Local F&B brands can thrive in premium malls with quality products - Muhammad Nasir
He said well-made products with attractive presentation could command higher prices and appeal to a wider customer base.
SHAH ALAM – Local food and beverage (F&B) entrepreneurs should be bold enough to expand their businesses into prestigious shopping malls such as the Tun Razak Exchange (TRX) and KLCC, according to Karangkraf co-advisor Datuk Muhammad Nasir Hamzah.
He said many small and medium enterprise (SME) operators have quality products but lack the confidence to enter the premium market due to concerns over high rental costs.
However, he said well-made products with attractive presentation could command higher prices and appeal to a wider customer base.
"The most important thing is the quality of the food. If what you are selling is good and delicious, customers will return.
"Many SME entrepreneurs are afraid to enter major shopping malls because of the expensive rental. But established companies are not afraid because they know that well-presented products have value and can be sold at premium prices," he said.
He said this after officiating the opening of Warung Jendela Kaseh at Worldwide Business Park, Section 13, here on Monday.
Nasir also urged local entrepreneurs to think beyond social media sales and take bigger steps in growing their businesses.
He said the success of influencer Khairul Aming demonstrated that entrepreneurs could build brands strong enough to expand into restaurant chains and larger business ventures.
"We want to see more entrepreneurs like that. Don't just succeed on TikTok, build a brand that can grow to the next level," he said.
He also called on the government to provide low-interest financing to help entrepreneurs rent premises in strategic locations and expand their businesses.
"Many entrepreneurs want to grow but are held back by limited capital. If affordable financing with low interest rates is available, they will be more confident in taking the opportunity to expand," he said.
Nasir added that Malaysia should strengthen the identity of each state's traditional cuisine by opening more restaurants that showcase authentic local dishes, helping introduce the country's culinary heritage to both tourists and locals.
Meanwhile, Warung Jendela Kaseh founder Wan Rafidah Wan Ali said although the business only began operating on June 1, it already plans to expand into shopping malls as part of its efforts to bring traditional food to a wider market.
She said the restaurant, established with an investment of about RM150,000, serves as a platform to introduce traditional village-style dishes to urban communities.
"It is part of our long-term plan to enter shopping malls. Initially, people said the name 'warung' would not suit a shopping mall, but I don't see why not. What matters is the quality of the food and the strength of the brand.
"If given the opportunity, we would definitely like to bring Warung Jendela Kaseh to shopping malls such as TRX," she said.
Wan Rafidah said the idea behind the restaurant came from the need to provide clean, halal and quality traditional meals for children attending tuition programmes at Fly High Education Centre, as well as parents waiting for their children during classes.
She said many staff members and parents had expressed a desire for traditional home-style food, which has become increasingly difficult to find around Shah Alam.
"We want to serve food prepared with the same love and care as meals in the village because that kind of food is becoming harder to find in the city," she said.
She added that the business' main challenges include competition from existing restaurants and maintaining affordable prices despite its high initial investment.
Parking limitations at the premises also remain an issue, although the business plans to operate on weekends to make it more convenient for customers to visit.
Warung Jendela Kaseh currently employs 10 staff and operates daily from 7am to 7pm, except on Sundays.
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