At the ringside with buyers

Our story

From South Wales to Bishop Street

Mohammed Akram started his first meat trading business in South Wales in 1980. Today the family business supplies British lamb and mutton, certified halal by the HMC, from Birmingham: at home as Pak Mecca Meats, and for export as Menai Meats.

At a glance

Our family business at a glance

Established in Birmingham
1982
Sheep processed annually
800,000
Daily processing capacity
3,500
UK livestock markets sourced from
62
Shops supplied across the UK
1,500+
Employees
200
European countries supplied
7
Certified halal assurance
HMC
At a glance

How it began

A family business since 1980

In 1980 Mohammed Akram started his first meat trading business, Pak Halal Meats, in South Wales. It began as a small operation in the UK halal meat trade, and it kept growing.

The business was established in Birmingham in 1982, moved to central Birmingham in 1995, and became Pak Mecca Meats in 1997. It now trades from 162–194 Bishop Street in Highgate, Birmingham.

Buying at the market is at the heart of the business. Our buyers still choose livestock at UK markets themselves, pen by pen.

Pictured at the top of this page: Mohammed Akram (centre) with buyers at the market ring.

The auctioneer selling a pen of lambs, with the clerk recording the sale
Sale day: the auctioneer sells pen by pen

Our history

Through the years

From one trading business in South Wales to a supplier of the trade from Birmingham.

  1. The beginnings

    Mohammed Akram starts his first meat trading business, Pak Halal Meats Ltd, in South Wales: the start of the company in the UK halal meat trade. From a small operation, it keeps growing.

    Mohammed Akram in the cold store with lamb carcasses, in the early days of the business
    Mohammed Akram in the early days

  2. Established in Birmingham

    The business is established in Birmingham, the city it has traded from ever since.

  3. A move to central Birmingham

    With bigger opportunities in view, the business moves to central Birmingham, and production grows quickly.

  4. Pak Mecca Meats

    A move to larger premises in central Birmingham, and Pak Halal becomes Pak Mecca Meats.

    The Pak Mecca Meats building, with the company sign
    The Pak Mecca Meats building

  5. A name in the trade

    Pak Mecca Meats is established as a reputable name in the meat industry, and creates more than 90 jobs.

    The Pak Mecca Meats team in company jackets and hairnets
    The Pak Mecca Meats team

  6. Exporting through Menai Meats

    The group begins exporting through Menai Meats, its sister company for European trade.

  7. A second site

    The group acquires a site in Tipton, West Midlands. It is not yet in operation: once it opens, its projected capacity is 25,000 sheep a week.

    An aerial view of the site
    From the air

  8. Continued growth

    The group's workforce passes 150 people, with a commitment to create 100 more jobs.

    The team at work on the line
    The team at work

  9. Bishop Street, Birmingham

    Around 200 people work across the group, which processes up to 3,500 sheep a day, around 17,000 a week and 800,000 a year. From 162–194 Bishop Street in Highgate we supply more than 1,500 shops across the UK, and our sister company Menai Meats exports to seven countries in Europe.

What we stand for

Our values

Five values guide how we buy, work and trade.

  1. Animal welfare comes first

    The welfare of our animals, and of our suppliers' animals, is our first priority. Treating livestock with respect is right in principle, and it shows in the quality of the meat.

  2. Customers at the centre

    We put our customers at the centre of our decisions, from buying at market to delivery, and we aim for relationships that last.

  3. Respect and development for our people

    We treat our people with respect, involve them in the work and support them to build their skills, in a safe workplace.

  4. Excellence and continuous improvement

    We keep improving how we work and invest in our processes, so the quality of what we supply stays consistent.

  5. Trust, transparency and traceability

    We are open about how we work, and every carcass is labelled for traceability, so our customers can trust what they buy.

Pak Mecca Meats

Our sister company in the UK

Menai Meats is the export company of the family business, and handles its export trade and overseas customers. Our sister company, Pak Mecca Meats, supplies British lamb and mutton to butchers, restaurants and wholesalers across the UK.

You will see the Menai Meats name at the end of our film.

Visit the Pak Mecca Meats website Watch the film