The Billionaires’ Curry House Connection

By the Editorial Team · Sunday, September 13, 2026

Fraser Cropper expanded his business network in China through a partnership with Zhang Shengwei’s vape company Heaven Gifts, leveraging UK distribution channels to grow the brand internationally. This collaboration, combined with the Croppers' alliance with the Issa family, enabled rapid expansion of Totally Wicked vape products into over 400 UK petrol station shops, demonstrating the power of cross-industry entrepreneurial networks.

Fraser Cropper has significantly expanded his business network in China, particularly through his connection with entrepreneur Zhang Shengwei, known as "Wayne." Zhang, a former university lecturer aged 53, initially exported vape products in limited quantities to the United Kingdom. Leveraging the distribution capabilities provided by the Cropper family in the UK, Zhang's company, Heaven Gifts, grew rapidly, eventually achieving billionaire status. Heaven Gifts became known for its popular vape products, including the Elf Bar and Lost Mary brands, which gained substantial market presence across the US, UK, and Europe. Elf Bar was especially widely used until single-use vapes were banned last year in several regions.

A pivotal moment for the Croppers’ business came during a meeting at Bukhara, a curry house on the outskirts of Blackburn that served as a regular Thursday night spot for Fraser and his brother Jason. The restaurant is also a frequent destination of the Issa brothers, Mohsin and Zuber, who are widely recognized as prominent figures in Blackburn and owners of the retail giant Asda. Before establishing their supermarket empire, the Issas focused on expanding a network of petrol stations and sought new products to offer in their forecourt convenience stores.

The connection between the Croppers and the Issas was facilitated by Bukhara’s owner, Zuber Patel, 46, who recognized the potential for collaboration between the two entrepreneurial families. After an introduction initiated by Patel, the Croppers and the Issas launched a test project in 2017 to place Totally Wicked’s vape products in petrol station shops. The trial was an immediate success, leading to rapid expansion. Within a short period, Totally Wicked went from being stocked in a handful of locations to over 400 forecourt stores throughout the UK.

Zuber Issa, chief executive of the Issa family’s global petrol station firm EG On the Move, praised the Croppers and highlighted the longstanding partnership between the families. In a statement, he credited their collaboration for the accelerated growth of their businesses over the past decade, calling it a “fantastic journey.”

The rapid sales and demand for Totally Wicked products reflected the success of the venture. Liam Humberstone, Totally Wicked’s technical director and a former Formula 1 engineer, recalled that demand was so intense that deliveries made on Fridays often sold out by Saturday midday. Humberstone noted that retailers as distant as southern England would travel to Blackburn to replenish their stock due to the fast turnover of vape products.

This interwoven network of entrepreneurs, expanding across continents and industries, illustrates the evolving dynamics of consumer goods distribution and the integration of innovative products into traditional retail environments.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.