Online curry business the key ingredient for student’s success

21 July 2009

A Glyndŵr University student behind the success of a new online ordering service for curry houses and restaurants in North Wales has been named best student employee in Wales.

Student Kamal Pal, 32, scooped the prize in the international category of an annual awards scheme run by the National Association of Student Employee Services (NASES) for his work as marketing manager for the e-business curryplus.co.uk

The unique site gives curry lovers the chance order and collect food from their favourite takeaway, selecting from a full menu listed online, or book a table at a host of Indian restaurants across the region.

More than 25 takeaways and restaurants are already using the service, including Sher Khan in Chester and the Wrexham-based Jamuna, Chirk Tandoori, Khazana and Country Spice curry houses.

Kamal said the service had proven to be popular with people at work ordering food from the comfort of their desk to collect on their way home.

“I did some research a few years ago which showed Indian restaurants’ trade wasn’t growing as fast as other cuisines like English and Chinese because these were using the internet,” he said.

“Online ordering is relatively unheard of among Indian restaurant owners, so initially they were very suspicious of it and it was difficult to get them to embrace the idea.

“Once they were on board, though, it was easy for them to see the benefits. It’s hugely attractive to customers because of the convenience offered by online ordering and they’ve attracted additional trade as a result. The website also allows them to post special offer vouchers which have been hugely successful too.”

The website is maintained by Creative Solving, a Wrexham-based IT solutions firm who Kamal secured a placement with through Go Wales, a service which provides work placement opportunities for students studying in Wales.

Kamal was nominated for the NASES Student Employee of the Year Award by Creative Solving and picked up his award at a ceremony in Cardiff.

His success follows on from that of fellow MBA student Azmery Jahan, who was named as the outstanding employee in the university’s Jobshop.

Sam Forde, Job Shop Officer at Glyndŵr University, said: “Now more than ever, it’s vital that students gain valuable work experience before they graduate. Kamal’s work with Creative Solving has improved his career prospects no end.

“Both Kamal and Azmery are to be congratulated for their success in receiving the awards.”