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HWC Coffee operator acquires Kejap Food, known for their drive-thrus serving local dishes

Known for pioneering drive-thru kiosks offering local food, Kejap Food announced on February 18 that it has been acquired by Palaterium Sdn Bhd. 

Palaterium operates the Malaysian specialty coffee chain HWC Coffee as well as Dateen Catering, a halal food catering business. 

“The collaboration initially began as a merger between Kejap Food and HWC Coffee Management, allowing both companies to share resources and expertise,” Betty Ting, the founder and director of Kejap Food, told Vulcan Post. 

She elaborated that the successful partnership naturally evolved into management team synergies, operational efficiencies, and accelerated growth for all three brands—Kejap Food, HWC Coffee, and Dateen Catering. 

The news of the acquisition comes at the same time as the launch of Kejap Food’s newest outlet at INC KLEC Mall. 

Doubling down on core values 

While Palaterium is now the majority shareholder of the business, Betty assured that Kejap Food will strive to keep their core brand identity and vision intact. 

That means that the team will continue positioning the brand as Malaysia’s first local fast-food brand that celebrates the nation’s diverse food culture. 

“However, with Palaterium’s backing, Kejap Food now has access to stronger management, operational, and marketing support, helping to scale its reach more efficiently,” Betty said. 

While Betty continues to lead as the director of Kejap Food, Palaterium is stepping in to support the business in various ways from branding and marketing to operational processes and IT support. 

Palaterium’s expertise will also help with leasing, securing prime locations, and optimising store layouts.

Furthermore, their halal and audit team can ensure compliance with halal certification and maintain high food safety standards.

Meanwhile, the Kejap Food core team will focus on food R&D, production, and supply chain management, ensuring that the brand continues to innovate its menu and maintain operational excellence.

Closing the chapter on an amicable relationship 

Back in 2022, Malaysian frozen food giant Kawan Food had acquired a 32.5% equity stake in Kejap Food. This made Kawan Food the second-largest shareholder in the startup at the time. 

“Kawan Food is no longer on the shareholder list following a mutual agreement for a peaceful share buyout by larger stakeholders earlier,” Betty shared with Vulcan Post. 

She clarified that the decision was made amicably as both parties recognised the need to align strategic directions, allowing Kejap Food’s management to move forward with its growth plans under a unified vision.

Driving beyond the drive-thrus 

Starting out, one main draw of Kejap Food had been its drive-thru format, offering Malaysians a convenient way to enjoy local delights. As such, it had initially launched at petrol station locations. 

While the drive-thru concept remains a part of Kejap Food’s business model, the fast food brand is also venturing into dine-in formats. 

“The expansion into KL Eco City (KLEC) signifies the brand’s adaptability to urban retail environments, allowing it to explore different formats based on location demand,” Betty explained. 

Going forward, Kejap Food aims to strategically expand both formats—drive-thru outlets in high-traffic convenience locations and urban dine-in or kiosk concepts in busy commercial areas. 

With a renewed focus on affordable, high-quality meals, Kejap Food aims to target office workers seeking quick, flavourful options.

Keeping up the speed

Currently, Kejap Food operates eight outlets across Malaysia, strategically focusing on high-traffic locations such as petrol stations, urban hubs, and business districts.

Expansion plans are underway, with a goal of opening six outlets by the end of the year.

Kejap Food also intends to grow its licensing model, making the brand more accessible to local entrepreneurs. They also aim to scale Kejap Food’s frozen food supply chains for B2B clients.

Powered by their new partners, they also aim to grow its catering services, providing customised meal solutions for corporate clients, including daily bulk bento orders and buffet catering for events and gatherings.

With these plans, Kejap Food is actively seeking investors and entrepreneurs who share the brand’s vision. 

• Learn more about Kejap Food here.
• Read other articles we’ve written about F&B businesses here.

Also Read: Not just a fad: How this entrepreneur plans to seriously grow Malaysia’s pickleball scene

Featured Image Credit: Kejap Food

How this KL motorcycle cafe’s 15 minutes of fame drove its owners to dream bigger

If you’ve found yourself scrolling on TikTok recently, you may have come across a Malaysian-brewed “Butterbeer” offering making rounds on the internet.

It’s a product by Rosco KL, which opened its doors attached to Ace Cafe on Lot 389 of Jalan Raja Abdullah.

Courtesy of its neighbour whose roots stretch back to 1938 in London, the area is a hub for petrolheads and rock and roll fans alike.

Rosco is looking to do much the same, aiming to become a local “Hard Rock Cafe” for lovers of motorcycles and biker culture.

Sharing their story is Syed Ariff, one of Rosco KL’s co-founding owners alongside Azahar and Harris Yahya (Jo).

Switching gears

Rosco actually found its start as a community centre in collaboration with Ace Cafe. The idea was to create a space for motorcycle enthusiasts to gather, giving people more incentive to drop by.

Once the renovations were done, however, visitors couldn’t help but notice something. Or rather, the lack of something.

The place didn’t have much going for it.

“This brought myself, Azahar, and Jo to discuss the opportunity to run a small cafe to support the community centre,” Syed explained.

The plan was to create something sustainable, just a side gig with low startup costs. Syed was, and still is, a GM of operations for a private company in the transportation industry, and Azahar was an architect.

But when Rosco found their 15 minutes of fame through their Butterbrew, it ignited the spark to turn the business into something much bigger.

A magic touch

If you’re a fan of Harry Potter, no, you’re not overthinking or imagining things. Rosco’s Butterbrew is in fact inspired by Butterbeer.

“It started as an experiment during MCO with my eldest daughter who wanted me to try and come up with the Butterbeer,” Syed said.

However, rummaging through YouTube, the two just couldn’t find a recipe that suited their taste. The end result was always something that was too sweet.

“Hence, I added some local ingredients with some secret recipe and came up with the Butterbrew.”

Of course, they couldn’t exactly name it “Butterbeer.” Potential copyright issues aside, Butterbrew does not have any beer in it, and the team at Rosco didn’t want to give off the impression that it did.

Unfortunately, that didn’t stop some bad eggs on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook from trying to dissuade patrons from coming to Rosco. Quite a few claimed that Butterbrew was haram for Muslims, according to Syed.

“We managed to overcome this by explaining and getting experts as well as some influencers to educate these users,” he explained.

Online hiccup aside, the support for Rosco has been “overwhelming,” with many coming by just to try their signature drink.

“We sell over 200 cups a night of the Butterbrew at our location,” he noted.

Beyond just the original recipe, several variations of their Butterbrew also exist. “Creamy” and “bloody” versions are two such examples of what Rosco has concocted.

Other items on their menu include an assortment of coffee, fizzy drinks, teas, matcha, milk, lemonade, and chocolate. 

For the peckish, they also have various sandwich and toast dishes, on top of three “specials” for customers to try.

Looking ahead

Taking over from Syed, Azahar noted that the viral post that got them to where they are today was simply a matter of luck. But what’s important is allowing yourself the opportunity to get lucky in the first place.

Discipline and creativity when posting, he notes, is key in this day and age where social media reins supreme.

“I guess my advice is just keep doing content,” the co-founder said. “We never know when it can be viral.”

Of course, another aspect of virality is the inevitable influx of hate comments. Touching on those, Azahar notes that the best way to deal with them is just to keep it professional.

For Rosco, this involves addressing the commenters concerns or doing their best to explain details about their business. Then, they just leave it at that.

The immediate goal for Rosco is to franchise the business within the next three years.

“Our aim is to have at least one Rosco restaurant in each state with ample parking serving our menu,” shared Syed.

A far cry from what they initially set out to do, for sure. But when opportunity knocks, sometimes it’s best to just go full throttle.

• Learn more about Rosco KL here.
• Read other articles we’ve written about F&B businesses here.

Also Read: CARiNG’s CNY video reminds us what “home” really means, and it’s not about a place

TikTok lays off staff in Singapore, with at least a dozen impacted

TikTok has laid off at least a dozen employees in Singapore today (February 20), according to The Straits Times.

The layoffs come after “months of careful consideration” and are part of a broader global effort to streamline its backend teams and better align operations with the company’s long-term growth plans.

Employees in TikTok’s trust and safety department received letters notifying them of the internal reorganisation, though it remains unclear if other departments were also impacted.

However, a source familiar with the matter told The Straits Times that the cuts extended to teams in Asia-Pacific, Europe, and the US.

The latest layoffs are part of TikTok’s ongoing restructuring efforts following significant workforce cuts in 2024.

The company had reportedly planned to lay off a large portion of its staff from its global user, content and marketing teams back in May 2024.

