Bangladeshi and Indian diaspora dominated British curry industry faced a huge blow as its profit shrunk by 75 per cent in 2020 after the outbreak of coronavirus.
In seven out of every eight restaurants, 86 per cent of their sales evaporated since the outbreak of coronavirus in 2020.
A report of the British Curry Awards featured the grim picture on Friday.
More than 42 per cent restaurants lost one-fourth their income and a number of restaurants pulled down their shutters.
The report also feared that unemployment among Bangladesh and Indian community, the stakeholders of the curry industry, would increase if restaurants remain closed.
Enam Ali, former president of British Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce & Industry, said, “Curry industry suffered massively due to Covid-19 outbreak. Businesses are hamstrung because of the lack of skilled chefs in the curry industry. Bangladeshi, Indian and Pakistanis restaurants are taking the hit of Covid-19.”
Enam, also a founder entrepreneur of British Curry Awards, also said, “Once we established extraordinary examples in the curry industry and now, we are closing our restaurants. This industry contributes to the economy of the United Kingdom around 5 billion pounds. The government intervention is essential to hold the tradition of this industry,” he added.
He also asked the British government to develop this sector by appointing a minister to look after it.
