A.I Catering Services was founded by Haji Fazal Dad, who started catering community events across local areas, gaining popularity through word-of-mouth. In 1988, the family introduced roasted dishes for the first time at the wedding of Abdul Islam, the son of Haji Fazal Dad – a first in their area of the industry. Abdul Islam joined the business full-time a year later, leaving his previous career to help drive growth.
The family set up a small kitchen in their back garden, which became the heart of their operations until 1997. With growing demand, they purchased their first dedicated building, converting it into a commercial kitchen. In 1999, Abdul Islam’s brother Ikram Hussain joined, adding new energy to the team.
The business expanded by purchasing an adjacent building in 2001 to increase capacity, followed by launching a takeaway service during Ramadan in 2006. By 2009, they transformed an office complex into the Manzil Banqueting Hall, a premier venue in Manchester.
In 2011, the family opened a year-round takeaway business to meet customer demand. A.I Catering Services extended its reach internationally in 2014 by catering a wedding in Belgium. Abdul’s sons, Sohail, Ismail, and Omar, began joining the business during this decade, marking the start of the third generation’s involvement and bringing fresh ideas and energy to continue the family legacy with pride.
In 2022, they launched Yahya’s Kitchen, a dark kitchen concept in Manchester, and AI Takeaway, solidifying their footprint in the Manchester food scene. This year, Abdul Islam embarked on a fresh rebrand to embrace the modern era and continue evolving.
CEO
Director
Accounts
Operations
Head Chef
Sales
HR
Product Development
Chef
Chef
Takeaway Manager
Front of House