Five months later, TikTok said that it had laid off hundreds of employees worldwide, with a significant number of staff in Malaysia impacted. This move came as part of the company’s shift towards leveraging artificial intelligence for content moderation, however, it did not impact staff based in Singapore.

TikTok Singapore is a non-unionised company, but some of its employees are members of the NTUC-affiliated Tech Talent Assembly, which is reaching out to members to offer help if needed.

Vulcan Post has reached out to TikTok and NTUC for comments.

• Read other articles we’ve written on Singaporean businesses here.

Also Read: No other alternative: SingPost is laying off 45 employees after “exhausting options”

Featured Image Credit: THICHA SATAPITANON/ Shutterstock.com

No other alternative: SingPost is laying off 45 employees after “exhausting options”

Singapore Post (SingPost) will be undergoing a “restructuring” exercise in the coming months, where approximately 45 employees will be laid off.

In response to Vulcan Post’s enquiries, SingPost confirmed the decision, stating that the move aims to “right-size” the company and “devolve corporate functions to its business units.”

Affected employees were primarily from its corporate support and international business units.

According to a SingPost spokesperson, the initiative will “eliminate duplicate functions” and improve the agility and efficiency of the company, with the aim of strengthening the company’s operating capability.

This decision has not been taken lightly. For affected roles, the company has exhausted options to find alternative positions within SingPost.

This restructuring is the result of prolonged marco-economic challenges facing the business including intense competition. 

We wish to emphasise that this initiative is not correlated with any previous incidents or whistleblowing reports.

A spokesperson from SingPost responding to Vulcan Post’s media enquiries

SingPost has also expressed its commitment to care for the employees involved. “All affected employees will have access to outplacement and counselling services during this period.”

The company is unionised under the Union of Telecoms Employees of Singapore (UTES).

Responding to Vulcan Post, UTES general secretary Thuvinder Singh shared that SingPost has given the union prior notice of the restructuring exercise that resulted in jobs being displaced.

“The company has assured the union that it has explored all alternative options, including redeployment to other suitable positions,” added Singh.

UTES has also worked with the company to provide fair compensation packages in accordance with the Tripartite Advisory on Managing Excess Manpower and Responsible Retrenchment, as well as support for affected union members as they transition to their next jobs.

UTES and the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) will also offer job matching and career advisory resources.

What’s going on with SingPost?

SingPost also made headlines last December when three senior executives from the company were fired following a probe into a whistleblower’s report, which found “grossly negligent” behaviour in their handling of internal investigations.

The whistleblowing report detailed issues within the group’s non-regulated international e-commerce logistics parcel business.

It alleged that manual entries of certain delivery status codes by the international business unit were done to avoid the payment of certain contractual penalties to a customer.

“There was no basis for doing so and it was done without supporting documents,” CNA said in their report.

This resulted in an investigation, and eventually, three unnamed managers were also sacked with a police report made against them.

SingPost has shared that it will announce the appointment of its group CEO “in due course.”

Currently, Issac Mah, who was previously the CFO of SingPost’s Australian business arm, has stepped up as the Group CFO since January, and Gan Heng, the former head of the company’s South District International Business Unit, has been appointed the group CEO of SingPost’s International Business unit.

• Read more about what we have written on Singaporean businesses here.

Also Read: From 10 to 0: The Manhattan Fish Market shuts down last remaining outlet in S’pore

Featured Image Credit: SingPost via Facebook

Why this Michelin-selected fine dining chef opened a new restaurant in KL for casual dining

As you can probably imagine, fine dining can be quite the suffocating affair.

From where an ingredient comes from to the position and function of each dish, every last detail has to be measured. 

And that’s nothing to say about the complexity of the techniques involved and the lack of freedom from having to stay on theme.

That’s why Michelin-recognised chef Chong Yu Cheng decided to open Esca, a restaurant dedicated to global cuisine.

Sister restaurant to Terra Dining, Esca serves as a “playground” for just about anything the man also known as YC wants to give a shot.

An unlikely start

The now 34-year-old was born in Kuala Terengganu, going on to complete his tertiary education in the University of Melbourne.

But contrary to what some might think, his major wasn’t in anything food related. He did accounting and finance, later becoming a copywriter in KL when he returned to Malaysia.

What’s more, food wasn’t even the reason why he ventured into F&B either.

“My first love was actually wine,” stated Esca’s founder.

This passion was ignited in 2017 after YC had watched a Netflix documentary called Somm. It told the story of four sommeliers trying to pass the Court of Master Sommelier (CMS) Masters’ Exam. 

For some extra context, the CMS is an organisation dating back to 1977 which seeks to improve the standards of hotel and restaurant beverage service. Their Master’s Exam is taken to earn the fourth and highest of the CMS’ certificates, particularly notorious for its difficulty.

“When they were blind tasting wines and guessing the grape, country of origin, region, and vintage of wines down to a tee, I thought that was something very cool and I had to learn how to do that,” the chef said.

To that end, YC would participate in various wine tasting events. But the real test of whether this love was meant to be would come when an opportunity presented itself to open a wine bar in Ipoh.

A boutique wine bar, he claimed, was something that Perak’s capital lacked. Rent and labour were also relatively inexpensive, giving him ample breathing room to experiment. Just perfect for an industry that he would be going into blind. 

Thus led to the creation of YC’s first venture, the now-closed Above Gastrobar.

“Of course, things never go as expected,” he expressed. 

“My wine bar became a wine restaurant and I was forced to step into the kitchen at some point.”

Having gained a taste for the culinary world, YC would eventually go on to intern at Restaurant Frantzén, Sweden’s only three-star Michelin restaurant.

“Spending three months in one of the best restaurants in the world was definitely an eye-opener, not only in terms of culinary prowess but also in terms of hospitality and restaurant management,” he shared.

“Returning from Stockholm, I knew what I wanted to do was beyond what the market in Ipoh could get behind.”

This was what led to the opening of Terra Dining in KL, which earned its own spot on Michelin’s guide in 2025.

Two sides of the same coin

Terra’s concept is “modern Malaysian” cuisine. But because it is, as YC puts it, “Malaysian before it is modern,” techniques that he’s learnt outside of Malaysia can’t always be applied. The priority always has to be on getting local flavours across.

“I needed another outlet for my more spontaneous ideas which very often transcend cultural and national boundaries,” explained the chef.

“This is the raison d’être for Esca.”

The restaurant does away with the frills and formality of fine dining.

Recipes often start by taking a famous dish from one culture and pairing it with a similar or complementary flavour of another. 

Think of it as a sommelier’s spin on the cooking process, a callback to Above Gastrobar.

When asked about interesting stories on how a dish ended up on Esca’s menu, YC pointed us towards the restaurant’s lamb saddle.

“One of the things I have always joked about is that Malaysians like to eat meat with little to no flavour that that meat is known for,” he explained.

And one such example is lamb without the gameyness.

The conventional method to get rid of that taste would be to do a herb crust. But Esca’s founder found that antioxidants work just as well. 

This led to their version of the dish being served with a dried shrimp and orange sambal crust.

This unconventional workaround is contrasted by the seemingly innocent carrot purée that the dish is served with. Taste it, however, and you’ll find it has the taste of begedil (vegetable fritters) for a little extra kick.

Order up

Balancing between working at Terra and Esca is, as you’d expect, quite the challenge for the chef. That said, it is one that he relishes. 

He expressed how fortunate he feels to have a team in both restaurants who share his vision for what he wants to achieve in both. That is something that he mentioned was one of the biggest struggles he’s faced working in the industry.

“Externally, the post-COVID world is an unforgiving one for restaurants,” he added. With inflation, property, and labour costs, the margins simply aren’t what they used to be before.

YC shared that social media exposure is also now equally as important as good service. He stated that his two restaurants are lucky in that regard, having received positive attention from social media influencers.

“I am proud not so much of any achievement in particular, but by the fact that our customers have been overwhelmingly supportive of what we do.”

Esca was initially meant to be more volume-driven, capitalising on Petaling Jaya’s foot traffic.

But YC is more than happy to cater to his newfound up-market audience at Esca.

In the future, he hopes that Esca can demonstrate to the industry that casual dining can be on the same level of quality as fine dining. 

A lofty goal for sure, but if anyone can do it, it’s surely the man who’s earned Michelin’s recognition.

• Learn more about Esca here.
• Read other articles we’ve written about F&B businesses here.

Also Read: CARiNG’s CNY video reminds us what “home” really means, and it’s not about a place

Featured Image Credit: YC / Esca

This M’sian brand is bringing back the “milkman” with their subscription plan

[Written in partnership with The Farm Shop, but the editorial team had full control over the content.]

