Suleman Raza

{{Short description|British-Pakistani entrepreneur and activist}}

{{Multiple issues|

}}

{{Infobox person

| honorific_suffix = {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|MBE}}

| image =

| birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1980|8}}

| birth_place = Rawalpindi, Pakistan

| nationality = British, Pakistani

| occupation = Restaurateur, entrepreneur, chef and activist

| style = Pakistani cuisine

| known_for = {{Plainlist|

Founder of One Million Meals
Owner of Spice Village

}}

| honours = {{Plainlist|

}}

Suleman Raza {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|MBE}} (born August 1980) is a British-Pakistani food entrepreneur, restaurateur, and activist.{{Cite web|last=Admin|date=6 December 2020|title=How will 6 muslim entrepreneurs lift the economy post Covid19|url=https://www.britishmuslim-magazine.com/2020/12/bright-british-brains-muslim-entrepreneurs-speak-about-how-they-will-lift-the-economy/|access-date=3 November 2021|website=British Muslim Magazine|language=en-GB}}{{Cite web|date=7 September 2020|title=Pakistani activist starts One Million Meals campaign with David Beckham|url=https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/07-Sep-2020/pakistani-activist-starts-one-million-meals-campaign-with-david-beckham|access-date=8 November 2021|website=Daily Pakistan Global|language=en}} He is the founder of One Million Meals, a charitable campaign started in March 2020 from his own restaurant chain using GoFundMe in the UK.{{Cite web|date=15 July 2020|title=Businessmen took on different day jobs to help heroes tackle Covid-19|url=https://www.easterneye.biz/businessmen-took-on-different-day-jobs-to-help-heroes-tackle-covid-19/|access-date=3 November 2021|website=EasternEye|language=en-GB}}{{Cite web|date=17 September 2021|title='Local Community Hero' and restaurateur recognised for 'One Million Meals' charity campaign|url=https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/local-community-hero-and-restaurateur-recognised-for-one-million-meals-charity-campaign-2/|access-date=3 November 2021|website=South London News|language=en-GB}}{{Cite web|date=22 April 2020|title=One Million Meals|url=https://www.chrisphilp.com/one-million-meals/|access-date=11 December 2021|website=Chris Philp|language=en-US}} He owned the cricket franchise Mirpur Royals in the Kashmir Premier League.{{Cite web|date=5 August 2021|title=Suleman Raza buys Mirpur Royals to promote Mirpur globally|url=https://dailytimes.com.pk/801606/suleman-raza-buys-mirpur-royals-to-promote-mirpur-globally/|access-date=3 November 2021|website=Daily Times|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|date=6 August 2021|title=Suleman Raza pays tribute to Mirpuri culture through Mirpur Royals|url=https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/06-Aug-2021/suleman-raza-pays-tribute-to-mirpuri-culture-through-mirpur-royals|access-date=3 November 2021|website=Daily Pakistan Global|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=12 August 2021|title=Mum's prayers credited for thriller KPL win for Mirpur Royals|url=https://en.baaghitv.com/mums-prayers-credited-for-thriller-kpl-win-for-mirpur-royals/|access-date=7 November 2021|website=BaaghiTV English|language=en-US}} The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Boris Johnson, awarded Raza the Points of Light award in 2021 for the One Million Meals campaign.{{Cite web|date=12 May 2021|title=One Million Meals|url=https://www.pointsoflight.gov.uk/one-million-meals/|access-date=3 November 2021|website=Points of Light|language=en-GB}}{{Cite web|date=21 May 2021|title=PM Boris Johnson honours four Pakistanis for humanitarian service|url=https://www.globalvillagespace.com/pm-boris-johnson-honours-four-pakistanis-for-humanitarian-service/|access-date=3 November 2021|website=Global Village Space|language=en-US}} The House of Lords awarded Raza with the Local Community Hero for his humanitarian services in London.{{Cite web|date=15 September 2021|title=Spice Village owner & others recognised as 'Local Community Heroes' for charity work|url=https://www.feedthelion.co.uk/restaurants-charity-awards-house-lords/|access-date=3 November 2021|website=Feed the Lion|language=en-GB}}{{Cite web|title=FNB News – Local community hero recognised for one million meals charity campaign|publisher=FNB News|url=http://www.fnbnews.com/Top-News/local-community-hero-recognised-for-one-million-meals-charity-campaign-65144|access-date=3 November 2021}}{{Cite web|date=16 September 2021|title=Croydon hotelier wins Local Community Hero award for charity work|url=https://developcroydon.com/croydon-hotelier-wins-local-community-hero-award-for-charity-work/|access-date=3 November 2021|website=Develop Croydon|language=en-GB}} He has also been working as the co-chairperson of the UK Pakistan Business Council (UKPBC) to discuss the Pakistani business community concerns with the British prime minister Boris Johnson.{{Cite web|title=Pakistanis furious over red listing, community members tell Boris Johnson|url=https://www.geo.tv/latest/364800-pakistanis-furious-over-red-listing-community-members-tell-boris-johnson|access-date=3 November 2021|website=geo.tv|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=9 August 2021|title=Co-chairman of UKPBC, Suleman Raza writes to PM Boris Johnson|url=https://www.businesscentral.pk/2021/08/09/co-chairman-of-ukpbc-suleman-raza-writes-to-pm-boris-johnson/|access-date=7 November 2021|website=Business Central|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|date=2 May 2021|title=Suleman Raza Suggestion of Vaccination For Restaurant Workers in the UK|url=https://www.businesscentral.pk/2021/05/02/suleman-raza-suggestion-of-vaccination-for-restaurant-workers-in-the-uk/|access-date=8 November 2021|website=Business Central|language=en-US}}

