Fig entrepreneur gets marketing boost from Pick N Pay
KOTA KINABALU: Local fig enthusiast and entrepreneur, Jontih Enggihon, 55, is taking his passion for the lucrative fruit to the next level after locking down a trial supply deal with famous local leading grocery chain, Pick N Pay.
The deal was set after Pick N Pay managing director, John Chong, paid a visit to Enggihon's one-acre fig and grape nursery at Kampung Bantayan, Tamparuli, near here, yesterday to get a firsthand look at its operations.
“I am very impressed with Jonti's knowledge and passion about figs and grapes and it translates well through his work at the nursery where everything is done properly and up to the agriculture industry's standards.
“At Pick N Pay, we strive to provide our customers with the best quality products sourced both locally and internationally, and we are very glad to see Jontih's quality meets our expectations, and I am sure our customers will enjoy his products,” said Chong.
According to Jontih, this opportunity to work with a noted outlet like Pick N Pay is a definite boost to his morale and justifies the hard work and time he has invested into his passion, besides being a major stepping stone in turning his passion into a full-fledged business.
“I have actively cultivating fig plants since 2013 and I had no idea my interest and passion would escalate to such a level, but I am truly thankful to be able to have this opportunity to penetrate the retail market and I look forward to working with John.
“Previously, I would only sell the fig fruits and cuttings to friends, families and fellow enthusiasts, but I recently thought about going into retail and now Pick N Pay has provided me with the perfect opportunity to expand my venture,” he said.
Chong has offered Enggihon a trial run of his locally-grown figs in select Pick N Pay outlets here as a market-testing measure and is enthusiastic about expanding their deal for Enggihon to supply at a high volume to cater to more outlets in the near future.
“We will start with our prime outlets where we know there are already interested customers and we will expand from there.
“I know Jontih's figs will be a successful product in our stores and I look forward to see where the future will take this deal,” Chong said.
Enggihon, who is a geologist by profession, stumbled upon his agricultural journey when he was posted in Ipoh, Perak, at the Mineral and Geoscience Department there, by starting with planting grapes.
“I quickly found myself immersed in the world of agriculture, being active in the grape-growing communities in Ipoh and across West Malaysia before I discovered the art of cultivating figs (growing fig trees).
“Now both grapes and figs grow hand-in-hand in my humble nursery and I can already see a very quick expansion of this passion into a full-fledged business,” Enggihon added.