In the “olden” days, the job of the milkman was a paramount one. With refrigeration being a rare commodity, they would bring milk—a pantry must-have for most families—to customers’ doorsteps daily, ensuring a fresh dairy supply every day. 

With the advent of residential refrigerators, though, daily milk deliveries became obsolete. 

And yet, one of the brands bringing that practice back is none other than Malaysia’s very own The Farm Shop. 

Meet the milk(wo)men

The Farm Shop was founded in 2022 by four women—Sushma Sivasriamphai, Karen Kow, Hasniza Binti Ali, and Dr Tan I-Lene. The plan was simple: to make minimally processed food more accessible, starting with milk. 

Taking their R&D process seriously, the team scrutinised the nutrition of the dairy cows themselves as well as worked with local farmers to improve their cows’ feed.

The result of their hard work are fresh dairy products that do not contain preservatives or shelf-life enhancers. 

This quality is true for The Farm’s Shop’s catalogue of items which includes whole milk, barista’s choice milk, chocolate milk, goat’s milk, and A2 milk. 

And with their new programme, this array of fresh dairy goods is more accessible than ever. 

A response to the demand

Dubbed the Milk(Wo)man Plan, The Farm Shop’s subscription programme was born from customer demand. 

Noticing that regulars wanted a standing order for convenience, the team created The Milk(Wo)man Plan, guaranteeing a steady supply of fresh, minimally processed milk.

“Milk is a pantry staple we only notice when it runs out, so a subscription ensures it’s always there—no hassle, no thought required,” Dr Tan I-Lene, one of the four founders of The Farm Shop, elaborated. 

Like traditional milk deliveries, The Farm Shop’s plan ensures that customers can get fresh milk at their doorsteps safely. Unlike the old days, their milk is pasteurised and hygienically sealed in bottles, of course. 

As an extra precaution, The Farm Shop also vows to replace any milk that spoils within 24 hours of delivery.

Sampling the programme, risk-free

Convenience and safety aside, The Farm Shop wanted the plan to be financially feasible, too. That’s why they introduced the Godfather Offer where subscribers get a free month of dairy supply for every four-month purchase.

They also have a one-month plan with special pricing for their pasteurised milk variant to ease customers into the subscription model. 

The standard price is RM10.50 per litre, but subscribers enjoy discounts based on weekly order volume:

• 2–3 bottles/week: RM10.20 per liter
• 4 bottles/week: RM10 per liter
• 6 bottles/week: RM9.85 per liter
• 8–10 bottles/week: RM9.50 per liter

And no, there are no hidden delivery fees. 

Beyond their pricing model that rewards loyalty, The Farm Shop also has new perks for subscribers in the pipeline. 

To further lower the barrier to entry, The Farm Shop has a SUSUFREE promotion that offers a free first bottle to let customers experience the programme risk-free. 

A rise in milk subscriptions

With how much these subscriptions make sense, it’s no surprise that The Farm Shop isn’t the only one who’s reviving the culture of daily milk deliveries. 

However, the founders believe that their service has a competitive advantage thanks to their end-to-end control. 

“We control the entire process—from farm to delivery—unlike services that repackage and deliver milk,” the team explained. “This means unmatched quality, freshness, and traceability. Plus, our milk is minimally processed, additive-free, and delivered with no extra charges.”

On top of that, The Farm Shop offers more than milk. The team has ventured into add-ons including yoghurt, cheeses, bread, and eggs. 

Customers can also adjust delivery weeks as needed easily over WhatsApp. To better streamline The Milk(Wo)man Plan, the team is also investing into tech enhancements to facilitate subscriptions via an improved online platform.

Beyond the milk 

Bringing their fresh dairy products to more people, The Farm Shop has expanded into Penang, Johor, and Melaka. Their sight is set on Singapore, where they often get inquiries from. 

Expanding further comes with its own host of challenges, requiring the team to tackle transit times, freshness, and logistics. 

To do this, they’ve implemented strategic scheduling with fortnightly deliveries to Ipoh, Seremban, Melaka, Penang, and Johor Bahru. This is paired with their robust cold chain management to ensure peak freshness. They also have local partnerships to complete the last-mile delivery.

To strengthen their cold chain logistics, the team is investing in growing their fleet of cold chain vehicles. “We have three at present, with number four coming on soon,” Dr Tan added. 

In The Farm Shop’s bid to become Malaysia’s leading fresh dairy provider, the team is focusing on a number of pillars. 

One is championing local agriculture and strengthening sustainable supply chains.

Education is also key in this quest. Specifically, The Farm Shop aims to educate Malaysians on what real nutrition is, and why natural, minimally processed food wins out against ultra-processed foods.

To cater to more people, they also aim to expand their offerings and launch more high quality dairy products in addition to seasonal specials.  

“In fact, we have a blue ocean range that is slated for launch this year,” they shared. 

Wrapping everything up is their sustainability initiatives, which includes exploring reusable packaging, bottle return programmes, and eco-friendly deliveries.

“Our vision is to be your trusted source for nutrition,” Dr Tan reminded. “That means a sustainable agricultural ecosystem that benefits both consumers and farmers, delivering premium minimally processed food nationwide.”

• Learn more about The Farm Shop here.
• Read other articles we’ve written about Malaysian startups here.

Also Read: Bigger is always better for displays, but size isn’t the only reason we like these 98″ TCL TVs

Featured Image Credit: The Farm Shop

M’sian coffee giant ZUS Coffee launches luxe signature store concept in 2 locations

Ever since its inception in late 2019, ZUS Coffee has become a staple in Malaysia.

I remember walking by their first outlet in Binjai 8 that year, and was surprised when I began seeing them practically everywhere I went after the Covid lockdowns had eased up.

The company currently boasts 610 stores across the country according to their website.

And now, they’ve got another in Taman Paramount under their new label, ZUS Signature.

With a luxurious edge, this concept is an elevation of their usual convenience and affordability-driven model.

Editor’s Update [20/02/2025, 9.40AM]: The above paragraph has been edited to reflect greater accuracy of statement.

“Where Necessity Meets Luxury”

The new ZUS Signature store will reinforce the company’s presence in the specialty coffee market.

Exclusive to outlets under this brand will be Single Origin Espressos (SOEs) from Brazil and Ethiopia. These will be prepared using the Victoria Arduino Eagle One, which saw usage in the World Latte Art Competition.

Other menu highlights include the Zeriously Matcha Latte and Yuzu Thunder, two new items crafted in conjunction with the store’s opening.

Not to draw comparisons, but it feels like ZUS Signature may have been inspired by the concept behind Starbucks Reserve, albeit with their own spin on things.

“At ZUS Coffee, we believe that great coffee is a necessity, not a luxury,” shared Head of Coffee and Zuristas Terence Ho.

“Now, ZUS Signature is where a necessity meets luxury—a space where coffee connoisseurs can experience the highest level of craftsmanship, from the finest beans to innovative flavours that push the boundaries of specialty coffee culture.”

Long-time customers of ZUS will also be glad to know that items such as the CEO Latte, Spanish Latte, and Gula Melaka Latte will also be on offer at ZUS Signature stores.

Another ZUS Signature store can be found in The Oasis, Sunway Pyramid.

Deliveries and order pick-ups for both outlets can be made through the ZUS Coffee app.

Staying on their toes

The reason behind ZUS Coffee’s creation was to fill the gap in the market for “good quality coffee at an affordable price.”

Those were the words of COO Venon Tian during a panel at the Tech in Asia Conference 2024.

But that said, he also emphasised how crucial it is for businesses to adapt in the face of changing market conditions.

This is shown in them adapting to the rising costs of coffee beans and cocoa recently.

ZUS Signature could be part of that strategy to match fan expectations.

• Learn more about ZUS Coffee here.
• Read other articles we’ve written about F&B businesses here.

Also Read: CARiNG’s CNY video reminds us what “home” really means, and it’s not about a place

Featured Image Credit: ZUS Coffee

Singapore-based GCL Global Holdings emerges as a top gainer on NASDAQ

Singapore-headquartered GCL Global Holdings has emerged as a top gainer on NASDAQ following the successful completion of its merger with SPAC firm RF Acquisition.

The company, which is also the parent holding group of a few other Singaporean companies including YouTuber Jianhao Tan’s Titan Digital Media, saw its shares skyrocket 145.97% to US$7.50 today (February 19) amid strong market momentum.

