FIVE
GENERATIONS

S. M. Ilyas & Sons – Sheikh Muhammad Ilyas (Private) Limited is a well known, well established and time honoured business house established in 1898. Having been associated with leading multinational companies since more than a century, they are the ones behind distribution and easy availability of many well known household products and brands

Milestones/History

1898
IT ALL BEGINS

Late Haji sheikh Muhammad Din and Late S.M.llyas started high class crockery business by the name S M llyas & Sons in the walled city of Lahore, the then hub and center of commercial activity Soon, they undertook the manufacture of steel suitcases as well.

1905
Initiation of association

Initiation of association with Imperial Tobacco Company of India Ltd / Pakistan Tobacco Co. Ltd. Distribution of 'Scissors' awarded followed by all other brands.

1912
Beginning

Beginning of association with Woodwards & Thompson for their high grade cigarette brands.  

1914
Lever Brothers

Lever Brothers India Ltd./ Lever Brothers Pakistan Ltd. Began with the distribution services for their famous brand 'Sunlight - This was soon followed by other soap brands and toiletries, thus being established as reliable distributors of such consumer products.

1923
Lipton Ltd.

Awarded the exclusive sales agency for significant sales regions like Lahore, Lalamusa, Khanewal etc.

1930
British Boycott Movement

The All India Congress Committee launched a country wide Boycott Movement of all British goods All the Non-Muslim distributors supported the move. SMI was the only distributor who continued to market the products of Imperial Tobacco Company and thus saved its stocks from picketing. With their efforts, Imperial Tobacco Company was removed from the agenda of the Congress committee and the company was saved from irrecoverable losses.

1933

SMI was entrusted with the distribution of the products of Imperial Tobacco Company in the entire Kashmir region.

1937

Imperial Tobacco Company extended the area of distribution to include Ferozepur.

1937
Strike at Saharanpur Factory

Another attempt was made by UP India Congress Committee to ruin the cigarette industry and to dislocate the workers who were mostly Muslims. SMI counteracted the anti-cigarette propaganda and circulated an impassioned appeal to the workers which had the desired results and Muslims dissociated themselves from strike “enmasse” thereby completely foiling the evil designs of the organizers.

1938

Ardath Tobacco gave the distribution rights for their “State Express” brands.

1939

A Wanders appointed distributorship for Ovaltine and other products.

1941
Initiation of Association with ICI

Starting with the agency of ‘Cerium Flints’ followed by products namely ‘Perry’s confectionery’, chemicals, Fertilizers, Pesticides, Insecticides and Pharmaceuticals.

1939-1945
World War II

It was an extremely difficult time for India’s economy which suffered severe setback. Despite the problem of non-availability of railway wagons, SMI succeeded in overcoming this seemingly insurmountable task by ensuring prompt delivery to its principals and public.

1947
Partition and Independence

This eventful year saw the birth of Pakistan, but communal riots broke out throughout the subcontinent and there was complete chaos and anarchy within the two dominions. There was mass immigration of refugees from both sides and all commercial centres were either abandoned or closed and business activities came to a standstill. Even though the firm was located in a predominantly Hindu locality, it continued to distribute the products, at great personal risk. They won the support of Lever Brothers when they accomplished the impossible task of distributing their products lying at various stations.

1949

In return to the ceaseless efforts to deliver the products, Lever Brothers appointed them as their distributor in Lyallpur (Faisalabad) which was a rapidly expanding industrial zone.

1956

PIDC gave their cement agency and fertilizer was entrusted in 1963 followed by Fauji cereals corn flakes porridge foods etc in 1967.

1959
Conversion into a Private Ltd. Company.

The concern which had so far worked as a joint enterprise was converted into a Private Limited Company in October 1959 and became one of the first Income Tax registered companies and assessees in the whole of Pakistan.

1969
Death of S.M. Ilyas

The Chairman S.M. Ilyas died and the business was taken over by his four sons. S.M Riaz, S.M Ikhlas, S.M. Ilmas and S.M. Fayyaz.

1986

Appointed distributors for Brookbond for Lahore

2006
Induction of Fifth Generation / Professional Management

Mr. Qaiser Raza Sheikh joined the family business in 2006 after serving
most recently as Assistant Vice President within the Citigroup Global Consumer Bank in UK, Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland. He is a graduate (BSc. (Hons) Accounting Finance) from London School
of Economics Political Science (LSE) and an MBA from London Business School (LBS). Qaiser is also a Guest Speaker for Channel Sales Force Management MBA course at the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS).

2007
More distribution

Appointed distributors for Nestle in Lahore

2009

Appointed distributors for Etisalat (Pakistan Telecommunications Marketing Ltd) and Telenor

2010

Pioneers in Vitamin infusion therapy

2011
Real estate projects

Invested in various projects in real estate around DHA

2016
Expansion

Appointed largest distributors for Coca Cola beverages in Lahore

2017
Master distributors

Appointed master distributor for Fauji Foods Limited

2019
Investment in manufacturing

Became partners for Pulp and Puree. Pioneer pulp machinery from Italy. A first in Pakistan

2020

Appointed distributors for Bikiya Industries (Tux tissues)

2021
Coca Cola Expansion

Appointed distributor for Islamabad

Our Vision & Strategy

Our Strategy enables us to deliver long term sustainable growth and ensures we can invest in our future, Our vision underlines the importance of grasping new opportunities in distribution and beyond.

Guiding Principles

Everything we do is guided by a set of principles that define our character and culture; they have been at the Core of SMI since its inception. These enduring qualities are the shared convictions that we bring to our professional and personal conduct – they are a fundamental strength of our business

Accountability

Excellence

Integrity

Teamwork

Entrepreneurship

Organizational Structure

SMI Group is the successor to S. Muhammad Ilyas & Sons (Pvt) Limited, established in 1898 by the great-grandfather of the present Chief Executive Officers. The firm is one of the largest distribution companies (turnover-wise) in Pakistan, representing Pakistan Tobacco Company (BATCo) in the region since 1898, Other partners currently represented by the group include Fauji Foods Limited (FFL), Coca-Cola (CCL), Pulp and Purée Co, Bikiya (Tux Tissues) and International Student Identity Card (ISIC). The group also has business interests in Real Estate, Manufacturing, IT/E Commerce, Retail, Construction, and Logistics industries in Pakistan and the United Kingdom.

Directors:
There are five Directors, with Mr. Raza Riaz Sheikh and Mr. Ali Riaz Sheikh as Group Chairmen, both of whom have been in marketing, distribution, and sales for the last 40 years, dealing with Multi-Nationals like ICI, Nimir Chemicals, Rafhan Best Foods, Brooke Bond, Nestle, Woodwards, Treet Unilever Corporation, Pakistan. Glaxo Smithkline (FMCG),  Reckitt Benckiser, Metro Cash & Carry, Makro, Unilever Pakistan

0333 4801122

Headoffice.smi1898@gmail.com unifieddistributorscoke@gmail.com
4 Bank Square Lahore, Pakistan

Dribbble Facebook Twitter Pinterest Instagram

 

About Us

Galleries

Contact Us

Other Projects

Organization Structure

Testimonials