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Indian groceries promote healthy living

Consumers of the Western World have often wondered as to why Indians are almost obsessed with spices and include many of them in their daily diet and it is only in recent years they have realised the true reason behind such a passion.

Far from being ‘fashionable,’ Indian spices perform a variety of function to maintain the human body fit and healthy. Each of these spices, used as ingredients in the Indian way of cooking, has qualities that prevent such killers as cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and ailments of the heart, lungs and kidneys.

Which is why, despite the fact that the Indian community is small in New Zealand, Indian spices enjoy increasing demand from a cross-section of the society.

Khyber Foods & Spices in Hamilton is a perfect example of a well-appointed retail store offering quality Indian products at affordable prices not only to the Indian community in the Waikato region but also to Maoris, Europeans and Pacific Islanders.

Owner Rauf Mohammed and his only son Imraan are well aware that in a fiercely competitive environment, variety, quality and reasonable pricing would be instrumental in attracting customers.

“Claims must be matched by performance. In this retail business, it is hard to get customers and even harder to retain them,” Mr Rauf said.

Khyber Foods & Spices is a natural choice for shoppers not only resident in the Hamilton area but also other parts of the North Island.

Rice, lentils, pulses, gram flour, rice flour, bulk food, spices, pickles, cooking oil, dairy products, cosmetics, condiments, soap and toiletry items, confectionery, toothpaste and other items of common use are sold at this retail store.

Other items include Indian vegetables and fruits, frozen food, fish and meat, officially certified as Halal.

“We offer quality products at low prices to enable a larger segment of the community to lead a better standard of life,” Mr Rauf said.

He purchased the business in 2007, after several years of assignments elsewhere.

“I am keen to expand and offer more variety,” he said.

“The past two years have been particularly challenging. Cash flow has been a problem for many people but we have always been financially disciplined and hence we have not found ourselves in hot water,” he said.

“Progress has been swift and we can mention with pride that our store is today an authentic dealer in Indian grocery,” Mr Rauf said.

A family Wedding

September has been a month of celebrations and festivities that began with Eid Al Fitr early in September for Rauf and his family.

His only son Imraan, a graduate in Information Technology from the University of Auckland married Moniza Morin at a well-attended ceremony held at Zaid College Hall in the South Auckland suburb of Mangere on September 25, 2011. As a young man aware of his social and domestic responsibilities, he has joined the family business to help it grow stronger and more popular.

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