11 October 2019
This year Frank was honoured to be included as one of the UK's most influential Asians in the GG2 Power List. The GG2 Power List was extensively researched and compiled by a team of journalists, with the final rankings adjudicated by an experienced panel.
BEING an Asian entrepreneur in the UK comes with its own set of challenges, but Frank Khalid considers it one of his greatest experiences.
The owner of three business ventures with turnovers of multi-million pounds, Frank believes in staying true to ones roots. That, he believes, is what has contributed to his success.
Born into a business family, Frank started his entrepreneurial journey at the tender age of 16. The son of Pakistani immigrants, Frank was always helping out in his father’s shop, and he knew he had it in him to set up a business.
With a £60,000 bank loan, which he secured against his uncle’s house, Frank opened his own wholesale unit, Elbrook Cash and Carry, in Stratford, East London in 1984. A year later, he expanded and took on a larger unit in Barking. In 1993, business grew to the extent that he had to purchase a 25,000sqft unit in Mitcham.
However, expansion plans took a backseat when he discovered that his second son, Imran, was autistic. He eventually sold the Barking facility to spend more time with his family.
In 2003, Frank invested in a banqueting and conference facility adjacent to his Mitcham cash and carry, called Chak89, which has since become a major player in the Asian wedding market. The restaurant business took off thanks to Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan’s endorsement. The establishment has since been frequented by the likes of Lindsay Lohan, Deepika Padukone and Mo Farah.
The thirst to do something different resulted in Frank investing in a movie studio — The West London Film Studios – in Hayes in 2005. Films that have been shot there include the Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody and Stan & Ollie.
Taking over a film studio was one of Frank’s childhood dreams. He was always passionate about movies, and he realised the best way to be a part of it was by owning a film studio.
Khalid is keen to expand to attract the likes of Marvel and Netflix.
Last year, he also struck a deal with Hollywood actor Mark Wahlberg andAmerican rapper P Diddy for the launch of a new water AQUAhydrate in the UK. His other interest includes sports, and he is shareholder in Touch Sky group, a sports agency.
An avid philanthropist, Khalid firmly believes that entrepreneurs should try to give back, as they have the power to make a difference. Since 2009, Khalid has been hold a charity gala for a number of charitable causes and raised over £300K. Khalid has been a patron of the Prince's British Asian Trust since 2007.
"If you can make a difference, then make a difference because it will change lives," he believes.
Khalid holds the majority stake in Elbrook and his brothers, Amjad and Shimshad, hold small stakes. In 2014, his businesses had an annual turnover of £145m.
Source: GG2 Power List