The food and beverage industry is a big part of the Malaysian way of life. In this issue, Top 10 of Malaysia takes a look at the country’s top 10 most popular food brands according to the results of its recent survey undertaken.
1. McDonald’s
The world-famous Golden Arches hashad a presence in Malaysia since December 1980. It was at this time when Golden Arches Restaurants Sdn Bhd was given the license by McDonald’s Corporation, USA to operate in the country. However, the first McDonald’s outlet located along the bustling Jalan Bukit Bintang in Kuala Lumpur only opened in 1982. McDonald’s currently employs over 12,000 Malaysians. With several highly-acclaimed awards to its name, including the prestigious AON Hewitt Best Employers in Malaysia in both 2009 and 2011 plus the AON-Hewitt Best Employers in Asia Pacific in 2011, it sure seems like everybody’s favourite family restaurant is here to stay.
2. Starbucks
The name Starbucks is synonymous theworld over with a pleasant caffeinated beverage fix, be it early in the morning or late in the evening. Locally, the first Starbucks Coffee joint opened its doors not too long ago on 17 December1998 at KL Plaza which is situated along Jalan Bukit Bintang in Kuala Lumpur. However, the popularity and demand of the coffee outlet grew, and today Malaysia is home to 115 outlets. Starbucks opened its 100th outlet in Jaya One, Petaling Jaya in 2008.Starbucks Malaysia belongs to Berjaya Starbucks Coffee Company Sdn Bhd, which is an entity co-owned by Starbucks Coffee International and Berjaya Corporation Berhad.
3.Kentucky Fried Chicken
KFC is probably Malaysia’s oldest fast food franchise, having started as early as 1973.The first outlet was located along JalanTunku Abdul Rahman, Kuala Lumpur.Having with stood the test of time, the KFC brand continues to grow and with over 500 outlets currently operating in Malaysia it has certainly grown from strength to strength over the decades. KFC Holdings(Malaysia) Berhad is the franchisee for KFC restaurants in the country as well as another 140 KFC restaurants in Singapore, Brunei, Cambodia and India. The company also operates the home-grown Rasa Mas chain of restaurants, Ayamas kiosks and the Kedai Ayamas chain of convenience stores.
4. Old Town White CoffeeThe roots of Malaysian-born Old Town White Coffee lie in Ipoh– an idyllic town in the state of Perak. Established in 1999, the‘kopitiam’ (traditional Chinese coffee shop) outlet now boasts a chain of 180 cafés in the country. The secret to Old Town White Coffee’s success is a recipe that dates back to 1958. It was this coffee blend that was reproduced in the form of 3-in-1 coffee sachets – a product that launched OldTown White Coffee in tothe Malaysian food and beverage vernacular. The company made its Bursa Malaysia Main Market debut in July 2011, and now operates an additional 13 outlets in neighbouring Singapore and Indonesia as well as in China.
5. Burger KingThe Burger King franchise made a stylish return to Malaysia under a new management group, Cosmo Restaurants Sdn Bhd, in December 1997. The first restaurant opened at the overhead bridge complex of the PLUS Highway inSungai Buloh, Selangor. It was officiated by ex-Prime MinisterTun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. Today, the 22-restaurant fast food franchise is split amongst three companies. Cosmo Restaurants Sdn Bhd remains the largest operator, followed byLiving Bread Sdn Bhd which runs the chain’s outlet in Sabah and Dewina Hosts Sdn Bhd which manages the outlet at KLIA.
6. Sushi King
Sushi King first began operations in 1995, bringing the unique ‘kaiten sushi’ or revolving sushi concept to Malaysian diners who have been craving for something novel. The Japanese food outlet which is owned by Sushi King Sdn Bhd now has more than 72 outlets across the nation, effectively creating a name for it self as the largest restaurant chain of its kind in the country. Apart from its authentic Japanese sushi, Sushi King is also known for active social media presence on Facebook as well as many popular promotions and contests, including the RM2 Bonanza promotion and the Big Bowl Challenge, which is a time-based eating contest.
7. Secret Recipe
Secret Recipe is a Malaysian-born success story. Debuting in 1997, the popular cake and fusion food chain has extended its reach to countries such as Singapore, Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Brunei and Pakistan.In fact, Secret Recipe has more than 280 outlets across Asia and Australia.The company has achieved a consistent double-digit growth for the past five years, and has a long list of awards to its name including the SMI Brand Builder of the Year Award in 2004, Homegrown Franchise of the Year Awardin 2007 and Most Popular Brand by The Brand Laureate - SME Chapter Awards in 2010.
8. Marrybrown
Having established in 1981, Marrybrown was the first local fast food chain to franchise its business in Malaysia, paving the way for others to follow suit. Today,it has a global reach of over 250 outlets locally and in Iran, China, India, Tanzania, Sri Lanka, Azerbaijan, Kuwait, Bahrain,Qatar, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Maldives, Myanmar, Syria and neighbouring Indonesia. Its restaurants serve a wide variety of halal fast food to diners from all walks of life and its tasty meals include crispy fried chicken, burgers, seafood and rice products. Marrybrown’s basic value of high quality food, fast service in a friendly and clean environment and great value for money has certainly helped it to create a name for it self both in and out of the country.
9. A&W
Way back in 1919 Roy Allens opened the first root beer stand in California, USA and soon after that he went into partnership with Frank Wrights. They called their root beer stand, A&W. But it was only in 1962 that the first overseas A&W restaurant opened in Guam.The A&W story in Malaysia unfolded when Mr and Mrs Lie Boff from the US brought the A&W franchise into the country. Starting with the first outlet in Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, Kuala Lumpur in 1963, the franchise soon opened its first drive-in restaurant in PetalingJaya, Selangor two years later. Investment group KUB Malaysia Berhad bought over the franchise in 2001, and continues to provide their customers with safe, delicious meals and operating restaurants that meet the highest food safety standards.
10. Kenny Rogers Roasters
Kenny Rogers Roasters was originally founded by famous singer Kenny Rogers and the former governor of the U.S state of Kentucky, John Y. Brown Jr. in 1991. It has won numerous awards including three awards in a row for the prestigious America’s Choice Award Winner for the Best Chicken Chain by Restaurants and Institutions Magazine. Malaysia is one of many countries which have Kenny Rogers Roasters restaurants. Berjaya Roasters (M) Sdn Bhd is the franchise holder for Kenny Rogers Roasters in Malaysia. The company also has a presence in other Asian countries, namely Singapore, Indonesia, Brunei, China, Bangladesh and the Philippines.
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