A family business restructure is paving the way for a bold new era in Bradford’s multicultural supermarket landscape. At the heart of this story lies the Alam family, pioneers of the city’s Halal grocery trade since the early 1980s.
Operating under the much-loved brands Worldwide and Al Halal, brothers Mohammed Arshad Alam and Pervez Alam built a network of stores that became mainstays of community life. For generations of Bradford residents, their shops offered not just groceries but familiarity, the trusted advice, the friendly faces, and the comfort of knowing that someone would help carry heavy shopping to the car.
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But after decades of trading together, the brothers have parted ways. Mr Pervez has retained the Worldwide name, while Mr Arshad continues under the Al Halal banner. The split raised eyebrows among loyal shoppers, but far from signalling decline, it has sparked a new era of healthy rivalry that looks set to benefit customers.
Leading Al Halal’s next chapter is Chaudhry Arshad, son of Mr Arshad Alam. Based primarily in Manchester, the younger Arshad is now steering the Bradford brand into fresh territory, determined to carry forward its founding ethos: to provide the best produce at the best prices while offering a warm, traditional shopping experience.
His first major move was the takeover of the former Haqs supermarket, locally known as Wimmy Foods, in Listerhills. The response was immediate. Within weeks of reopening under the Al Halal name, the store saw a surge in customers, drawn by aggressive pricing on essentials and aisles stacked high with fruit, vegetables, rice, spices, toiletries and household goods.
For Arshad, though, this is about more than retail. “Back then, supermarkets were community hubs,” a store manager explained.
“Staff didn’t just stock shelves; they helped customers carry their bags, gave advice on products, and made every visit feel personal. That’s exactly what we want to bring back with Al Halal.”
Part of that familiarity is visual. Both Worldwide and Al Halal have retained the family’s iconic logo design, a hallmark of Bradford’s high streets for more than three decades. The look is instantly recognisable to generations of shoppers, with only the company names distinguishing the two. For customers, the continuation of these logos symbolises trust, tradition and the reassurance that despite business changes, the family values behind the brands remain intact.
The Listerhills store is being transformed into a state-of-the[1]art supermarket, but its essence remains firmly rooted in tradition. Customers can expect attentive staff, fresh produce at affordable prices, and the kind of service that makes shopping easier, from assistance at the tills to carrying large items to the car.
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This blend of old and new echoes the brand’s original ethos from the 1980s: to create a one-stop shop for multicultural families. Today, alongside British staples, Al Halal’s shelves cater to South Asian, African and Middle Eastern communities, reaffirming its role as a pillar of Bradford’s diverse retail scene.
For many locals, the revival of Al Halal has been transformative.
Shabana Hussain, a mother from the Bradford 7 area, said: “This supermarket is my local, but over the years the previous owners didn’t have much stock and the prices weren’t competitive, so I had to drive out to get my shopping. Since Al Halal took over, I haven’t needed to go anywhere else. The shelves are fully stacked, I can get whatever I want, and the prices are perhaps the cheapest in Bradford at the moment. I’m so glad Al Halal has taken over this site, it’s made my shopping experience easier.”
For retired Mr Patel, the change has been just as striking: “I hadn’t been to this store for a few years because the previous owners never had stock. I am so glad to see Al Halal take over. This is my second visit this week. The prices are great and there are so many staff here to help. I’m just glad they’re back.”
Mrs Khan, a housewife from Bradford 3, admitted she travelled out of her way to see what the fuss was about: “I don’t normally come to this side of Bradford, but someone told me Al Halal had opened here and there were lots of offers on. I came and I’m glad I did, because the prices and the quality of fruit and vegetables is good. I’ll definitely be coming back for my weekly shop.”
These testimonies highlight what Al Halal has always stood for — affordability, freshness, and community connection.
While the separation between the brothers prompted speculation, it has in fact revitalised Bradford’s independent supermarket scene. With Worldwide and Al Halal now competing head-to-head, shoppers stand to gain from improved service, greater choice and sharper prices.
For a city as diverse as Bradford, this resurgence of family-run supermarkets feels like a return to form. These businesses, rooted in local knowledge and community trust, offer something that larger national chains often cannot: a sense of belonging.
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As the next generation of the Alam family takes the reins, Al Halal’s future looks bright. Chaudhry Arshad’s vision is not only to strengthen the brand’s retail offer but also to contribute to the wider regeneration of Listerhills, creating jobs and bringing life back to an area that has struggled with economic decline.
For shoppers, the message is clear: Al Halal is here to stay, continuing its tradition of quality and affordability while embracing modern retail standards. For Bradford, it means the preservation and reinvention of a proud multicultural legacy.
In the end, a trip to Al Halal is not just about buying groceries. It’s about being part of a story that stretches back decades, a family business evolving with the times yet never losing sight of its roots. As shoppers push their trolleys down the aisles of the newly revitalised Listerhills store, they are not just buying groceries. They are participating in the next chapter of a local institution, one that continues to adapt, compete, and serve the city it has always called home.
