Sabah products have huge potential in BIMP-EAGA
PENANG: Food manufacturing industry in Sabah has a huge potential to be further developed to cater for the Brunei Dar us sal am Indonesia-Malaysia-Philip pines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMPEAGA) markets.
Kota Kinabalu Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KKCCCI) president Datuk Michael Lui said the food manufacturing industry was currently still underdeveloped in Sabah.
“With Sabah’s strategic location at the centre of BIMPEAGA region, there are huge opportunities to export our local food products to the Philippines, Brunei, Kalimantan in Indonesia and even Sarawak.
“Local entrepreneurs should tap into the potential of the food manufacturing industry to cater for the densely-populated markets in the region.”
Lui said that after visiting Barkath Co-Ro Manufacturing Sdn Bhd at Butterworth and Sky Thomas Food Industries Sdn Bhd at Bukit Mertajam on Tuesday.
KKCCCI has organized a business and tourism trip to Penang for a 40-member delegation from August 13 to 16.
He added that the visit to Barkath Co-Ro Manufacturing Sdn Bhd and Sky Thomas Food Industries had been fruitful and informative.
Lui suggested the local food manufacturing industry to emulate their more successful Penang counterparts.
Incorporated in 1992, Barkath Co-Ro Manufacturing Sdn Bhd is a joint venture company between Kumpulan Barkath Sdn Bhd and Co-Ro Food A/S to produce Sunquick fruit juice concentrate.
Co-Ro Food, the brand owner of Sunquick, provides the technology transfer and production management of the factory whilst Kumpulan Barkath is responsible for the marketing and distribution of Sunquick in its franchised territories.
With a built-up area of 8,735 square metres, the modern and fully automated Sunquick plant at Butterworth has a yearly capacity of 4.8 million cartons of fruit juice concentrate and 7.15 million cartons of ready-to-drink (RTD) fruit juice packets.
According to the factory manager Yu Chin Wah, the company recorded RM124 million in sales last year.
He said the factory had four production lines for Sunquick fruit juice concentrate and RTD packets in different volume and packaging.
“We produce 11 flavours for Sunquick concentrate and four flavours for RTD packets.”
Meanwhile, Sky Thomas Food Industries Sdn Bhd was established in December 2011 in Penang under Sky Resources Group of Companies. The Group started off as a manufacturer of skincare products some 26 years ago before expanding to personal care, hair care, cosmetics, healthcare and food and beverage.
Sky Thomas Food Industries was the company which introduced the MyKuali Penang White Curry Instant Noodle that had taken the market by storm in 2013. Thanks to word-ofmouth recommendations, the demand of MyKuali Penang White Curry Noodle multiplied by almost tenfold in just less than six months’ time. The product was ranked the Top Seven Spiciest Noodle of All Time in 2013 as well as awarded Product of the Year 2014/15 by the Consumer Survey of Product Innovation.
Sky Resources chief executive officer Tan Hock Kheng said a lot of investors had expressed their interest to invest in his company when demand for the white curry instant noodle soared.
“The problem was, we were not well prepared back then and did not anticipate the huge response towards our product.
“As a result, the hype only lasted nine months.”
Tan said Chinese entrepreneurs were known for their adaptability and perseverance.
Although the hype surrounding MyKuali Penang White Curry Instant Noodle has died down, he continued to persist in marketing the product.
Tan said the company would continue to uphold its mission to produce nutritional, delicious and premium quality products that highlighted the uniqueness of Malaysian food experience.
At present, the company produces packet instant noodles in four flavours, cup instant noodles in three flavours, instant rice vermicelli soup bowl in three flavours and instant cooking paste in 10 flavours.
MyKuali products are not only sold in Malaysia, but also exported to China, United States, England, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, Australia, Canada and other countries.
The KKCCCI delegation also visited several tourist attractions including Fort Cornwallis, Penang Little India, Penang Hill, Kek Lok Si Temple, street paintings and a museum yesterday.