From heritage to leadership, Ameena Ziauddin continues to honor her family’s vision by steering Norfolk Foods into a new era of purpose-driven growth and empowerment.
When Ameena Ziauddin took the helm of Norfolk Foods, she wasn’t just inheriting a title – she was stepping into a legacy built on grit, sacrifice, and a family dream. Norfolk Foods, a trusted name in Sri Lanka’s food manufacturing industry, began when her parents left behind a comfortable life in Norfolk England, to start anew in Sri Lanka.
Let’s start at the beginning. Norfolk Foods has its roots in your parents’ remarkable decision to return to Sri Lanka after decades in the UK. What was behind that move?
My father was a food technologist in the UK and a director at a company. He was creating products, generating profits, all for someone else. At the same time, my parents didn’t want my sister and me growing up as the only brown children in our Norfolk school, disconnected from our extended family and cultural roots. So, instead of settling into retirement, they moved back to Sri Lanka to start anew. That was how the very first factory in Pasyala came to life, taking on the name of Norfolk, inspired by the place we called home.
Let’s talk about products. Food is memory. Food is culture. How do you know when a new product like, vegan line or a niche partnership, feels right?
New product development is unpredictable. Sometimes it’s out of necessity, sometimes by pure chance. Take our “Lean, Mean, Green” vegan range. It started because our senior chairman told me, “There’s a vegan exhibition. You need to exhibit.” I said, “We don’t have a vegan range!” He just said, “Well, make one.” We already had vegan items scattered across our portfolio, but never as a dedicated range. In the other hand, the panipol pancake was originally made for a farewell party in the factory. When I tasted it later, I thought, this is amazing. That’s how it ended up in production. Sometimes you have a gut feeling a product will work, you’re going in on blind faith and sometimes they take years of research. Both ways are equally nerve wracking.
Amid all the pressure, scaling, and decision-making, what’s something that keeps you centered?
I have an 8-year-old who couldn’t care less who I am. She will bring me right back down to earth. I’m her minion. Beyond that, a larger part is my faith. It really helps me stay grounded. When things don’t go according to plan, and they often don’t, I remind myself that everything happens for a reason. That perspective makes a huge difference
What’s one thing you struggled with as a younger leader that now feels like second nature?
Norfolk Foods isn’t just a business; it’s a legacy
built a family dream.Taking the helm isn’t a bout inheriting a title—it’s about carrying forward a story where every
success was
earned the hard way
success was
earned the hard way
In the early days, one of my biggest struggles was being taken seriously as a woman in leadership. Whenever I walked into a room with male colleagues, people automatically assumed the men were in charge. The eye contact, the business cards, the conversation — it all went to them first. Back then, it unsettled me, but today I handle it very differently. I don’t rush to correct it; I let people realize their mistake. And when they do, it’s a powerful reminder: never assume the woman in the room isn’t the one leading.
What does legacy mean to you now? What would you like to leave behind for the next generation?
For me, legacy means leaving behind something that has truly changed the game at Norfolk Foods in terms of what we offer. I would want people to remember us as a company that did things the right way, with integrity, from start to finish. That we stood for quality, that our staff genuinely enjoyed being part of our journey, and that we consistently produced the best products. Legacy isn’t just about a thriving company. It’s about a place where people feel valued and respected. I want the next generation to inherit not only a strong brand but also a culture that prioritises dignity, fairness, and opportunity.
What would you want young entrepreneurs across Sri Lanka to know, not just about business, but about building a life they’ll be proud of?
I think the most important thing to know is that you’re not going to get everything right the first time—or even the second or third. You have to keep going. If my parents had stopped at the first bump in the road, we wouldn’t be here today. That resilience is something I carry with me, because our family has never had anything come easy. My sister and I were born after 17 years of marriage and 13 miscarriages—so even our very existence feels like a miracle. That’s why I would tell young entrepreneurs: success doesn’t come overnight, and it doesn’t come without sacrifice.
