WIREDGOV

Around 280 jobs are being created in Cwmbran with Welsh Government support with the launch of an innovative new UK-wide online takeaway ordering and restaurant booking service this month.

Newport entrepreneur Shelim Hussain - founder, chairman and managing director of the highly successful Euro Foods Group - is set to officially launch his new business Kukd.com in Cwmbran where it will serve the rapidly growing UK wide market. To date 3,000 restaurants have already signed up for the service with the aim of topping 10,000 within a year.

A business finance package from the Welsh Government helped secure the new investment for Wales as other locations were under consideration.

A team of 100 have already been recruited to build the website and provide online support to restaurants with the remaining 180 set to be recruited over three years.

Kukd.com will provide its members with a web presence and ecommerce solution to enable their customers to order online, using web or mobile applications. The end users are typically young people whose preference is to purchase through these channels.

In addition to an online ordering system with marketing support, Kukd will also offer an outsourced procurement and consultancy service to assist restaurants and takeaways to improve their menu’s appeal, reduce costs and enable owners to better manage a profitable business.

Economy Minister Edwina Hart said:

“Welsh Government support for this project has ensured another business founded by Mr Hussain will be headquartered in Wales. The new venture will create a significant number and wide range of jobs offering career and employment opportunities for  several hundred people.

“Mr Hussain is a well known and highly successful  entrepreneur with a strong track record of establishing thriving  businesses and I wish him every success with the launch of kukd.com.”

Shelim Hussain, who received an MBE in 2003 for services to business in Wales, started his business empire in Newport with an initial capital of just £20 while the annual turnover of Euro Foods Group now stands at over £110 million.

Mr Hussain said:

“We are entering a substantial and rapidly growing market and intend to compete with some of the more established players on price, customer service and breadth of offer - including an array of value-add propositions such as insurance, food supply, cleaning services and consultancy.

“Kukd will provide a cost effective online service to member restaurants and takeaways and through better use of technology will provide enhanced services to members and provide a better end customer experience.

“It will complement our existing businesses and services and support the growth of smaller restaurants that do not have the software development skills to build interactive ecommerce websites to target larger markets.

“Our business success has been founded in Wales so I am pleased support from the Welsh Government meant we were able to establish this new business here.”