This surge comes shortly after GCL Global Holdings released its latest financials, reporting a narrower net loss for the first half of the 2025 fiscal year, driven by higher revenues from console games and game code sales.

For the six-month period to September 30, 2024, GCL Global Holdings reported a net loss of US$512,287 (US$0.02 per share)—a significant improvement from the US$1.530 million loss (US$0.06 per share) recorded in the same period last year.

GCL Global Holdings produces and distributes video games across seven countries, and has forged more than 15 multi-year deals with big-name publishers such as TAKE-TWO, CD Projekt Red, Warner Bros. Games, SEGA, and Bandai Namco. 

The group is responsible for bringing some award-winning favourites to Singapore, including Hogwarts Legacy, Grand Theft Auto V, Red Dead Redemption II, Cyberpunk 2077, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, and Elden Ring.

Most recently, the company has announced the acquisition of 20% equity interests of video game developer NEKCOM Inc., along with the global publishing rights of the latter’s upcoming game, Showa American Story.

As a Singaporean company listed in the US, GCL Global Holdings is one to watch, joining other prominent Singaporean firms, including Grab, MoneyHero Group and Ryde, in the global market spotlight.

Grab and MoneyHero Group began trading on NASDAQ after completing SPAC deals—Grab in 2021 and MoneyHero Group in 2023—while RYDE made its debut on the NYSE last year. 

• Read other articles we’ve written on Singaporean businesses here.

Also Read: Titan Digital Media’s parent company GCL goes public on NASDAQ

Featured Image Credit: Titan Digital Media via Facebook

Can AI make mobile gaming more fun? The ASUS ROG Phone 9 gave me my answer.

If a flagship phone has been released in the past year, you can bet that it’s got some AI feature or the other.

Whether it’s for transcription, translation, better note-taking, and more, AI has infiltrated a lot of our phone’s software. It’s gotten to the point where it’s a little… boring. Predictable, even.

But what does AI in a gaming phone look like?

I got my answer with the ASUS ROG Phone 9.

We out here g-AI-ming

As a gaming phone, of course the priority would be the use of AI in enhancing the gaming experience. 

Admittedly, a lot of it is in the beta mode still, but it already seems promising. 

There were a few title games highlighted by ASUS that could benefit from their new AI gaming features: Genshin Impact, Honkai: Star Rail, Arena of Valor, MLBB, and League of Legends: Wild Rift.

I’ll be focusing on the one that I am most familiar with, Genshin Impact.

For the former, I played around with these features:

1. Auto Pick Up 

When activated, walking near collectibles would automatically pick them up without you pressing anything—in theory. 

For the most part, it worked, but sometimes would be a hit or miss. If I maybe ran too fast past an item, or if they were in clusters, I noticed that the feature would miss picking up a few things.

Great for some lazy, idle gaming when you’re running around the map anyway, but hardcore farmers might end up more frustrated than pleased with this feature.

2. Auto Run

By automatically pressing the “up” button for you, this is another feature that I feel is great for those exploring the map.

You still have to control which direction your character goes, but at least you don’t need to keep your finger on the screen the entire time and risk cramping it.

3. X Sense – Speed up conversations

For those who hate Genshin Impact’s yap sessions, this would be a half-win. It allows you to move through multiple dialogue lines automatically, but it doesn’t exactly allow you to skip dialogue per se, a la Wuthering Waves. 

You still need to give the dialogue lines time to finish, and the AI cannot help you select a response when needed, so you still have to take action at times.

4. Quick Escape

Okay, this one’s a legit lifesaver for one of the game’s most annoying mechanics, getting caught in a Hydro bubble or getting frozen, and I can confirm, it works very well.

Enhancing d-AI-ly use

Still in the realm of gaming, another AI feature that’s pretty cool is X Capture, which automatically records your gatcha sessions on Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail, while recording kills, victories, or even defeated moments on games like Arena of Valor and MLBB.

In Arena of Valor, MLBB, and League of Legends: Wild Rift, the ROG Phone 9 has an Auto Skill Upgrade which detects when your character gets a new skill, and maps it to the appropriate skill buttons so you don’t have to fiddle with settings. 

Available across all games, the AI Grabber feature could come in handy when you’re stuck in a game and unsure of how to progress or don’t understand the game’s objectives. 

Just select any text on the screen that you want to copy, and AI Grabber will seamlessly pull it up on Google without needing you to type anything.

It also has a translation feature, which makes chatting with foreign players much easier.

Gaming aside, there are what ASUS calls daily AI features too, to enhance your experience using the ROG Phone 9 as a daily driver.

This includes:

• AI Call Translator, which supports English, Chinese, Cantonese, French, German, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, and Spanish
• AI Transcript in the Recorder app, which needs no internet connection to work and can generate summarised notes from the text of your recording
• Circle to Search (this will only be added in Q4 through a system update), which I am very excited about because it’s been a true quality-of-life (QOL) upgrade on my own phone

Powering all these AI features and more is a 5,800mAh battery and a Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, and the phone’s capabilities are enjoyed through a 6.78” AMOLED display with up to a 185Hz refresh rate.

Here are some of the phone’s other specs:

I wouldn’t say that the ROG Phone 9 is a device geared for work productivity or mobile photography, but you’d probably be able to get decent performance for both out of it anyway.

On the topic of photography, the AirTrigger buttons provide users with another easier way of snapping a photo, and there’s the 6-Axis Hybrid Gimbal Stabilizer 4.0 which is supposed to provide more stability for smoother videos and pictures.

I do find the latter to be a bit overdone, as the movement delay caused by the stabiliser tends to throw me off. If you’re someone who usually has shaky hands though, this would definitely balance things out.

Its 5,800mAh battery is an upgrade from the previous generation’s 5,500mAh capacity, and as long as you’re not doing high-intensity gaming for long stretches of time, battery life shouldn’t be an issue.

Verdict

The gaming AI features on the ROG Phone 9 are a breath of fresh air to explore, but to answer the big question: Did they make gaming more fun?

Somewhat. By cutting out repetitive or disruptive actions in gameplay, they enable you to focus more on the fun parts, be it the exploration or battles, and to some, that equals more fun. If I was still gaming as much as I was about a year ago, these features would probably quite literally be gamechangers to me.

To add, these features are all still in beta, which means there’s more room for improvement, and I’m interested to see how far the AI gaming tech can go.

Give me AI-enhanced QOL features any day, but I hope it doesn’t get to the point whereby the AI just outright plays the game for you, because what would be the fun in that?

The ROG Phone 9 is available at a starting price of RM3,999.

• Learn more about the ASUS ROG Phone 9 here.
• Read other VP Verdicts we’ve written here.

VP Verdict is a series where we personally try and test out products, services, fads, and apps. Want to suggest something else for us to try? Leave a comment here or send the suggestion to our Facebook page!

Also Read: Bigger is always better for displays, but size isn’t the only reason we like these 98″ TCL TVs

At 23, he coded a startup in his bedroom. Now, his M’sian HR firm serves 450+ global clients.

[This is a sponsored article with Great Pyramid.]

Tejvinder Singh, co-founder and CEO of Great Pyramid, has always been a bit of a rebel. A bright student early on, scoring well in UPSR and PMR, his academic success didn’t quite carry through to SPM, where he only secured one A. 

But that was never the end goal for him anyway. “Right after secondary school, I just wanted to work and earn my own income. Money was my main driver. I wanted to be the next Bill Gates, hence why I studied IT,” Tejvinder shared with Vulcan Post. 

His early ventures were a mix of freelance gigs as a promoter and usherer, along with attempts to sell products like perfumes and clothes online. While these efforts were not successful, he views them as valuable learning experiences.

A key learning he picked up from those failed ventures was that market research is everything. “I assumed demand existed and expected success without real data. I quickly realised intuition alone wasn’t enough. Taking calculated risks based on market insights is far more effective,” he said.

One way he turned his lesson into action was by starting Great Pyramid. 

Building from the ground up

Great Pyramid began as an immigration and mobility services provider, catering to companies that hired expatriates in Malaysia. 

While still in university, Tejvinder gained hands-on experience in this field by handling data entry and manually submitting expatriate pass applications to authorities. That’s when he noticed a gap in the industry’s understanding of regulatory requirements and saw an opportunity to bridge it. 

In the early days, he handled everything himself—from meeting clients to liaising with authorities—all from a small room at home equipped with just a PC, phone, and fax machine.

His knowledge grew through extensive research and a relentless drive to ask the right questions.

A turning point came when HR departments of client companies began inquiring about additional HR services like recruitment and payroll. 

