WHO WE ARE
Flying Trade Group was founded on the values of service, value, and quality. From its humble start in 1967, the family-run business has grown into a leading name across multiple sectors, including world foods, hospitality, leisure, and construction. Driven by a commitment to exceptional customer service and strong family principles, FTG has expanded rapidly under the leadership of Kewal Dulai and his sons, earning recognition in the Sunday Times Top Track and International Track lists for its impressive growth.
The History of FTG
1967
FTG founder Kewal Dulai arrives in Britain from India with just £3 in his pocket – a limit set by the Indian authorities at the time. You can read his story by clicking the date above.
1973
With business going well, in 1973 Kewal opened a retail shop in Basingstoke, called 'Flying Fashion', which his wife, Chandran, ran. It formed the foundations of the company that has gone on to become the global success that is ‘Flying Trade Group’.
Early 90's
Expansion into the food industry came in the early 90s with the acquisition of a cash & carry in Birmingham. This eventually led to the selling off of the fashion business in 1994, so Kewal and his sons, who had by then joined the business, could concentrate fully on developing the food business.
1996
Harwich site acquired – which is now company HQ. Surya Rice was the first rice off the production line at the new site in 1998, soon followed by Laila Basmati. The Harwich site now sprawls across 11 acres and is home to Surya Foods head office and some 500,000 sq ft of storage space.
1996
Surya Foods launch Laila Rice. Launched in 1999, the Laila brand, which is today one of the UK’s top 3 rice brands, was initially conceived to appeal to a Muslim market - with the name inspired by the classic Arabic love story of Laila and Majnu.
2002
Laila Rice launches its first TV advertising campaign in the UK.
2007
Surya Foods acquire fishcurers Cawoods. Established in 1895, Cawoods has been a processor of dried salted fish in the UK for 130 years.
2009
Surya Foods work with industry leaders to conceive the World Food Awards. The awards were regularly hosted by comedy legend Lenny Henry at a star studded gala dinner in London.
2010
Surya Hotels is founded, following the purchase of its first site in 2009. The group now has a portfolio of 13 hotels across the UK.
2011
World Food Aid (WFA) is founded by Harry Dulai, Group Chief Executive Officer, Surya Foods. Since its inception, WFA has been helping improve some of the millions of lives around the world affected by hunger.
2011
The Grocer Gold Awards – Surya Foods make finalists in the 'Wholesaler of the Year' category and are highly commended.
2011
Laila launches its first ever ‘Rice for Life’ Campaign. In a bid to highlight the humanitarian crisis in Pakistan, following the worst floods in the country’s history, Laila teams up with the British Red Cross.
2012
Laila’s ‘Rice for Life’ campaign returned in October 2012 and helped fund the British Red Cross’ work in Pakistan to prevent easily treatable diseases from claiming lives.
2013
Surya Foods scoop the prestigious World Food Award (sponsored by Waitrose) at the GG2 Leadership Awards. The company is singled out for creativity and flair in the development and promotion of world food.
2014
Laila’s third Rice for Life campaign is its most ambitious - to donate one million servings of rice to those in need via UK foodbanks and NGOs in India and Africa. UK rice donations were channelled through leading UK foodbank charity The Trussell Trust.
2015
Surya Foods joins industry giants like Kelloggs and Nestlé in becoming a regular contributor to the leading UK charity Fareshare. Fareshare specialises in saving good food destined for waste.
2015
Surya Hotels acquires the historic George Hotel, Colchester. A hive of activity on Colchester's High Street for over 500 years, nestled in the heart of the UK's oldest recorded town.
2015
Surya Foods joins the Rice Association. The Rice Association is the representative organisation for the UK rice sector.
2016
Surya Hotels acquire multi-million pound Dragonfly portfolio.
2016
Claudius Gateway discovered. The spotlight of the world's press was on Colchester in February 2016 as details of the Roman Arcade beneath One Castle Park emerged following Flying Trade Construction's excavation work.
2016
Surya Foods acquires leading halal brand Humza. Humza is now one of the largest suppliers of halal frozen foods into retail in both the UK and abroad.
2016
Surya Foods listed among Top 25 independent companies in the county of Essex.
2016
Extensive renovation work at the Duke's Head Hotel in Norfolk is completed and sees the launch of a stylish new bar and lounge - Massey & Co.
2017
£1m refurbishment of Dragonfly portfolio commences.
2017
Rice for Life in association with NHS Blood & Transplant. Laila launches a major, on pack campaign with NHS Blood and Transplant, backed by celebrity chefs Cyrus Todiwala and Ching He Huang, to highlight the critical shortage of blood donors from BAME communities.
2017
Essex Limited 2017 – Surya Foods listed among Top 100 independent companies in the county of Essex.
2017
Laila climbs to a Top 3 place in the UK rice charts achieving the greatest branded growth of the year in the rice category, up 43.9% (£2.6m)
2018
FTG secure place in the prestigious Sunday Times Top Track 250.
2018
£5 million machinery investment to keep pace with demand for Laila Rice. Installation of state of the art Swiss Buhler machinery doubles Surya Food's Harwich Sites processing capacity from 10 to 16 tonnes of rice per hour.
2018
FTG announces £30 million pound investment for Essex. The investment includes a new multi temperature distribution centre opening in Colchester and a new snacking factory in Harwich, creating over 100 new jobs.
2019
Surya Foods make finalists in the Specialist Wholesaler of the Year category at The Grocer Gold Awards.
2019
FTG makes Top 100 of Sunday Times International Track 200. The Sunday Times 10th Annual International Track 200, released on Feb 10th, 2019, sees Flying Trade Group shoot into the Top 100 (position 52, with annual International sales growth of 79%).
2019
Sunday Times Top Track 250 – Surya Foods maintains its position in the Top Track 250. The group climbed from position 241 to 188 following a year on year turnover increase of 15% – which saw company sales sail past the £150m mark.
2019
Kingscliff Hotel Celebrates 10th Anniversary with £250,000 Makeover.
2019
Essex Limited 2019 - Surya Foods crowned county’s leading food manufacturer, making position 15 in county’s Top 100 firms.
2020
Surya Foods Launches Thai Dragon - a range of spicy and aromatic snacks and sauces inspired by traditional Thai cuisine.
2020
New, state of the art Surya Foods snack factory up and running. A wide range of popular snacks come off the production line of a brand new production facility at Surya Food’s Harwich site.
2020
Laila rice achieves major milestone in its 20 year history, securing a spot on the mainstream rice aisles with national retailers Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Ocado.
2021
Colchester’s historic George Hotel reopens its doors following a monumental £10m renovation.
2021
Surya Foods launch Korean range into Tesco, as booming popularity of Korean cuisine inspires launch of Sun Hee.
2022
Surya Foods kicks off the New Year with a clear sustainability mission statement – a 3-pillar approach across: People, Products and Planet.
2023
Laila introduces elephant motif on pack to highlight charity partnership and celebrate Asian heritage.
2024
Surya Foods launch trio of new world food brands, including Indo Chinese range Khao Chi, Greek mezze range Trophi and a range of Japanese kitchen essentials under the Akira brand.
2024
Historic Thatchers unveils first phase of £5 million revamp.
2024
Surya Foods enter competitive chart which tracks the UK's 150 biggest food and drink manufacturers, making position 116 in the OC&C Top 150 Suppliers 2024 charts.
THE PEOPLE BEHIND OUR SUCCESS
Meet The Team
OUR BRANDS
Leading world food suppliers
