every opportunity is worth pursuing. If something is not working, do not continue to throw good money at it in the hope that things will change. “On the contrary, an astute businessman will make changes to limit further exposure and create new opportunities. Pride and ego must take a back seat when making business decisions.” 56 | NICHE