Hanif's was started in 1985 by Hanif and Sheila Ratanshi. Born in Mubende, Uganda, Hanif immigrated to Canada following Idi Amin's expulsion of Ugandan Asians in 1972. While working part time as a bus driver in Edmonton, Hanif worked in his parents ethnic grocery store Spice Bazaar. This inspired Hanif and Sheila to move their family to Vancouver and enter the grocery distribution business through Hanif's International Foods.
The Hanif's Fried Onions business started in 1989 after attending a tradeshow in Cologne, Germany. They stumbled across a fried onion booth and immediately recognized the product from their experience working at Spice Bazaar.
Appreciating the value of European quality, they developed a strong relationship and an exclusive arrangement with an excellent suppliers in Holland. Hanif started shipping containers directly to other cities such as Toronto, New York, Houston, Chicago and Los Angeles, creating a reputable brand across North America.
