Krishna, owner of Bavan Foods, was working as a personal assistant to a government minister in the east of Sri Lanka when his employer spotted his culinary talent. He left his job to pursue his passion for cooking, which led him to open a restaurant in Colombo. When he relocated to Australia, he opened Bavan Foods, specialising in North and South Indian cuisine, and particularly, his much-loved roti Chennai.
It's not easy being an entrepreneur, but it's a damn sight harder starting up a business in an unfamiliar country as a recently arrived refugee. One tangible way that you, as a consumer, can do your bit for those who have sought refuge in Australia is by spending your money with refugee-run businesses.
Not only does it help another independent business flourish in our fair city, but it puts the power into the hands of refugee creators and workers. With a little help from Welcome Merchant, a platform that lifts up refugee-owned and operated businesses, we've compiled a guide to refugee-run outfits you can eat, drink and shop with in Sydney.
Recommended: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-owned beauty brands to buy from now.
