A halal butcher’s and grocery chain with ambitions of becoming the “Harrods of the industry” has opened a store in Stratford. Tariq Halal welcomed customers through the doors of its Stratford Centre outlet on Wednesday (October 13).

Cllr Winston Vaughan, who chairs Newham Council, cut the gold ribbon to open the store and Nollywood actress Judith Akuta attended the gala event.

Founder and chairman Tariq Latif Sheikh said the business had envisioned a Europe-wide chain before Brexit but it is still set to open its first store in Paris.

“The demand for our products has been phenomenal. We aim to be the Harrods of the meat industry and provide everything required by our customers through a one-stop-shop, including groceries from high-end suppliers,” he added.

Paul Harrison from Tropical Sun Foods, which is supplying the store, said: “We are delighted to be a part of today’s grand opening of Tariq Halal’s state-of-the-art butcher shop.”