Latest news with #Samra
Edmonton Journal
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Edmonton Journal
Abel 'The Weeknd' Tesfaye's creative juice is coffee
Article content Tesfaye added 'coffee entrepreneur' to his CV in 2023 by starting the brand SAMRA ORIGINS, named after his mom, Samra. He was inspired by the Ethiopian coffee ritual, which is centred on community and bringing family and friends together. The collaboration between Samra Origins and Nespresso brings 'rich, bold flavours that take you beyond the cup.' Beyond the cup, Tefsaye is on his Hurry Up Tomorrow tour across Canada and the U.S. and just released a film of the same name (check out his Hurry Up Tomorrow album). The tour, not unlike the ethos of SAMRA ORIGINS, is about 'connecting between humans, conveying artistic self-discovery and healing alongside the chaos of it all,' says Tesfaye.
Broadcast Pro
22-04-2025
- Business
- Broadcast Pro
Nadine Samra departs Weyyak after nearly decade
Under her guidance, the platform achieved numerous milestones, including being the first to launch on Apple TV in the region. After nearly ten years of leadership, Nadine Samra, Chief Business Officer at Weyyak, is stepping down from her role at Zee Entertainment, closing a chapter that transformed the company's digital presence in the MENA region. Joining Zee in 2016, Samra took on the challenge of building the network's digital arm from the ground up. With no existing team, product or platform, she became the first employee dedicated to this mission—ultimately spearheading the creation and launch of Weyyak, the Arabic video-on-demand platform that now serves millions across MENA, Europe and Canada. Under Samra's visionary leadership, Weyyak became a household name in the region's streaming landscape. The platform was a pioneer—reportedly becoming the first in the region to launch on Apple TV, producing original content, and earning industry accolades for innovation and excellence. 'I am incredibly proud of what we've accomplished over the years,' Nadine reflected. 'We started with nothing but a vision—and today, we've built not just a product, but a legacy. I owe this success to my team and partners, whose trust and dedication were the foundation of our journey.' As she steps into her next chapter, Nadine plans to take time for family, mental well-being, and personal reflection—before turning her focus toward a new business venture close to her heart. 'It's important to reconnect with what matters most,' she shared. 'I'm excited to channel my passion into a new endeavour that allows me to give back and make a meaningful impact.'
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Merced's Taste of Little India restaurant to close after 23 years of business
Taste of Little India, a staple of the Merced dining scene for more than 20 years, has lost its lease and will be closing its doors at its location on Main Street on April 11. That gives patrons less than a week to go to the restaurant. Parm Samra, 55, opened with the goal of having Indian food go mainstream and be talked about in the same why Chinese, Mexican and Thai food are discussed. He feels he has achieved that in a sense and that Indian food has become main stream in Merced. After having been in business for a total of about 29 years, Samra said his customers have seen a change in him and he has seen a change in them. Prior to opening the location on Main Street in Merced, Samra opened a location in Atwater in 1996. The current location opened in December 2001 and has been there ever since. Samra said that when he opened his first restaurant in 1996, his was the first Indian restaurant to open in the area between Modesto and Fresno. He said his cuisine was foreign to people in the area. 'People didn't know what our food smelled like, what our food tasted like, what our food looked like,' he said. Samra said he would educate his customers on Indian food and after people began trying it, the started telling their friends and family. More people frequented the restaurant and word spread by mouth before the age of social media. 'We literally made our customer base from the ground up,' said Samra. Getting to know his customers and developing relationships with them, Samra said he believes he was able to resonate with the community. 'Food is such an intimate thing, you put it in your mouth. Having Indian food, people accepted Indians in a sense because they came in and they tried my food and they accepted Indians in part of the community,' he said. Samra said the reason behind the closing is that the landlord sold the building and he was informed by the property manager that they were terminating his lease. Samra said he was devastated when he received the news. 'I was too afraid to tell anybody,' said Samra. 'It was like a shock for the first week. I just didn't know what to do.' Samra said he had difficulty sleeping and after contacting an attorney, he learned there wasn't much he could do. He then began informing people of the restaurant's impending closure. Samra said he is determined to find a new location and to re-open his restaurant. 'I don't want to go out by someone telling me to get out. I want to get out on my own terms,' he said. 'I'm more determined now to find a spot and to open up again.' When people in the community learned of the April 11 closing and began reaching out to him and showing their support, Samra said it was then that he found out the kind of impact he and his restaurant have had on the community over the years. He said that was something he didn't really notice while working. 'You don't see what's happening outside, like, the impact you have on the community and people coming in, and it's like being, all sad and mad for me,' he said. 'I've been blown away by the response by the community, like how they took me under their wing.' Samra said he's looking for a new location in North Merced, and that the support he has received from the community really means a lot to him at this time. 'Those customers are really invested in me,' Samra said. 'They've seen me grow. I am who I am because of my customer base, they raised me in a sense.' And he wants to continue in the business. 'There's still a lot of fight in me left — there's still a lot of curry in me,' Samra said while chuckling. 'I would love to have the opportunity to serve my customer base, because they are everything to me.'
