Join WhatsApp Channel
The 24th annual edition of the Asian Achievers Awards, one of the United Kingdom’s most prominent and longstanding celebrations of British Asian achievement in business and society, brought together business leaders, celebrities and sports personalities in London a few weeks ago. One of the unique aspects of the awards is its longevity, in unearthing British Asian talent across society, for more than two decades.
Sanjeet Manek, founder and CEO of Sandea Wholesale, who won the Entrepreneur of the Year award spoke to South Asian Herald in an exclusive interview.
You’re a banker by profession. How did the idea of Sandea come about?
My professional background is in banking, which gave me a strong grounding in finance, risk, relationships and understanding how businesses operate. The idea for Sandea came from seeing an opportunity within the wholesale and distribution market to build something that was agile, customer-focused and internationally minded. I wanted to create a business that could build strong relationships with both suppliers and customers and, importantly, deliver on what we promised. We built the company progressively, reinvesting in the business, developing our supplier network and expanding our customer base. Over time, that entrepreneurial idea has developed into a growing UK and international wholesale business.
Tell us what Sandea does and what you think the reasons are for its growth and success?
Sandea Wholesale is an FMCG wholesaler and distributor, supplying a broad range of products across grocery, beverages, confectionery, snacks, health and beauty, household and non-food categories to customers in the UK and internationally. A significant part of our growth has come from international trade and our ability to develop long-term relationships in different markets. I believe our success comes down to relationships, agility and service. Wholesale is ultimately a people business. Customers need to trust that you understand their market, can source the right products at competitive prices and, most importantly, can deliver. We have also been prepared to adapt. Our international growth has been particularly important to us, and receiving the King’s Award for Enterprise for International Trade was an incredibly proud milestone for the whole Sandea team and recognition of the work that has gone into developing our export business.
How has the war in the Middle East impacted your business?
The conflicts in the Middle East have demonstrated just how interconnected global trade has become. For businesses involved in international distribution, geopolitical instability can affect shipping routes, freight costs, transit times, insurance and general supply-chain certainty. Disruption around key shipping routes can have consequences far beyond the countries directly involved. For us, the challenge is managing that uncertainty while continuing to provide our customers with a reliable service. It means planning further ahead, communicating closely with customers, suppliers and logistics partners and, where possible, having alternative options available. You cannot control geopolitical events, but you can control how prepared and responsive your business is.
Apart from the war, what are the main challenges in your business, whether that’s the macroeconomic environment, talent, taxes or anything else?
Cost pressures remain significant across the supply chain. Freight, warehousing, employment costs and general operating expenses all affect margins, while customers understandably remain extremely price-conscious. Currency movements are another consideration for an international business, because when you are buying and selling across different markets, exchange-rate volatility can materially affect transactions.
Talent is also incredibly important. As a business grows, you need people who are prepared to grow with it. In an entrepreneurial company, roles aren’t always confined to a job description. We need people who take ownership, communicate well and are willing to support each other. Another challenge is ensuring our infrastructure keeps pace with our growth. We are investing significantly so that we can become more efficient and scalable without losing the personal service and entrepreneurial approach that helped build the business in the first place.
What’s next for the business?
The next stage is about scaling Sandea intelligently. International expansion remains a major priority. We want to deepen our presence in existing markets while continuing to identify new opportunities internationally. At the same time, we are investing heavily in the infrastructure behind the business, including technology, our ERP systems, warehouse processes, data and automation, as well as developing our digital and B2B capabilities. The objective isn’t simply to become bigger. We want to become a stronger, more efficient and more sophisticated organization while retaining the entrepreneurial culture and customer relationships that got us here. We are also developing the Sandea Foundation, with an initial focus on supporting pediatric cancer care in Tanzania. This is particularly meaningful to me personally as a cancer survivor. As the business grows, I believe our responsibility to give something back should grow with it.
Anything else you want to add?
Business is very rarely a straight line. There have been challenges, mistakes, difficult periods and plenty of sleepless nights along the way, but those experiences shape both the entrepreneur and the organization. One thing I have learned is that sustainable growth is built on relationships. Whether that’s with your employees, suppliers, customers, advisers or family, having good people around you is incredibly important. I’m enormously proud of what the Sandea team has achieved, particularly being recognized with the King’s Award for Enterprise for International Trade, but I don’t see that recognition as the destination. For me, it is encouragement to keep building. There is still a great deal we want to achieve with Sandea, both commercially and through the positive impact we can make beyond the business.
Related posts:
AI Changed Search: What Does That Mean for Marketers?
Premier Global DM–CX–Loyalty Summit 2026 to Bring 300+ Tech Leaders to Hyderabad in April
New York City to Retire MetroCard on December 31, 2025, as OMNY Becomes Sole Fare Payment System
Asian Achievers Awards Honor British Asian Leaders in London