Early and personal life

Raza was born in Rawalpindi, Pakistan.{{Cite web|title=Suleman Raza: The 'One Million Meals' campaign founder|url=https://www.geo.tv/latest/306224-suleman-raza-the-one-million-meals-campaign-founder|access-date=3 November 2021|website=geo.tv|language=en}} He moved to London with his family during the year 2000.{{Cite web |date=5 June 2022 |title=Pakistani man wins double honours at Queen's Jubilee celebrations |url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/2360184/pakistani-foodpreneur-wins-double-honours-at-queens-jubilee-celebrations |access-date=17 July 2021 |website=The Express Tribune |language=en}} Since 2004, Raza has been living in London, running his family business in the restaurant industry.{{Cite web|last=Irfan|first=Anmol|date=10 September 2020|title=David Beckham Lends His Support to 'One Million Meals' Program|url=https://propakistani.pk/lens/david-beckham-lends-his-support-to-one-million-meals-program/|website=ProPakistani}}{{Cite web|title=UK restaurant boss asks fellow businessmen to sell Pakistani cuisine with pride|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/468277-uk-restaurant-boss-asks-fellow-businessmen-to-sell-pakistani-cuisine-with-pride|access-date=3 November 2021|website=The News International|language=en}} He is married and has five children.{{Cite web|date=25 March 2021|title=Businessman gives diners the full restaurant experience from their cars|url=https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/businessman-gives-diners-the-full-restaurant-experience-from-their-cars-2/|access-date=3 November 2021|website=South London News|language=en-GB}}{{Cite web|date=21 April 2021|title=Meeting Suleman Raza, the trendsetter in Car Dine-In in the UK.|url=https://www.businesscentral.pk/2021/04/21/meeting-suleman-raza-the-trendsetter-in-car-dine-in-in-the-uk/|access-date=5 November 2021|website=Business Central|language=en-US}}

