Bestway celebrates 50 years with star-studded tribute to Sir Anwar Pervez

David Cameron presents a commemorative shield to Sir Anwar Pervez. Also pictured are Bestway Group board members.

Bestway Group welcomed 800 guests to the Royal Albert Hall on 10 July to celebrate Bestway’s 50th anniversary and pay tribute to its founder, Sir Anwar Pervez OBE, H Pk.

Hosted by TV presenter Dermot O’Leary, the event included speeches that reflected the remarkable journey of a man who arrived in the UK with little more than determination, and who went on to build a business empire that today 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.”

The evening’s programme captured the spirit of the occasion. Highlights included performances by singers Katherine Jenkins OBE and Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, who flew in from Pakistan specially for the event. The evening also featured the string quartet Escala, accompanied by the Novello Orchestra and under the baton of David Mahoney, as well as high-energy finale from classical fusion artist Okiem.

Former Prime Minister David Cameron paid tribute to Sir Anwar’s lifelong values of enterprise, generosity and service, calling him “a true British success story whose influence spans continents and generations”.

Sir Anwar’s life is the embodiment of the immigrant dream fulfilled. Arriving 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 a leading voice in responsible business and philanthropy, and it thrives under Sir Anwar’s guiding ethos of hard work, integrity, resilience and community service.

Equally defining has been his commitment to giving back. Founded in 1987, the Bestway Foundation has donated over £50 million 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.”