What It Takes to Stay Relevant for 100 Years: Insights From Shuja Jashanmal | Challenger Brands

What It Takes to Stay Relevant for 100 Years: Insights From Shuja Jashanmal | Challenger Brands

From Challenger Brands by Illustrado.co

November 11, 2025 · 58 min

About this episode

The episode explores how the Jashanmal Group has maintained its relevance for over a century in the retail industry.

What does it take to stay relevant for over a century—without selling out or falling behind? In this episode of Challenger Brands, we go deep into the story of the Jashanmal Group—one of the Middle East’s most iconic retail and distribution brands—with Group CEO Shuja Jashanmal. Founded in 1919 with a £75 loan and a single bookstore in Basra, Jashanmal has grown into a regional powerhouse with over 150 stores. But what’s more impressive is how it has remained strategically relevant through ma...

People in this episode

Guest: Shuja Jashanmal

Topics covered

  • business longevity
  • retail strategy
  • brand relevance
  • Middle East business
  • entrepreneurship

Keywords

  • Jashanmal Group
  • retail
  • business strategy
  • brand relevance
  • Middle East

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Jashanmal Group

Places: Basra

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