“That was the ‘lightbulb moment.’ We already had a good reputation and access to clients, so we expanded into recruitment, payroll outsourcing, and Employer of Record (EoR) services,” he said. “Learning new trades was tough, but I kept an inquisitive mind and asked industry experts.”

Dictionary time: EoR is an organisation that takes care of the legal and administrative duties of employing people on behalf of another business. While employees still work for their employer, the EoR manages things like contracts, taxes, and other employment-related tasks.

Source: Personio

Winning trust and scaling up

Starting a business when he was just 23 wasn’t easy. “Companies didn’t want to trust a young guy with their expatriate mobility and HR matters,” Tejvinder admitted. 

To gain credibility, he launched a website. Without a marketing budget, he relied on cold calls and email blasts, even scanning newspaper job advertisements to reach out to HR departments. 

“Our pitch was simple: we only charge on a success basis, no deposits or upfront payments. We were confident we could deliver, and as we built trust, our client base grew.” 

One of their biggest breakthroughs came in 2011 when a Fortune 500 company engaged their services. According to Tejvinder, this client remains with them to this day and has significantly contributed to their growth. 

Fast forward to today, Great Pyramid serves over 450 clients across Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, India, the USA, the UK, Australia, China, Cyprus, Spain, Austria, UAE, Hong Kong, and Germany. 

Growing from a solo operation to serving global clients came with its fair share of challenges, and one of the biggest hurdles he had to face was managing a workforce.

“Being a relatively unknown brand, attracting top talents was tough. In the early days, we made hiring mistakes such as recruiting too quickly without a rigorous selection process. That led to high turnover, and I often had to step in personally to manage clients and operations,” he shared.

To fix this, they introduced structured hiring processes and invested in employer branding, along with, of course, prioritising their clients above all else. 

“I also take a hands-on approach, assisting teams with challenges and engaging directly with clients,” he added.

Becoming a one-stop HR partner

According to Tejvinder, what sets Great Pyramid apart is their hybrid approach, leveraging AI-driven solutions with a personal touch, backed by a strong regional presence and deep knowledge of local labour laws.

“Many HR platforms focus purely on automation, but businesses expanding in Southeast Asia need more than just software. They need compliance expertise and real-world workforce solutions,” said Tejvinder.

He added that global HR tech platforms offer broad solutions, but the company focuses on providing customised, country-specific services, helping businesses navigate complex regulations without the risks of a one-size-fits-all approach.

Their core services include recruitment and talent acquisition, immigration and mobility, expatriate pass applications, workforce management, and HR advisory and consultancy.

“We handle everything end-to-end, from sourcing talent and employment contracts to work pass applications,” he summed up.

One of their recent focuses has been sourcing talents for the data centre industry. “A major client was having trouble finding local talent, so we suggested bringing in foreign talents. The client was concerned about the legal aspects, but we reassured them that we’d handle all the paperwork,” he shared as an example of the challenges clients typically face.

“So far, we’ve helped mobilise over 100 expatriates for the client.”

Great Pyramid also played a pivotal role in helping a global mobility tech company scale in Southeast Asia. “They needed to hire fast but didn’t want to manage the admin side. We started with just two staff for them, and within three years, that number grew to nearly 100.”

Entrepreneurship is a journey, not a destination

Great Pyramid is now expanding its regional presence into Indonesia and Thailand, while also broadening its service offerings. The company is further enhancing its immigration and mobility services by assisting with the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme.

For context, the MM2H programme was introduced by the Malaysian government as a way for non-Malaysians to retire and live in Malaysia for an extended period of time.

Looking ahead, Great Pyramid has ambitious plans, with a roadmap in place to go public within the next five years. “The target is to list by 2029,” Tejvinder told us. 

For him, entrepreneurship is a continuous journey of learning and growth. This is because he believes success isn’t about proving anything to others, but about proving to himself that he could do it. 

Two defining moments stand out in his journey: winning The Best in Customer Service Award at the 2023 Star Outstanding Business Awards (SOBA) and being selected for the 2024 Elevate programme by the Securities Commission and Capital Markets Malaysia.  

Despite these achievements, he remains humble. “I don’t think I’ve made it yet. There’s always more to learn. That’s what keeps me going.”

• Learn more about Great Pyramid here. 
• Read other articles we’ve written about Malaysian startups here.

Also Read: Not just a fad: How this entrepreneur plans to seriously grow Malaysia’s pickleball scene

Featured Image Credit: Great Pyramid

From 10 to 0: The Manhattan Fish Market shuts down last remaining outlet in S’pore

The Manhattan Fish Market has closed its last remaining outlet in Singapore at Northpoint City.

In response to Vulcan Post’s inquiries, a customer service officer from Northpoint City confirmed the news, stating that the outlet ceased operations sometime last week. It has also been marked as ‘permanently closed’ on Google Maps.

Further checks by Vulcan Post revealed that The Manhattan Fish Market’s outlet locator page on its website displays an error once accessed, and its delivery partner, Oddle, lists all items from the Northpoint City outlet as out of stock.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the seafood chain operated 10 outlets across Singapore, including at Plaza Singapura, Suntec City, and Changi Airport. However, all outlets gradually shuttered over the years.

Vulcan Post has reached out to The Manhattan Fish Market for additional comments.

The Manhattan Fish Market was first started in Malaysia about twenty years ago, and has since expanded to countries including Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Qatar.

The seafood chain is owned by Malaysian-based investment holding company Revenue Valley Group, which also operates several other F&B brands, including American diner chain Tony Roma’s. Tony Roma’s shuttered its only outlet in Singapore back in 2019.

• Read other articles we’ve written on Singaporean businesses here.

Also Read: The Manhattan Fish Market is actually a Malaysian brand, here’s its 21 Y/O story

Featured Image Credit: The Manhattan Fish Market/ Vulcan Post

Budget 2025: Aside from 3 tech giants, who are the bizs in S’pore namedropped by PM Wong? 

During his Budget 2025 speech today (February 18), Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong highlighted several key companies playing pivotal roles in Singapore’s economic future.

These companies were celebrated not only for their growth but also for their contributions to innovation, technological advancement, and workforce transformation.

Grab, Sea and Razer were among the mentions, but most would recognise these businesses as they have established themselves either as regional or industry leaders.

Here are the other companies PM Wong had mentioned during his speech, and what they do:

1. Illumina

Illumina Singapore was acknowledged by PM Wong for its role in advancing life sciences and fostering innovation within the biotechnology sector.

Headquartered in San Diego, California, Illumina’s first Singapore facility opened in 2008. The company focuses on DNA sequencing and genetic research technologies.

Illumina has made contributions to global healthcare, while also supporting local companies such as tech services provider Venture Corporation, manufacturing firm Sunningdale Tech, and the National Cancer Centre Singapore.

In July 2024, Illumina signed a research collaboration agreement with the National Cancer Centre Singapore.

According to the press release, this partnership aimed to enhance the diagnosis and treatment of adolescent and young adult (AYA) lymphoma in Asian cohorts, potentially improving outcomes for over 1,000 patients in Singapore each year.

2. AEM Holdings Ltd.

AEM Holdings was mentioned by PM Wong for its contributions to research and development, specifically in the semiconductor industry.

Established in 1990, the company has played a critical role in advancing Singapore’s semiconductor capabilities, and its solutions help detect manufacturing defects that could otherwise compromise product quality.

The company now has a global footprint across Asia, Europe and US.

3. Singapore Airport Terminal Services Limited (SATS Ltd.)

SATS, a provider of aviation solutions, was highlighted by PM Wong for its efforts in workforce transformation, particularly in supporting skills development through partnerships with the National Trades Union Congress’ (NTUC) Company Training Committee.

According to PM Wong, the company fully sponsors its employees’ out-of-pocket programmes. From just 1,673 staff in 1972, the company has grown to employ over 50,000 people, serving customers in more than 215 locations across 27 countries worldwide.

• Read more articles we’ve written about Budget 2025 here.

Also Read: 5 highlights from PM Wong’s maiden National Day Rally

Feature Image Credit: SATS via website, AEM Holdings via website, Illumina via Shutterstock

Budget 2025 recap: Here are the key takeaways Singaporeans need to know

Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Lawrence Wong has just delivered his Budget 2025 statement today (February 18) at the Parliament House.

Titled Onward Together For A Better Tomorrow, this year’s Budget includes more support for cost of living concerns, seniors and workers, among other initiatives.

We’ve simplified the announcement and have broken down the key benefits for different groups of Singaporeans and businesses. Here’s what you need to know:

For individuals

In commemoration of Singapore’s 60th year of independence (SG60), S$600 vouchers will be given to all Singaporeans aged 21 to 59, while those aged 60 and above will receive S$800 vouchers.

