LONDON
\nThe City of London Corporation has bestowed its highest civic honour – the Freedom of the City of London – upon Tariq Sheikh, the visionary founder of Tariq Halal Meat (THM), for his exceptional contributions to the British halal meat industry, his pioneering entrepreneurial journey, and his unwavering commitment to philanthropy.
\nThe Freedom of the City of London is one of the nation\u2019s oldest and most revered traditions, dating back to 1237. Today, it is a significant symbolic honour awarded to individuals who have achieved outstanding success, recognition, or celebrity in their chosen field.
\nThe previous notable recipients include Princess Elizabeth, Queen Elizabeth, Diana, Princess of Wales. Prime ministers of the United Kingdom; Winston Churchill, Margaret Thatcher. Global leaders; Jawaharlal Nehru, Nelson Mandela. Presidents of the United States of America; Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Dwight D. Eisenhower. Entrepreneurs and academics; Professor Stephen Hawking, Bill Gates, Jimmy Choo, Morgan Freeman, JK Rowling, Sir Michael Cane, George Helon, JP, and other senior officials within royal family, politics, business, and celebrities in their chosen fields.
\n\u201cTo be granted the Freedom of the City of London is one of the proudest moments of my life,\u201d said Tariq Sheikh after receiving the award at the Guildhall.
\nHe added: \u201cI arrived in this great city as a boy of four from Jhelum in Pakistan, and it gave me, my father, and my family a home and an opportunity. This honour is not just for me; it is a testament to the hard work of our entire 400-strong team and the legacy of quality my father began in 1965. We have always believed that \u2018halal\u2019 should be synonymous with the highest standards of quality, hygiene, and service, and this recognition inspires us to continue uplifting our industry and serving the communities that have supported us.\u201d
\nTariq Sheikh said: \u201cHalal meat industry is worth \u00a31.7 billion, which is about 15% of the total UK meat and poultry market, estimated to be \u00a311 billion in the UK and Europe today. I am proud that we have played our role in making it a huge industry, catering to Halal, Kosher and other markets. We started with a small shop but today we have over 30 outlets across the UK, making us the leading halal meat provider.\u201d
\nTariq Sheikh\u2019s journey is a quintessential London success story. He was born in Pakistan in 1961. In 1965, at the age of four, he moved to the United Kingdom with his family, settling in London.
\nGrowing up as a young immigrant in the 1960s and 70s, he faced the cultural and economic challenges common to many families building a new life in the UK.
\nHe said: \u201cThese formative experiences instilled a drive and ambition that would later define my professional life. I started working at the age of 17 at a fast-food establishment. I rose through the ranks at a remarkable pace, becoming a store manager within six months and being promoted to Area Manager by the age of just 19, supervising multiple stores.\u201d
\nThe foundation for Tariq Halal Meat was laid in 1965, when Mr. Sheikh\u2019s father, a butcher, established the family\u2019s first shop. This family legacy in the meat trade provided the industry-specific knowledge and heritage.
\nIntegral to Mr. Sheikh\u2019s story is his profound belief in giving back to the community that provided him with opportunity. Tariq Sheikh said he is glad that he was able to bring to the UK over 70 butchers from Pakistan who are now settled in the country.
\nHe said: \u201cWe support major charitable organisations, including the Prince of Wales\u2019s British Asian Trust, the British Heart Foundation, and the Cancer Foundation. Some of these charities do a lot of charitable work in South Asian countries like Pakistan. We are also involved in community and educational initiatives that promote entrepreneurship among young individuals from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds.\u201d
\nTariq Sheikh was accompanied at the event by his daughter Thaira Sheikh who runs the vast business with her father. She said: \u201cWe have grown from a family business into a national leader. The brand now encompasses a UK-wide network of over 30 retail stores from London to Glasgow, a dedicated workforce of over 400 staff, and a landmark partnership supplying premium retail halal meat to over 300 Sainsbury\u2019s supermarkets.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
LONDON The City of London Corporation has bestowed its highest civic honour – the Freedom of the City of London – upon Tariq Sheikh, the visionary founder of Tariq Halal Meat (THM), for his exceptional contributions to the British halal meat industry, his pioneering entrepreneurial journey, and his unwavering commitment to philanthropy. The Freedom of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":514704,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-514815","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-business"},"yoast_head":"\n