Nirala Sweets facts for kids
| Industry | Bakers |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1948 |
| Founder | Taj Din |
| Defunct | 2016 |
| Headquarters | , |
|
Number of locations
|
22 outlets in Pakistan, 2 in the UAE |
|
Key people
|
Taj Din (founder owner of family business) Farooq Ahmed (son) Faisal Farooq and Ahmer Farooq (grandchildren and Managing Directors of business) |
| Products | Sweets, snacks, dairy, beverages |
Nirala Sweets was a popular chain of sweet shops and cafes. It started in Lahore, Pakistan. The company had 22 stores across Pakistan, with 15 of them in Lahore. They also had two stores in the UAE, one in Dubai and one in Sharjah.
Contents
How Nirala Sweets Started
Taj Din was the person who started Nirala Sweets. Before this, he used to sell woollen shawls in Kashmir. He also worked at a publishing house in Amritsar, where he bound copies of the Guru Granth Sahib, a holy book.
After Pakistan became independent in 1947, Taj Din moved to Lahore. He worked as a binder at Taj Book Publisher. He saved his money to open his own small shop. In 1948, he opened Nirala Sweets on Fleming Road in Lahore. He sold breakfast items like halwa poori and delicious mithai (sweets).
Soon, Taj Din became known for his high-quality and tasty food. Many people traveled long distances to eat at his small shop in Lahore. In the early 1950s, it was common for shops to sell breakfast in the mornings. Then, they would switch to selling sweets in the evenings.
Growing the Business
When Taj Din's oldest son, Farooq Ahmed, joined the business, things changed. He looked at how European businesses worked. He helped Nirala Sweets grow much bigger.
The company sold traditional mithai (sweets). They also sold their own brand of snacks, dairy products, and drinks. Some of their shops, like those in Jail Road (Lahore), Dubai, and Sharjah, also served traditional breakfast. This included puris, suji halva, chaney, lassi, and Masala chai.
In the late 1980s, Farooq Ahmed became unwell with Parkinson's disease. His oldest son, Faisal Farooq, took over the business. He was only 20 years old. Even with this change, the company continued to do well and grow.
Why the Business Closed
Nirala Sweets closed down in 2016. The company's problems began when they took a large loan from a bank. They wanted to build a new dairy factory. However, they found it hard to pay back this loan. Faisal Farooq also faced personal challenges. Financial problems and personal stress built up. This eventually led to the business closing in 2016.
Popular Products
Nirala Sweets was known for many delicious items:
- Halwa poori and Cholay (popular breakfast foods)
- Ras malai (soft milk dumplings)
- Barfi (a type of milk fudge)
- Gulab jamun (sweet, syrupy fried dough balls)
- Chum Chum (another sweet, often oval-shaped)
- Patisa (a flaky sweet)
- Rubri (a creamy, condensed milk dessert)
- Jalebi (crispy, spiral-shaped sweets)
- Laddu (round, sweet balls)
Images for kids
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A Nirala Sweets outlet in Islamabad