There will also be a personal income tax rebate of 60% for YA 2025, capped at S$200.

All ActiveSG members will get S$100 in “SG60 ActiveSG credits,” which can be used to book sports activities and programmes.

An SG Culture pass valued at S$100 credits will be given to those aged 18 and above to encourage Singaporeans to attend local arts and heritage activities.

For households and families

Each Singaporean household will receive S$800 in CDC vouchers and additional U-Save rebates up to S$750 this financial year.

Climate vouchers will be enhanced, with HDB households receiving a total of S$400 worth of vouchers. Those residing in private properties will receive them as well.

All Singaporean babies born this year will receive an SG60 Baby Gift, and S$500 LifeSG credits will be given out to each Singaporean child aged 12 and below.

The government will also provide a S$500 Edusave or Post-Secondary Education Account (PSEA) top-up for every Singaporean aged 13 to 20 this year.

Parents of Singaporean children will receive up to S$16,000 more in support for their third or subsequent child under a new Large Families Scheme.

Monthly full-day childcare fee caps in government-supported preschools will also be reduced.

To better support lower-income families, the government will increase ComCare Assistance scheme payouts.

The Fresh Start Housing Scheme will also get a boost to help families living in public rental flats, and the current S$50,000 grant for families to buy a new Standard two-room Flexi or a Standard three-room flat on a shorter lease will be increased to S$75,000.

Additionally, subsidy rates for adult disability services will be raised, along with an increase in the maximum qualifying per capita household income.

The Matched Retirement Savings Scheme will also be expanded to include eligible Singaporeans with disabilities regardless of age.

For seniors

The Singapore Allowance will rise for some pensioners, increasing from S$350 to S$390 each month. The monthly pension ceiling will also increase to S$1,320. 

The Enhancement for Active Seniors (EASE) programme, currently limited to HDB residents, will be expanded for three years to 2028 for households in private properties.

A new five-year Matched MediSave Scheme will be introduced, and this will apply to eligible lower-income seniors aged 55 to 70. 

For seniors with more severe care needs and who require nursing homes, subsidies will increase by 15%, and the maximum qualifying per capita household income will also be raised to S$4,800.

Those born in 1969 or before and who do not benefit from CareShield Life will have their subsidies increased by 5%.

Support will also be enhanced for seniors who don’t stay in nursing homes—existing subsidies for long-term care services in the home and community will go up by 10%, and subsidies under the Seniors’ Mobility and Enabling Fund will also increase.

The Home Caregiving Grant will also increase from S$400 a month to S$600.

For workers

The training allowance under the SkillsFuture Level-Up Programme, targeted at Singaporeans aged 40 and above, will be extended to part-time training from early next year.

An enhanced tier of support under the Workfare Skills Support will be introduced, which will be modelled after the SkillsFuture Level-Up Programme and benefit lower-wage workers when they turn 30. 

Senior workers will see increased CPF contribution rates, and those aged between 55 to 65 years old will see their contribution rates increase by 1.5% in 2026.

For SMEs & businesses

A 50% corporate income tax rebate will be introduced in YA 2025.

Hawkers will receive a one-time rental support of S$600 per stall for those in centres managed by governments and government-appointed operators.

The government’s co-funding levels for wage increases under the Progressive Wage Credit Scheme will go up from 30% in 2025 to 40% and from 15% in 2026 to 20%. 

The National Productivity Fund will be topped up with an additional S$3 billion to support measures for businesses to improve productivity, and continue to educate and train workers.

EDB will launch a Global Founder Programme later this year to tap the agency’s close links with multinational firms and entrepreneurs and help Singapore-based enterprises to scale up.

Up to S$150 million will be put aside for a new Enterprise Compute Initiative, which will help firms tailor AI solutions to their needs and integrate them into their business processes and systems.

A new S$1 billion Private Credit Growth Fund will also be introduced to provide more financing options for high-growth local enterprises. 

Tax incentives will be introduced for Singapore-based companies and fund managers that choose to list in Singapore and grow their economic activities here.

A redesigned SkillsFuture Enterprise Credit will be introduced—all companies with at least three resident employees will get a fresh S$10,000 in the redesigned SkillsFuture Enterprise credit.

A new SkillsFuture Workforce Development Grant will also be introduced, which will provide higher funding support of up to 70% for job redesign activities.

The CPF Transition Offset will be extended to employers for another year to cover half of the increase in employer contributions for senior workers in 2026.

The extension of the Senior Employment Credit and the Uplifting Employment Credit will provide wage offsets for employers who hire Singaporean seniors and ex-offenders.

• Read other articles we’ve written on Budget 2025 Singapore here.

Also Read: Budget 2025: Here’s all the “free money” Singaporeans can expect to receive

Featured Image Credit: PM Lawerence Wong via Facebook/ Ministry of Finance

K Fry, KGB & Inside Scoop join Jaya Grocer’s exclusive lineup of Grab Signatures Brands

If you’re a fan of Village Park, K Fry, Inside Scoop, and KGB, you’ll be glad to know that you can now get your fix from the comfort of your own home.

This is thanks to Jaya Grocer expanding its lineup of Grab Signatures Brands, which allows selected brands to sell their products at retail through Jaya Grocer Private Labels.

Since 2007, the grocery chain has been the go-to place for many households across Malaysia to get their weekly shopping done.

The brand was acquired by Grab in 2022, and now has over 53 stores primarily in Klang Valley. 

Here are the details of the new exclusive products in Jaya Grocer.

Add to cart

Sold exclusively at all Jaya Grocer outlets or online through GrabMart, February 18 will see the following items added to store shelves:

• Village Park’s Nasi Lemak Sambal, Nasi Lemak Sambal Lagi Pedas, and Ayam Goreng Berempah 
• K Fry’s Boneless Fried Chicken
• KGB’s Straight Cut French Fries

Later in March this year, the following flavours from Inside Scoop will join these offerings:

• Vanilla with Gula Melaka Swirl
• Sea Salt Gula Melaka
• DoubleCookies and Cream

Purchases of every product will net customers GrabRewards points through Jaya Grocer’s membership programme.

Uplifting the local SME scene

Grab Signatures Brands simply refer to F&B outlets that do online deliveries exclusively through GrabFood.

The Jaya Grocer Private Labels initiative was created back in 2023 with these brands for the purposes of bringing their menu items to retail.

“Since its launch, the concept has helped restaurant owners bridge the gap between restaurants and retail shelves, bringing their signature flavours from outlet dining tables to home kitchens,” said Jaya Grocer CEO Daniel Teng.

But of course, doing such a thing is easier said than done. As per the CEO, it involves adapting to a new business model and understanding the complexities of retail supply chains. 

That’s where Jaya Grocer steps in to aid in the transition.

“At Jaya Grocer, we are proud to work alongside these local heroes, helping them secure opportunities to scale production, reach broader markets and ensure brand longevity,” Daniel further explained.

• Learn more about Jaya Grocer here.
• Read other articles we’ve written about F&B businesses here.

Also Read: CARiNG’s CNY video reminds us what “home” really means, and it’s not about a place

Featured Image Credit: Jaya Grocer

Budget 2025: 9 quick facts that Singaporean entrepreneurs need to know

The 2025 Singapore Budget Statement has been delivered by Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong today (February 18).

If you missed it, not to worry, as we’ve gathered the key takeaways that entrepreneurs and startups need to know.

1. 50% corporate income tax rebate to be introduced in YA 2025

All active companies that employed at least one local employee last year will get a minimum benefit of S$2,000, with the total benefit for each company capped at S$40,000.

2. Co-funding levels for the PWCS will be increased

The government’s co-funding levels for wage increases under the Progressive Wage Credit Scheme will be raised to 40% from 30% in 2025 and to 20% from 15% in 2026.

3. EDB will launch a Global Founder Programme

The programme will tap into EDB’s close links with multinational firms and entrepreneurs and help Singapore-based enterprises to scale up.

4. Up to S$150 million will be invested into a new AI initiative

To help firms tailor AI solutions to their needs and integrate them into their business processes and systems, up to S$150 million will be put aside for a new Enterprise Compute Initiative. 

Eligible enterprises will be partnered with major cloud service providers to access AI tools and computing power, as well as expert consultancy services under this initiative.

5. A new S$1 billion Private Credit Growth Fund will be launched

The initiative will provide more financing options for high-growth local enterprises. 

6. S$3 billion top-up to National Productivity Fund

The national productivity fund will be topped up by S$3 billion to support measures for businesses to improve productivity and continue to educate and train workers.

