THE joint founder of the Patak food empire, which helped change the eating habits of Britain, has died.

Alongside her husband, the late Laxmishanker, Shanta Gaury Pathak was a pioneer of the food revolution that has helped to make Indian cuisine one of the nation’s most popular dishes.

The couple, who began by making Indian snacks in a tiny kitchen, went on to found the Pataks’ brand which became famous around the world with a £55 million turnover.

The company employs about 500 people making the sauces and chutneys at two factories, one of which is based in Leigh.

Her son, Kirit, lives in Victoria Road, Heaton, and with his wife, Meena, and daughter, Anjali, took over the business when his father died.

He paid tribute to his mother, who died last month.

Mr Pathak said: “My mother was a huge inspiration and will be deeply missed by all those who knew her.

“She oozed charisma and spirit and was a very special and precious individual who, alongside my father, will be remembered for jointly planting the seeds of the Patak’s business.

“My mother was at her happiest in the kitchen and the fact her secret family recipes have remained largely unchanged speaks for itself.

“Together with my wife, Meena, and my daughter, Anjali Pathak, we will continue to keep her legacy alive, inspiring the nation to share my mother’s love for Indian cuisine.”

Laxmishanker and Shanta Gaury Pathak arrived in London in 1950 from Kenya with just £5.

Mrs Pathak, who was 83 when she died, started making Indian snacks, sweets and pickles in the family’s kitchen to help make ends meet.

From those humble origins grew the Patak company, which put a range of curry sauces, pickles, pastes and pappadums in supermarkets around the country.

The family business moved to Lancashire in 1978 to take advantage of a national distribution deal and the Pathaks bought a home in Bolton.

My mother was a huge inspiration and will be deeply missed.

She oozed charisma “ KIRIT PATHAK The firm was bought by Associated British Foods (ABF) in 2007 in a deal which analysts say was worth about £105 million.

Pataks’ now supplies curry pastes, chutneys, pickles and pappadums for about three quarters of Britain’s 8,000 Indian restaurants.

It also supplies curries, sauces, pickles and breads to more than 40 countries, including India.

Meena Pathak appears on television regularly and has written two Indian cookbooks.

Her grand-daughter travels the world as a brand ambassador for the company.