11-05-2025
Scottish Labour leader's brother set to make millions after fast food chain deal
The deal between Glasgow-based German Doner Kebab (GDK) and London investment firm True is said to be worth upwards of £50million.
The brother of Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has sold a multi-million pound stake in his booming global fast food chain.
The deal between Glasgow-based German Doner Kebab (GDK) and London investment firm True is said to be worth upwards of £50million.
It comes weeks after the chain, owned by Hero Brands in which Athif Sarwar has a shareholding of more than 75 percent, came under fire for advertising roles paying below the legal minimum wage.
Workers aged 21 and over must be paid the National Living Wage, which was £11.44 per hour at the time of the furore in March and has since gone up to £12.21.
The firm responded by saying it is a 'proud living wage employer' and the job adverts in question were 'outdated' and posted in 'error.'
Last year, Anas Sarwar was forced to deny family firm United Wholesale also previously failed to pay the non-legally binding Real Living Wage.
GDK, which has over 145 UK locations and 170 globally – including in the US, Canada, Sweden and the Middle East – is part of the Hero Brands group of companies based in East Kilbride.
Athif, 46, is listed at Companies House as a director of Hero Brands, with a shareholding of more than 75 bought GDK in 2017 after eating one of its kebabs while on holiday in Dubai.
Scottish Conservative MSP Annie Wells said: 'It's pretty embarrassing for Anas Sarwar that while he preaches about the living wage, his own brother has seemingly amassed a fortune while ignoring it.' Anas, 42, who became Scottish Labour leader in 2021 is not involved in GDK or any of the family businesses.
GDK's chief executive Simon Wallis confirmed the investment deal with True.
He said: 'At GDK, we are inspired by our purpose to elevate the kebab -eating experience and it's great to be working alongside a partner that shares the vision of dominating the kebab category across the world and in every neighbourhood we operate in.'
Athif, executive chairman of Hero Brands, said: 'The GDK movement has been blessed with monumental growth. We have built an incredible team at GDK focused on delivering for our partners, franchisees and guests, and we are looking forward to the next phase of the GDK journey with True.'
GDK would not confirm the size of True's cash injection but did reveal it was investing from a fund 'committing £10-100million of equity to the future of retail and consumer sectors'.
GDK made headlines last year after launching a gut-busting breakfast roll stuffed with doner meat, eggs, onions and tomatoes.
The Sarwars are the sons of former Labour Party MP Mohammed, who founded cash and carry operator United Wholesale (Scotland) in 1982.
Their other brother Asim, 43, runs the United Wholesale operation in Glasgow, where he is a and his mum are the main shareholders.
GDK, founded in 2014, has become one of the fastest-growing fast food operations in Britain in the last eight years.
It has nine restaurants in Scotland – in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Stirling, Dundee, Hamilton and Aberdeen.
A 10th site is due to open by June and an 11th is in the pipeline for later this year. All of Hero Brands' outlets including GDK are owned by franchisees.
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