An Indian takeaway with a branch in Upminster has been named the "best takeaway in Essex" for the second time this year.
Kaani Kaana won the title at the England’s Business Awards 2026, announced last night (August 17).
The win marks the second award of the year for the business, which also took home the Best Takeaway award at the Chelmsford Business Improvement District (BID) Awards in June.
Kaani Kaana has now progressed to England’s Business Awards National Grand Final later this year.
The title of "best in Essex" is not unfamiliar to Kaani Kaana.
In October last year, Kaani Kaana mopped up two titles at The Asian Restaurant & Takeaway Awards (ARTA) 2025 - dubbed the 'Curry Oscars'.
It was named not only the best Asian takeaway in Essex but also the best Asian takeaway in the country for the second time in three years.
Kaani Kaana's managing director Sadiq Ahmed said: "This was only our second awards evening of the year, and incredibly, we have now won 'Best Takeaway' at both, with one of those wins coming at the Chelmsford Business Improvement District (BID) Awards.
"This makes it our second award of 2026, and hopefully there are a few more to come later this year!
"For us, this award means a huge amount because Kaani Kaana was built with a very simple ambition: to change people’s perception of takeaway food and show that a takeaway can deliver the same level of quality, care and customer service you would expect from a great restaurant."
Sadiq previously revealed that he founded Kaani Kaana after he felt there was a lack of progression in the Indian and Bangladeshi takeaway market.
His father used to own restaurants and takeaways which Sadiq would spend time in after school.
After 15 years of working in commercial banking, Sadiq returned to one of his father's businesses and claimed it had not changed at all.
He aims to innovate and develop the market through Kaani Kaana which he founded in 2022.
In April last year, Sadiq opened Kaani Kaana's second branch - in Upminster.
Speaking to the Recorder after last October's award wins, Sadiq said: "It honestly means the world to us.
"Winning these two awards again feels incredibly special.
"The first time was amazing, but the second time confirms that it wasn’t a fluke, it shows that everything our team is doing is making a real difference."
"The evening itself was surreal, being amongst so many incredible restaurants and then hearing our name called out not once but twice was overwhelming."
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