Local fig brand Mutiara Figs started with a simple fascination with the fruit.
An architect by trade, Mohd Hilmi bin Yusoff harboured a great passion for landscaping and would often plant and tend to his own trees. In particular, he loved fresh figs, a fruit he discovered and enjoyed while in Saudi Arabia.
Recounting this tale to Vulcan Post is Aliyaa, his youngest daughter.
“His fascination with figs grew, and in 2014, he found someone capable of growing fig trees that could bear fruit in Malaysia,” she shared. “By 2015, he began collecting various fig plant varieties, experimenting with different flavors and characteristics.”
Aliyaa, who had been studying in Melbourne at the time, remembers how her father would often share experiences, detailing the distinct tastes of figs and encouraging her to explore fig farms in Melbourne.
“He also asked me to source unique fig varieties from Australia to expand his collection,” she reminisced.
Aliyaa was pursuing architecture—a career she shares with everyone else in her family. Both her parents are architects who run their own firm in Shah Alam. Growing up, architecture was a constant topic of discussion in their household, so it’s no wonder why all the children gravitated towards it.
But how, then, did these architects ended up transforming a love for figs into a full-fledged business?
Fig-uring out a business plan
It all began in late 2015 after Aliyaa completed her Master of Architecture. At that time, the family had fig plants but lacked a consistent supply of fresh fruits to create products.
That’s when Aliyaa and her sister decided to explore making fig tea from fig leaves, which are known for health benefits such as managing diabetes and high blood pressure.
“I took the initiative to design the logo, register the business with SSM, and start selling the tea to neighbors and friends,” she explained.
This project ended up actually gaining traction. Along the way, they got the whole family involved. Aliyaa currently works full-time in architecture while contributing to Mutiara Figs part-time.
“We have several ongoing projects, and I remain actively involved in them. Besides, my partner—who is also my sister—is currently working full-time as an architect in our parents’ office while managing her part-time role in Mutiara Figs.”
More than a fig-ment
To meet the growing demand for fresh figs, the family has expanded Mutiara Figs beyond their own Shah Alam house to a farm in Kota Kemuning. The two-acre farm is complete with greenhouses and a dedicated showroom and office.
“The addition of greenhouses has allowed us to optimise our production, ensuring a consistent and high-quality supply of fresh figs while creating a space to showcase our products and connect with customers.” Aliyaa said.
Aside from the location and capacity, Mutiara Figs has also evolved in many other ways. For one, they’ve diversified product offerings to offer more than fresh figs and fig tea.
Currently, Mutiara Figs offers unique fig products like various fig sambals, fig jam, and desserts. They even offer dessert table setups featuring fresh figs as a centerpiece.
They have a team of qualified bakers produces these fig-based treats, which are supplied for corporate events, weddings, and other special occasions.
“Additionally, we’re venturing into the catering business, further broadening our reach and services,” Aliyaa added.
To manage this growth effectively, the business has divided their operations into two teams: one focusing on upstream activities, like farming and harvesting, and the other on downstream products, including value-added goods and services.
Aliyaa shared that this structured approach allows them to maintain quality while scaling operations. At the same time, they can stay true to their philosophy of providing fresh, innovative fig-based products.
Expanding into the dessert and catering sectors wasn’t easy, though. This growth required the team to develop new recipes and products, and also figure out how to market them effectively. All the while, they had to manage the logistics of delivering a more complex range of products.
Despite challenges along the way, though, Aliyaa believes that each hurdle has provided valuable lessons that have helped the team refine their processes and grow the business in a more sustainable way.
Putting up a fig-ht
Mutiara Figs aside, there are also other fig brands in Malaysia.
To stay competitive and relevant, the Mutiara Figs team has dedicated itself to innovating and staying ahead of trends. From offering customised dessert tables to culinary delights, they also offer something original and unique.
“We don’t just sell figs—we create memorable experiences for our customers, combining the beauty of fresh figs with unique products and services that aren’t available elsewhere,” Aliyaa said.
But more important, perhaps, is the B2B sales. After all, that’s what Mutiara Figs’ primary revenue stream is. They’ve become a reliable supplier of fresh figs to five-star hotels, restaurants, and fine dining establishments.
“For our bottled products, we maintain an artisanal approach and also offer private labeling,” Aliyaa explained. “Currently, we supply bottled fig products to several five-star hotels under their own branding and have expanded our reach to Penang as well.”
The COVID-19 pandemic had been a difficult time for them, though. With restaurants and hotels closing, they couldn’t supply fresh figs to their usual B2B clients.
To adapt, they started offering bakery products, allowing the company to not only sustain the business but create new revenue streams.
Becoming a permanent figs-ture
Over the years, Mutiara Figs has not only earned the trust of notable businesses, but also government-linked agencies. A major milestone of theirs was winning the RM500k SUPERB Teraju grant.
With this kind of recognition, the team is determined to continue growing.
They aim to expand their product range, particularly in the bakery and catering sectors, by introducing more fig-based desserts and catering options with new and interesting flavours.
They also plan to increase their presence in new markets, including broader distribution to more hotels, restaurants, and corporate events.
From there, they eventually hope to explore international markets.
“We’re also looking into sustainable farming practices to ensure the longevity and health of our fig production,” Aliyaa said.
“Ultimately, our goal is to become a leading brand in fig-based products, offering innovative, high-quality offerings to a global audience.”
- Learn more about Mutiara Figs here.
- Read other articles we’ve written about Malaysian startups here.
Featured Image Credit: Mutiara Figs
