SPICE queen Meena Pathak will be guest speaker at the 2000 Wigan and Leigh Business Awards.

The international businesswoman, entrepreneur and food expert, who with husband Kirit has played a key role in the dynamic growth of food giants Pathak, will launch the prestigious awards event on November 2 at Waterside Conference Centre, Leigh.

"We are extremely pleased to have Meena Pathak as our main speaker for the business awards this year," said Darren Mackey of Wigan Borough Partnership.

"She is so highly regarded nationally for her business development skills and has been selected by the government to become a member of the Small Business Council.

"She has first hand experience of a business which has developed from relatively small beginnings in to an international organisation exporting to 44 countries worldwide and launching well over 20 new products each year."

Patak's was set-up in the mid 1950s and has rapidly grown into a highly successful international company with four locations and over 400 employees based primarily in the north west and with a new factory in Leigh.

Wigan and Leigh Business Awards is open to any business in the borough with categories for large or small firms.

"It is an ideal platform to attract a wider audience.

There are three categories and eight awards of £1,000 with £500 for the runners-up.