Leeds Head Quartered Abu Bakr Supermarket Celebrates Black History Month with Expanded Range of Black-Owned Brands

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Abu Bakr Supermarket in Yorkshire is celebrating Black History Month by expanding its product range to include more items from Black-owned brands, such as food, drink, beauty, and lifestyle products. The initiative aims to highlight Black entrepreneurs and their stories, with dedicated in-store displays and online promotions. This effort is part of the supermarket's broader strategy to support independent suppliers and increase customer access to diverse products.

EDITORIAL INSIGHT: Context, industry insight and market perspectives of this news story

Abu Bakr Supermarket’s decision to expand its offering of Black-owned brands during Black History Month reflects a growing emphasis among regional retailers on championing supplier diversity and engaging with underrepresented entrepreneurs. While the initiative is timed to coincide with a national observance, it also highlights the increasing presence of independent and minority-owned businesses within mainstream retail environments, particularly in areas such as Yorkshire with diverse local communities.

For customers, the move provides direct access to a wider selection of food, drink, beauty, and lifestyle products that might otherwise be overlooked in larger retail chains. The supermarket’s focus on in-store displays and digital storytelling also points to a broader trend of retailers using themed campaigns to introduce shoppers to new suppliers and encourage more inclusive purchasing decisions. This approach may help smaller brands gain visibility and traction in a competitive market, particularly during periods of heightened public interest in representation and inclusion.

Story Ideas
Human interest

Cultural Significance of Black History Month Initiatives in Retail

Explore the cultural implications of Abu Bakr Supermarket's Black History Month celebrations, focusing on how such initiatives contribute to cultural representation and acceptance in regional communities.

Target audience
culture-arts
Story potential
6/10
Industry trend

Impact of Black-Owned Brands on Yorkshire’s Retail Sector

Examine how Abu Bakr Supermarket's initiative to feature Black-owned brands during Black History Month reflects broader trends in retail towards diversity and inclusion. Consider the impact this has on the local economy and potential shifts in consumer behaviour.

Target audience
business-finance
Story potential
7/10
Press Release

29 September 2026

Abu Bakr Supermarket is celebrating Black History Month by expanding its range of products from Black-owned brands and shining a spotlight on the people and stories behind them.

The Yorkshire supermarket retailer is using Black History Month as an opportunity to showcase a growing selection of Black-owned businesses across its stores, with customers able to discover new products spanning food, drink, beauty and lifestyle. The expanded range includes new sauces and condiments, vegan meals, premium haircare products and coffee, with the retailer continuing to introduce products from independent Black-owned suppliers.

As part of the celebration, Abu Bakr Supermarket will be promoting Black-owned products through dedicated displays across its stores, alongside online activity designed to introduce customers to the brands and the entrepreneurs behind them. The initiative builds on the supermarket’s Black History Month activity last year, when it began placing a greater focus on Black-owned suppliers and their products.

Hamza Hussain, Managing Director of Abu Bakr Supermarket, said: “We are happy to be celebrating Black History Month in stores with our customers once again, celebrating some of the great Black-owned brands we work with and spotlighting them online.

“We are building on the success of last year, and it’s great to see so many more amazing products and the stories behind the brand founders come to life in our stores.

“Black-owned businesses are creating fantastic products across so many different categories, and we want to make it easier for our customers to discover them, try them and learn more about the people behind the brands.

“We will continue to look at growing the number of Black-owned suppliers at Abu Bakr and supporting the Black community.”

The supermarket says the campaign is also part of its wider approach to working with independent and emerging suppliers, giving customers access to products and brands they may not otherwise encounter as part of their regular shop. Among the products being highlighted are new food and drink options alongside specialist beauty and haircare products, reflecting the breadth of Black-owned businesses now represented across the retail sector.

The in-store campaign will give customers the opportunity to discover the range throughout Black History Month, while Abu Bakr Supermarket will also use its digital channels to share information about selected brands and their founders. The retailer said it hopes the campaign will not only encourage customers to try new products but also help raise awareness of the businesses behind them. Abu Bakr Supermarket will continue to review opportunities to introduce further Black-owned brands and suppliers to its stores as it looks to build on the range available to customers.  

Notes to editors

The story began in 1987, when Abid Hussain, then just 17, took over the family business. With long hours, determination and a hands-on approach, he laid the groundwork for a brand that would go on to become a well-known name across West Yorkshire. A major turning point arrived in 2002. Abid Food Store rebranded as Abu Bakr Supermarkets, signalling both a new identity and an ambition to scale. That same year, the company opened its Queen’s Road store — its first step beyond the original premises and the start of a steady expansion strategy. Further growth followed in 2004 with the Roundhay Road branch, strengthening the brand’s presence in Leeds and giving more families access to its value-driven offering. A decade later, in 2015, Abu Bakr expanded again with its Beeston store, a move that bolstered its community footprint in another busy part of the city. In 2017, the business invested heavily in expanding its product range. Fresh produce, halal meat counters, and an extensive selection of world foods were introduced — a strategic shift that aligned the brand more closely with the needs of the region’s diverse communities and cemented its reputation for global choice at local prices. The company’s momentum continued into the 2020s. In 2022, Abu Bakr Supermarkets opened its Kirkstall branch, bringing its services to a new and vibrant customer base and widening its reach across Leeds. A further store was opened in 2025, in Batley. Source: News By Wire
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