7. Tax incentives to encourage bizs to list in Singapore

Singapore will introduce tax incentives for Singapore-based companies and fund managers that choose to list in Singapore.

A tax incentive will also be implemented for fund managers that invest substantially in Singapore-listed equities to promote more investment in Singapore’s capital markets.

8. Developments for Skillsfuture

PM Wong announced a new SkillsFuture Workforce Development Grant, which will be introduced to help companies restructure, transform and upgrade their workforce.

The new grant will simplify the application process for companies for schemes by Workforce Singapore and Skillsfuture Singapore—and will provide higher funding support of up to 70% for job redesign activities.

PM Wong also announced that the SkillsFuture Enterprise Credit will also be redesigned, where the revamped credit will operate “like an online wallet” as opposed to a reimbursement basis.

Those with at least three resident employees will get $10,000 in redesigned credit, which will be available in the second half of 2026. Current credits that are due to expire in June 2025, will be extended till then.

9. S$200 million additional funding for NTUC

Additional funding of around $200 million will be set aside for NTUC to start more committees.

The grant will also be expanded to support employer-led training that leads to formal qualifications or certifications.

• Read other articles we’ve written on Budget 2025 here.

Also Read: Singapore forms electoral boundaries committee, here’s who they comprise & what they’ll do

Featured Image Credit: Richie Chan/ Shutterstock.com

Budget 2025: Here’s all the “free money” Singaporeans can expect to receive

It’s that time of the year again—the Budget 2025 speech has just been announced today (February 18).

Over 200,000 Singaporeans have participated in a nationwide survey called Forward Singapore, and the feedback has helped to shape this year’s budget—including cash aid.

With that, here’s all the “free money” Singaporeans can expect to receive.

SG60 Vouchers

S$600 vouchers will be given to all Singaporeans aged 21 to 59.

S$800 vouchers will also be given to all Singaporean seniors aged 60 and above.

These vouchers will be disbursed from July 2025.

Residents can also enjoy a 60% personal income tax rebate, which will be capped at S$200.

All Singaporean babies born in 2025 will also receive an SG60 Baby Gift. More details will be shared by early March.

SG Culture pass valued at S$100 credits will be given to all Singaporeans aged 18 and above available from September 2025 to the end of 2028.

A one-time rental support of S$600 will be given to each stall in hawker centres managed by government or government-appointed operators. Up to $1 billion will also be set aside to upgrade ageing hawker centres and to build new ones over the next two to three decades.

ActiveSG members can also receive S$100 in SG60 credits.

To commemorate Singapore’s upcoming 60th birthday, many businesses have also stepped forward to offer special discounts and offers.

S$800 CDC Vouchers

Every Singaporean household will receive S$800 in CDC vouchers. The first S$500 will be disbursed in May 2025, and the remaining S$300 in January 2026.

Rebates, credits and cash top-ups

More U-save rebates to be given to eligible HDB households will receive up to S$760 in utility rebates this financial year. This rebate will be given quarterly in 2025.

S$500 LifeSG credits will also be given to each Singaporean child aged 12 and below, which can be used for groceries, utilities and pharmacy items.

S$500 Edusave or Post-Secondary Education Account (PSEA) top-up will also be given for Singaporeans aged 13-20 this year.

Large Families Scheme

A new Large Families Scheme will be introduced with the following cash benefits for each third and subsequent child born from Feburary 18, 2025 onwards:

First, an S$5,000 increase will be given to the Child Development Account First Step Grant for childcare and healthcare expenses.

Secondly, a new S$5,000 Large Medisave Grant will be disbursed into the mother’s Medisave account to offset the mother’s pregnancy and delivery costs or her family members’ healthcare expenses.

Thirdly, S$1,000 of LifeSG credits will be given annually to families during the years that the child is between one and six years old.

Medisave & caregiving

A new Matched Medisave scheme was also introduced, where the government will provide a dollar-for-dollar matching grant of up to S$1,000 annually for every dollar of voluntary top-ups received in the Medisave accounts of eligible lower-income seniors aged between 55 and 70.

Existing subsidies for residential long-term care services will be increased by up to 15 percentage points. The maximum qualifying per capita household income will also be raised to S$4,800.

Those born in 1969 or earlier or who do not benefit from CareShield Life, will also benefit from additional subsidies of 5 percentage points for residential long-term care services.

Other cash benefits

PM Wong has also mentioned in his speech that rates for ComCare Assistance schemes will be increased, and Singapore Allowance will be raised from S$350 to S$390 each month.

The monthly pension ceiling will also increase to S$1,320.

All Singaporean households will also receive an additional S$100 worth of climate vouchers, bringing up to S$400, and will be valid until December 2027.

PM Wong also announced that the Fresh Start Housing Scheme will be enhanced, where eligible families can buy a new standard two-room flexi or standard three-room flat on a shorter lease. The grant will be increased to S$75,000.

-//-

• Read more about what we have written on Budget 2025 Singapore here.

Also Read: Budget 2024: S’pore injects S$1.9bn into Assurance Package, households to receive S$600 in CDC vouchers

Featured Image Credit: timothyroesdiah via Freepik

Not just a fad: How this entrepreneur plans to seriously grow Malaysia’s pickleball scene

[This is a sponsored article with Picklefox.]

When it comes to pickleball, you’re probably in either of two camps: absolutely obsessed with it, or can’t understand the hype at all.

Janet is part of the former, having gotten hooked from her very first game in April 2024. 

So hooked, in fact, that one month later, she would take the leap to start her own pickleball business, Picklefox.

And it’s more than just a money-making venture for her.

A multi-pronged approach

On the surface, Picklefox is a store selling all sorts of pickleball equipment and accessories, such as paddles, grips, eyewear, and more.

Its lineup of products is meticulously curated, picked for their high quality and value for money, and targeting a range of players from beginner to pro. 

Paddle brands you’ll find here include CRBN, Proton, and Ronbus, while accessories brands include UDRIPPIN, PKLDOUT, and more.

Janet shared that Picklefox maintains transparent pricing that’s aligned with manufacturers’ prices, meaning that customers can trust they are getting authentic products at fair market value without hidden markups.

But this store is only their first step to creating a holistic pickleball ecosystem in Malaysia.

The team’s early efforts to establish themselves as more than a store can already be seen through the educational content they put out on the website too, such as paddle and court reviews.

They’ve also been working with youths through youth summer programmes and after-school programmes at international schools like IGBIS and Alice Smith, as well as organised DUPR (Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating) sessions and tournaments.

All this to say, they’re already making moves to take Picklefox and the local pickleball scene to the next level.

An ace up their sleeve

Very soon, they’ll be launching a dedicated pro facility and retail shop in KL. 

The retail shop is envisioned to be the ultimate destination for pickleball enthusiasts, functioning as a hub for expert advice and top-tier gear.

“Beyond paddles, we provide customisation services to help players fine-tune their equipment for optimal comfort and performance. From grip adjustments to accessory selection, our specialists will ensure every player gets the perfect fit,” Janet said.

As for what the pro facility entails?

“It’ll be a place where players can connect, compete, and grow together. Expect coaching clinics, exclusive events, and thrilling tournaments happening regularly,” the CEO shared, adding that it’ll be “big and unlike anything you’ve seen before.”

Excitingly, Janet claims that it’ll also have Malaysia’s first smart courts for pickleball, coming fully integrated with AI and IoT (Internet of Things) to elevate the playing experience.

Priming her pickleball biz for success

The entrepreneur is no stranger to priming businesses for success; her track record comprises two exits, FutureLab Asia and Hyperlab, which she co-founded.

Fun fact: Hyperlab is a conversational AI company acquired by Everise, while FutureLab Asia, said to be Malaysia’s largest social media agency, was sold to APD.

Her latest role was at GiftEd, an edtech startup where she served as CEO for nearly two years.

These industries are a far cry from the world of pickleball, but Janet’s entry into the sports industry with Picklefox felt like a natural evolution of her entrepreneurial journey.

“While my past ventures, FutureLab Asia and Hyperlab, were focused on social media marketing and AI, they gave me invaluable experience in building scalable businesses, leveraging technology, and creating strong brand identities,” she told Vulcan Post.

Now, she’s able to combine her business expertise with her personal passion for pickleball.

“At FutureLab and Hyperlab, I saw firsthand how the right positioning and partnerships can make or break a business. That’s why, from the start, I’ve been meticulous in selecting the right equipment brands to bring in—ensuring that Picklefox offers only the most reliable, high-performance gear.”

