A host of famous faces, including Katherine Jenkins OBE, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Dermot O’Leary and former Prime Minister, David Cameron, gathered at the Royal Albert Hall on Thursday 10th July to celebrate wholesaler Bestway’s 50th anniversary, and pay tribute to Founder Sir Anwar Pervez, OBE, H Pk.
The event was attended by 800 guests, including Cameron, who called Sir Anwar “a true British success story whose influence spans continents and generations”.
Hosted by TV presenter Dermot O’Leary, the evening’s programme featured performances from Katherine Jenkins OBE; Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, (who flew in from Pakistan specially for the event) and string quartet Escala, as well as heartfelt speeches reflecting on the remarkable journey of Sir Anwar.
Sir Anwar arrived in Britain in 1956. He worked a series of jobs in Bradford and London before opening his first retail store in 1963. Thirteen years later, he launched Bestway, laying the foundations for what would become a diversified multinational group spanning food, pharmaceuticals, cement, and banking. Today, the Group is one of the UK’s largest family-owned businesses and employs over 50,000 people worldwide.
“His is a story of grit, vision and purpose,” said Lord Zameer Choudrey CBE SI (Pk), Chairman of Bestway Group and nephew of Sir Anwar, in his welcome speech. “From a remote village in rural Pakistan to the founding of Bestway in 1976, Sir Anwar’s journey is not just one of commercial success – but of social upliftment, community investment, and philanthropy. It is our privilege to celebrate him and the 50 years of impact he has inspired.”
What’s more, the Bestway Foundation, founded in 1987, has donated over £50m to causes in the UK and abroad, with a focus on Education, Health, and Social Mobility, all issues that sit close to Sir Anwar’s heart.
“Tonight is not only about looking back – it’s about looking forward,” said Lord Choudrey. “Bestway’s story is still being written, and it is one built on the legacy of a man who dared to dream bigger than circumstance.”
