About Wanis

Wanis was founded in 1964 by Tulsidas Wadhwani after he emigrated from India, travelling through Africa before finally ending up in the UK. With the help of family he set up a small cash & carry, selling Ethnic products and importing small quantities of foodstuffs from sub Saharan Africa. Today Wanis has grown into the UK’s largest African and Caribbean food and drink
distributor.

Wanis has built up specialist knowledge of the African and Caribbean food and drink market over the past 40 years and currently represents a number of major brands in the sector. Products imported into the EC and distributed by Wanis will have a strong appeal to their core Afro-Caribbean market and all brands marketed are brands that command market share, with heritage and high recognition.

In 1996 Wanis launched the Jamaica Sun brand of products to represent the traditional food products of the Caribbean. Following on from the success of the products and after receiving feedback from the marketplace, Wanis launched Tropical Sun to appeal to a wider audience and encompass a broader range. As Afro-Caribbean foods have become more mainstream so too has the brand’s appeal and now spans over 100 different product lines.

The Company is continually striving to expand its offering of Africa and the Caribbean foodstuffs - if the market demands it Wanis can support it. We are distinctively positioned in the UK having a broad distribution network and an established wholesale cash & carry business. This means speed to market is rapid and reliable - we can monitor market perception and positioning of a product range and ensure market acceptance for both new and traditional products.

Wanis has one of the largest field sales teams in the sector and our leadership in the Retail and Independent channels is reflected in the heritage of the agencies we represent. We have strong links with the Afro-Caribbean restaurant and catering trade and whilst still in its relative infancy compared to Asian foods, remain a vital entry point for trial amongst early adopters and ethnic flippers.

The Company prides itself on its relationship with its suppliers & customers, all helping to form the foundation for solid business growth. The brands we back are mostly the number one in the product category and our name has become synonymous in the trade with the source of Caribbean and African food and drink in the UK.

In 2007 Wanis moved to a 120,000 sq. ft. custom built state-of-the-art warehouse in East London. The culmination of over 2 years planning the building is an environmental friendly building incorporating over 15% renewable energy in its day to day running and utilizing technology using solar panels, rain water harvesting and ground source heating. We look forward to welcoming you to our new site.