Rashid Tayub, 63, and his brother Aziz, 56, run the Leicester-based food distribution and property company Crown Crest.

The Tayub family started in business with a corner shop when they arrived in the UK from Malawi where they traded groceries from a warehouse. That was in 1976.

Now, more than 35 years later, they are running a business worth £130 million.

The family moved into cash and carry and expanded quickly, operating from depots across the Midlands. They have remained profitable despite intense competition but have a number of valuable supply agreements with discount retailers including Farmfoods and Poundland.

In 2010 the company acquired the share capital of Instore, the firm that owns discount chain Poundstretcher. They have ambitious plans for Poundstretcher, and have increased the number of outlets to 400. They also bought 15 former Woolworths stores, saving more than 200 jobs, and 18 Ugo stores in the north of England. 

Poundstretcher stores are supplied from a new £36 million 470,000 sq ft distribution centre in Kirby Muxloe on the outskirts of Leicester, built next to an existing facility.

Now they are taking the Poundstretcher brand overseas. They opened a store in the prestigious Madina Mall in Dubai in the spring. Others are expected to follow.

The Crown Crest group – made up of three companies - employs around 5000 people and turns over more than £520 million. Accounts for 2010-2011 showed profits of £21 million.