Shezan International

Shezan International Limited
Private
Industry Beverages
Founded May 30, 1964 (1964-05-30)
Headquarters Lahore, Pakistan
Parent Shahnawaz Group
Website shezan.pk

Shezan International Limited is a Pakistani beverage manufacturer based in Lahore. It is the largest beverage company in Pakistan. It is a part of Shahnawaz Group.

Since its inception in 1964, Shezan has produced various products including soft drinks, juices, ketchups, and jams. The company is also the single largest grower of mangoes in Pakistan, and employs roughly 1,000 persons.[1] The company is best known for its trademark product, 'Shezan Mango', a mango juice drink popular in Pakistan.

History

Shezan International was incorporated on May 30, 1964; conceived as a joint venture by the Shahnawaz Group, Pakistan and Alliance Industrial Development Corporation, United States in 1964.[2]

Production

Shezan remains amongst Pakistan's largest food processing units, having developed and installed the capacity to meet the country's local as well as export needs.

In 1971, Shahnawaz Group purchased all the shares of Alliance Industrial Development Corporation with the permission of the Government of Pakistan. In 1980–81, a separate unit was installed in Karachi, which now caters for Karachi, Sindh and export demand. A bottle filling plant was set in 1983 in Lahore, Punjab. An independent Tetra Brik plant was commissioned in 1987. In 1990, it was decided to install a juice factory at Hattar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.[2]

Shezan International's head office is located in Lahore, Pakistan.In England Nuovo Foods LTD is the authorized distributor for all Shezan products, They carry all the import and distribution of juices, jams, pickles, chutneys, sauces, syrups and squashes. In Canada, Target Foods is authorized distributor.

Products

Near the end of 2008, Shezan introduced an energy drink brand[3] to Pakistan.

Controversy

Shezan has been the frequent target of controversy due to the religious affiliation of its owners. Several campaigns led by religious conservatives have in the past targeted Shezan, calling for its boycott, and subsequent ban.[4]

Shezan products ban

In 2012, campaigns by traditionally conservative Islamic groups found a more liberal voice, amongst these were lawyers from Lahore Bar Association.[5] Soon thereafter, The Lahore Bar Association also banned Shezan products from its premises and subordinate court complexes, threatening tough actions against anyone found buying the drink. The move came as 100 lawyers unanimously voted for the ban on Shezan drinks and products.[6]

Attacks

As a consequence of the numerous initiatives to boycott Shezan products in systematic Anti-Ahmadiyya campaigns, several attacks have been recorded against Shezan factories. In June 2010, unidentified assailants stormed a Shezan factory after which high-explosive bombs were detonated that left four dead, and many injured.[7]

References

  1. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-10-11. Retrieved 2013-06-15.
  2. 1 2 "Shezan". shezan.biz.
  3. ↑ "Page not found – Eat 'n Travel in Pakistan".
  4. ↑ "Why many in Pakistan are vowing 'I'll drink Shezan'".
  5. ↑ Reporter, The Newspaper's Staff (16 February 2012). "Lahore Bar denies 'Shezan juice ban'". DAWN.COM.
  6. ↑ "Barred: Lawyers ban drink on court complex - The Express Tribune". 11 February 2012.
  7. ↑ "Shezan factory attacked in Lahore - The Express Tribune". 14 June 2010.
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