Vinod Patel & Co Ltd - Suva, Fiji

Vinod Patel is a family business, named after the founder of the company, the eldest brother of a family originating from Ba town in Fiji. Vinod Patel left school at the age of 16 to work so that his earnings could go towards supplementing the family’s income. Less than a year later, his younger brother Umakant Patel left school and joined the workforce for the same reason. After working at hardware stores in Ba and nearby towns, the brothers thought it was time that they had a business of their own.

In April 1962, the first Vinod Patel store was inaugurated in Ba Town. As other brothers joined the business, the company decided to expand. In 1965, a second branch was opened in Rakiraki, a town without any hardware store. From then on, there was no turning back. It was a matter of seeking out opportunity and working hard to make it a success.