Career

In 2000, Nasir and his brother Raza began their career as a chef in a restaurant in Brixton, London. Four years later, they started a restaurant called Spice Village in Tooting, south London.{{Cite web|date=9 May 2019|title=Pakistani UK Restaurant Chain Owner Urges Others To Sell Pakistani Cuisine With Pride!|url=https://zipit.pk/pakistani-uk-restaurant-chain-owner-urges-others-to-sell-pakistani-cuisine-with-pride/|access-date=4 November 2021|website=ZIPit|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=Spice Village London – Reviews, Location, Photos|url=https://www.hungryfoody.com/uk/spice-village-london/|access-date=8 November 2021|website=HungryFoody|language=en}} By 2021, Raza owned multiple branches of his restaurants and served Pakistani cuisine in south and west London.{{Cite web|date=16 September 2021|title=Croydon hotelier wins Local Community Hero award for charity work|url=https://www.inyourarea.co.uk/news/croydon-hotelier-wins-local-community-hero-award-for-charity-work/|access-date=8 November 2021|website=InYourArea.co.uk}} He also entered into the event business and owned a banquet, Grand Sapphire Hotels.{{Cite web |last=O'Connor |first=Tara |date=3 July 2020 |title=How coronavirus is 'killing' one of Croydon's most popular wedding venues |url=https://www.mylondon.news/news/south-london-news/how-coronavirus-killing-grand-sapphire-18537232 |access-date=17 July 2022 |website=MyLondon |language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Owner speaks out after popular venue is forced to cancel more than 160 weddings|url=https://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/18564021.grand-sapphire-hotel-croydon-owner-talks-virus-uncertainty/|access-date=3 November 2021|website=Your Local Guardian|date=6 July 2020 |language=en}}

In March 2021, Raza initiated a drive-through in-car dining trend to revive the restaurant and venue business.{{Cite web|last=O'Connor|first=Tara|date=22 March 2021|title=Croydon restaurant gets round lockdown by serving curry in cars|url=https://www.mylondon.news/news/south-london-news/ingenious-car-tray-means-croydon-20232741|access-date=3 November 2021|website=MyLondon|language=en}}{{Cite web |last=mediabest |date=23 March 2021 |title=Curry house gets around lockdown by serving curries in cars with incredible invention – |url=https://theoneworldnews.com/europe/curry-house-gets-around-lockdown-by-serving-curries-in-cars-with-incredible-invention/ |access-date=17 July 2022 |language=en-US}}

In August 2021, he entered into Pakistani sports as an owner of the Mirpur Royals squad for the KPL.{{Cite web|title=UK businessman buys KPL's Mirpur Royals franchise|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/874014-uk-businessman-buys-kpl-s-mirpur-royals-franchise|access-date=3 November 2021|website=The News International|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Mirpur Royals' Owner Compares Salman Irshad To Malinga|publisher=Cricket Holic.PK|url=https://cricketholicpk.com/mirpur-royals-owner/|access-date=3 November 2021|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=About Club|publisher=Mirpur Royals|url=https://mirpurroyals.com/about-club-meet-sulemanraza/|access-date=7 November 2021|language=en-US}} At the end of the series, Raza celebrated the success of the tournament with his team and congratulated the Kashmiris.{{Cite web|title=Mirpur Royals owner congratulates Kashmiris on successful KPL 2021|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/883688-mirpur-royals-owner-congratulates-kashmiris-on-successful-kpl-2021|access-date=8 November 2021|website=The News International|language=en}} Raza left Mirpur Royals after the first season.{{Cite web |date=14 July 2022 |title=Season-II of KPL to be more thrilling, entertaining: Abdul Razzaq |url=https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2022/07/14/season-ii-of-kpl-to-be-more-thrilling-entertaining-abdul-razzaq/ |access-date=15 July 2022 |website=Pakistan Today |language=en-US}}

