The new owners of one of the UK’s leading ethnic foodservice wholesalers are pushing into retail following a multimillion-pound management buyout.

The business, formerly known as JK Foods, has been acquired by its management team led by Sam Sangha and re-named Asiana Ltd in a deal advised by Tenon Corporate Finance and Freethcartwright LLP.

Supplying Indian and Chinese restaurants from Asiana’s 34,000 sq ft depot in Nottingham would remain the core business, said Sangha, but there were opportunities to open more specialist Asian supermarkets in the Midlands following the success of the first food store, Asiana Hypermarket, in Nottingham.

Sangha added: “We can capitalise on the demand for truly authentic Asian and Oriental products that consumers are unable to obtain in the high street. ”

A legal advisor to the management team, John Heaphy of Freethcartwright LLP, said Asiana’s prospects were extremely encouraging.

“I have seen the product range for their new retail outlet and don’t think it can be beaten for its diversity and choice. Sangha clearly knows the business inside out.”