Yet again for 2025, we’re bringing back our popular festive spotlight — featuring regional businesspeople from across the north. We’ll be quizzing a notable name with 12 quickfire questions. As we get closer to Christmas, Shezad Aslam, Founder of Aagrah Foods, answers our questions.

1. What were you hoping to achieve by December when you sat down in January, and did you get there?

We set ourselves an ambitious growth target of at least 20 percent for the year and I’m pleased to say we smashed it. We also began exporting to Tesco in Ireland, which wasn’t even on the original plan, so that was a brilliant and unexpected milestone.

2. Tell us about three moments from 2025 that made you proud of your business.

1. Seeing our naans become a runaway success in Tesco and Morrisons - that was a real ‘wow’ moment.

2. Launching our Butter Chicken tarka paste. It’s been on the wish list for years, but we needed the timing to be right and landing it in Tesco felt like a major win.

3. Rolling into the NEC with Lulu, our life-sized elephant, for the Food & Drink Expo - she always creates a buzz, and this year was no exception!

3. What's been your biggest headache this year - supply chains, recruitment, costs, or something else entirely?

Fundraising - without a doubt. Every founder will tell you raising money is a full-time job in itself as trying to juggle that while running the business with a small team is incredibly challenging.

4. If you had to describe 2025 using a Christmas film title, which would you choose?

Home Alone! At times it’s felt like I’ve been fending off the ‘bad guys’ - the challenges - by myself, but when they inevitably come back in 2026, I’ll be ready!

5. What's your number one priority when the office reopens in January?

We’re in the process of finalising a partnership with a major new retailer, which we’re hoping will go live from January. Launching that successfully will be our top priority.

6. Which business in the region has caught your eye this year - for all the right reasons?

As a foodie with kids who adore pasta, I love what The Yorkshire Pasta Company is doing. It’s a family-owned business with exceptional products, and its grown into one of Britain’s leading pasta brands.

7. Crystal ball time: what does 2026 hold for businesses like yours?

For us, 2026 is all about becoming a true household name nationwide. We want people to be able to pick up Aagrah Foods wherever they shop, from major supermarkets to their local farm shop.

8. This Christmas, are you a "full production" household or a "feet up and telly" one?

We’ll be in full production mode for a couple of days, then it’s feet up and telly for the rest, so a bit of both really. I’m looking forward to building some Lego creations with the kids and maybe starting a painting which, at this rate, might not be finished until next Christmas!

9. Crackers, Brussels sprouts, or pudding - which one best describes your year?

Probably a Christmas pudding - plenty of surprises and set on fire at least once!

10. Which business book, podcast or piece of advice has been your "surprise hit" of the year?

The Hungry Podcast. The guest lineup is so varied, some episodes are genuinely inspiring and others are just fascinating to listen to.

11. As you wind down for the festive break, what are you most looking forward to switching off from?

Everything! I can’t wait to spend a week in a totally different routine - cooking new recipes, baking with the kids and just taking the pressure down a notch.

12. In 25 or fewer, what would you say to your customers, teams and stakeholders as we head into 2026?

Thank you for backing a true Yorkshire food brand. We’ll keep bringing bold flavour and real quality to kitchens everywhere in 2026.