Philanthropy

He has been running the campaign "No One Eats Alone on Christmas Day" annually since 2015 to serve homeless people in Croydon, South London.{{Cite web |last=FtL |date=20 December 2021 |title=Spice Village launches annual "no one eats alone" campaign for Christmas holidays |url=https://www.feedthelion.co.uk/spice-village-no-one-eats-alone-2021/ |access-date=17 July 2022 |website=Feed the Lion |language=en-GB}} On 23 November 2019, Raza signed an agreement with the Armed Forces Covenant with Rear Admiral Mike Bath from the Royal Navy to support the British armed forces community through his restaurant business.{{Cite web|title=How multi-award winning Spice Village in Croydon is making a difference|url=https://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/18499929.multi-award-winning-spice-village-croydon-making-difference/|access-date=3 November 2021|website=Your Local Guardian|date=5 June 2020 |language=en}} On 1 April 2020, the One Million Meals campaign was launched to serve National Health Service key workers and other vulnerable people in London.{{Cite web|title=The brothers providing one million meals for frontline workers|url=https://www.kcl.ac.uk/news/the-kings-alumni-providing-one-million-meals-for-frontline-workers|access-date=3 November 2021|publisher=King's College London|language=en-GB}}{{Cite web|last=Shahid|first=Syeda Sadia|date=22 May 2021|title=PM Boris Johnson honours four Pakistanis for 'One Million Meals' campaign|url=https://www.aboutpakistan.com/news/pm-boris-johnson-honours-four-pakistanis-for-one-million-meals-campaign/|access-date=8 November 2021|website=LAbout Pakistan|language=en-US}} By May 2021, the One Million Meals managed to serve more than 200 locations and 47 hospitals across UK.{{Cite web|date=13 May 2021|title=PM Boris Johnson honours Four Pakistanis on Eid|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/2299820/pm-boris-johnson-honours-four-pakistanis-on-eid-for-their-humanitarian-services-in-uk|access-date=4 November 2021|website=The Express Tribune|language=en}}

Honours and awards

In 2021, he received the Points of Light award by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the GG2 Spirit in the Community Award by the Royal Navy for running 'One Million Meals' campaign through his restaurant.{{Cite web|publisher=Asian Media Group|title=GG2 Leadership & Diversity Awards 2021 – Winners 2020|url=https://gg2leadershipawards.co.uk/2021/en/page/winners2020|access-date=4 November 2021|website=gg2leadershipawards.co.uk|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=UK PM honours four Pakistanis for humanitarian services|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/836382-uk-pm-honours-four-pakistanis-for-humanitarian-services|access-date=7 November 2021|website=The News International|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Armed Forces Covenant|url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/852212/Spice_Village_Armed_Forces_Covenant_20191123.pdf}} On 7 September 2021, he was recognized as the Local Community Hero by the House of Lords for his charity work in London.{{Cite web|title=Asian Curry Awards Launched at House of Lords|url=https://food4media.com/showPRPreview/100083649|access-date=5 November 2021|website=Food4Media}}{{Cite web|title='Local Community Hero' And Restaurateur Recognised For 'One Million Meals' Charity Campaign – Todayuknews|date=23 August 2020 |url=https://todayuknews.com/entertainment/local-community-hero-and-restaurateur-recognised-for-one-million-meals-charity-campaign/|access-date=8 November 2021|language=en-US}} By coincidence, Raza was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to business and philanthropy at the same time that his voluntary organisation, Spice Village Uplyft, was awarded the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service (which is equivalent to an MBE) in the 2022 Birthday Honours.{{Cite web |date=3 June 2022 |title='Queen's Birthday Honours highlight great contribution Asians have made to the UK' |url=https://www.easterneye.biz/queens-birthday-honours-highlight-great-contribution-asians-have-made-to-the-uk/ |access-date=22 June 2022 |website=EasternEye |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |date=5 June 2022 |title=Pakistani man wins double honours at Queen's Jubilee celebrations |url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/2360184/pakistani-foodpreneur-wins-double-honours-at-queens-jubilee-celebrations |access-date=22 June 2022 |website=The Express Tribune |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=1 June 2022 |title=Queen's Birthday Honours List – June 2022 |url=https://mcb.org.uk/mcb-updates/queens-birthday-honours-list-june-2022/ |access-date=22 June 2022 |website=Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) |language=en-GB}}{{London Gazette |issue=63720 |date=2 June 2022 |page=J11 |supp=y }}