According to Janet, many of the brands that Picklefox carries are not easily available in Asia because they’re highly sought after in the US and Australia, where pickleball is already booming.

As these brands’ focus has been on meeting demand in those regions, it’s challenging for new distributors to secure partnerships.

But Picklefox knew that it was a worthwhile challenge to take on. They managed to get the attention of these brands’ founders and build trust by demonstrating their vision for growing pickleball in Malaysia and showcasing how they’re creating a premium experience for players.

Here to stay

Like many things that suddenly erupt in popularity, the sport has its fair share of sceptics who say it’s a fad.

Of course, Janet believes otherwise. 

That’s why Picklefox is:

• Investing in long-term infrastructure such as the upcoming facility with smart courts
• Planning to sponsor and develop pro players to represent Malaysia and SEA
• Continuing to host tournaments of all sizes
• Introducing pickleball to the youth through various programmes
• Actively using social media and content marketing to educate people on the sport

Expanding on some of these, she said, “When there are world-class facilities, people take the sport seriously. That changes the perception from ‘just a trend’ to a legitimate, sustainable sport.”

From there, for a sport to thrive, there must be a pathway from casual play to professional competition.

“When athletes compete professionally, it cements the sport’s legitimacy and encourages more long-term investment.”

And by focusing on the youth, Janet hopes that pickleball won’t just be a sport people try once—it will be a sport they grow up with.

“I believe we are still on the brink of explosive growth and thus, we expect it to evolve rapidly over the next few years,” she said.

If Picklefox and other players in the pickleball ecosystem have their way, it seems like this sport will indeed be here to stay.

• Learn more about Picklefox here. 
• Read other articles we’ve written about Malaysian startups here.

Also Read: Bigger is always better for displays, but size isn’t the only reason we like these 98″ TCL TVs

Featured Image Credit: Picklefox

​​MNL Asia & P.UP launch S’pore’s 1st EV charging lifestyle membership, here’s how it works

[This article is written in collaboration with MNL Asia.]

More Singaporeans are embracing electric vehicles (EVs), but there’s no denying that there still are significant hurdles standing in the way of full-scale adoption. 

One of the most pressing pain points is range anxiety—with the number of EVs in the city-state outpacing available charging points over the last five years, this concern is only becoming increasingly pronounced for drivers hoping to hit the roads without a hitch.

To elevate the ownership experience of EV users, Singapore-based charging point operator MNL Asia and homegrown startup Power Up Tech (P.UP) have come together to launch Singapore’s first EV charging lifestyle membership. 

This initiative provides drivers with both fixed and mobile charging solutions, making it easier than ever to embrace electric driving in Singapore’s urban landscape. 

Everything to know about the EV charging lifestyle membership

Users can choose from two membership packages: the S$88 Classic Boost package, or the S$188 Ultimate Boost package. 

Each package comes with complimentary charging credits redeemable at any of MNL Asia’s fixed charging stations, along with a free P.UP Emergency Rescue (normally priced at S$158)—Singapore’s first and only 24/7 emergency EV rescue service.

If you ever run out of charge while on the road, you can rest easy knowing that help is just a call away. P.UP’s Emergency Rescue service will arrive at your location, providing DC fast charging to your stranded EV with their mobile chargers and boosting it to 20% battery capacity. 

This gives you just enough charge to reach the nearest charging station, where you can also utilise your free charging credits on MNL Asia’s network of over 500 stationary chargers.

Additionally, the Emergency Rescue service includes 12V battery recovery and jumpstart assistance. If you require additional charging beyond 20% or a 12V battery replacement, a surcharge will apply.

Apart from this, the packages also offer discounts of up to 20% on P.UP’s Mobile EV Concierge services, too. This means doorstep charging at your convenience, anytime and anywhere, along with additional grooming services.

However, do note that the Classic Boost Package is valid only for six months from your purchase date, while the Ultimate Boost package offers a 12-month validity. Here’s a comprehensive breakdown of what each package includes:

Peace of mind in a package

With Singapore set to phase out the sales of ICEs by 2030, the need for accessible charging solutions has never been more critical.

MNL Asia and P.UP’s EV charging lifestyle membership packages give subscribers peace of mind with access to reliable charging options, ensuring a worry-free EV experience wherever the road takes you.

Several challenges may inconvenience the overall EV driving experience currently, including the uneven distribution of charging stations, long charging times and the frequent hogging of public chargers. By introducing these first-in-Singapore lifestyle membership packages, MNL Asia and P.UP are setting a new standard for convenience, aiming to elevate the ownership experience of EQ users and reduce barriers to EV adoption across the country.

Sathiyamoorty Nagarajan, Lai Yuan Weng, co-founders of MNL Asia

For a seamless electric driving experience, you can sign up for MNL Asia and P.UP’s membership packages by downloading the EV Charge by MNL app here for Android, and here for iOS.

• Find out more about MNL Asia here.
• Find out more about Power Up Tech here.
• Read other articles we’ve written on electric vehicles here.

Also Read: This S’pore startup built a “portable powerbank” for EVs – lets drivers charge anytime, anywhere

Featured Image Credit:  MNL Asia/ iStock

How the 2nd gen leader of this 26 Y/O M’sian shoe brand is revamping the family biz

Looking at Malaysian women’s shoe and bag brand Nose’s online and offline presence, you’d hardly be able to tell that it’s actually a business founded in 1998 with three generations of expertise. 

Due to its modern branding, it comes across like a business born in the ecommerce era, not losing out to all the hip TikTok shop brands of today. 

In reality, it was founded nearly 30 years ago by Edward Yee and Sue Koh, a married couple who hails from Ipoh. But they aren’t the first in their family to pursue shoemaking for a living. 

Rather, Edward’s parents were shoe factory owners and manufactured women’s, kid’s, and men’s shoes. 

Inspired by his upbringing, he pursued a diploma degree in footwear design at Cordwainers (now the London College of Fashion). 

Meanwhile, Sue has a double professional degree in Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators and The Chartered Institute of Marketing from Stamford. And while she didn’t have a background in fashion, she always had a keen eye for fashion and art.  

Sharing this with Vulcan Post is Vicky, the third-generation Yee and second-generation leader of Nose. 

Reinvigorating the family business

Now 28 years old, Vicky was actually interested in exploring a career in the branding and creative industry. 

She was particularly inspired by one beauty company called Glossier. 

“At the point of inception, Glossier was a gamechanger in the beauty industry, and in my opinion changed the game of how customers interact with brands in general,” Vicky expressed. 

She believes that from that point, brands across all industries began adapting and innovating. And while she didn’t end up venturing into that industry, she herself has taken some cues from the movement and brought that to Nose.  

“Unfortunately branding and marketing was not an aspect the company paid attention to or adapted with, so it became a brand that didn’t really resonate with the new type of customers who were seeking for brands that aligned with their aesthetics or values,” Vicky said. 

Thus, when she joined the business, she strongly pushed for a rebranding exercise. But Nose was greatly affected by the pandemic, which meant the rebranding exercise had to be carried out in a gradual manner. 

Things started to materialise at the end of 2023 where the team introduced a new logo, packaging, colour, and other branding elements. 

Since then, they’ve pushed the new brand direction and identity via campaigns, social media, influencers, new store openings, and product offerings.

Their main campaign last year—Strong & Feminine—was the campaign to tie everything together, encapsulating their new direction. 

“Moving forward, I hope to continue highlighting Nose to be a female-focused brand that all females feel celebrated by,” Vicky expressed.

Not a shoe-in 

Although Nose boasts decades of history, there are a lot of newer brands popping up nowadays offering cheaper bags and shoes.  

“In terms of brand positioning, we are a mid-range brand so we can’t compete with price slashing like most brands on Shopee or TikTok Shops do,” Vicky said. 

However, that also means that Nose tends to offer higher quality and workmanship. 

After all, the fit of a shoe can actually be quite finicky. Backed with two generations’ shoemaking expertise, Nose is better able to strike the right balance between comfort, quality, and visual appeal. 

Since the rebranding, Nose has also elevated the quality and materials of their products to stay above the competition while maintaining a competitive and accessible price point. 

“Most importantly, we stay true to our brand value to continuously build trust and loyalty with our customers,” Vicky said. “Quality and comfort are our most important values so we make sure our materials and supply chain align with that.”

Persevering through challenges

Over the years, Nose has faced many challenges. In the early days, there was the challenge of establishing the brand in the market. This was back in the 90s and early  2000s, where the shopping malls were the only place to legitimise your brand. 

But with Edward and Sue being based in Ipoh their whole lives, they did not have the connections to help get them through the door.  

Vicky shared, “On a weekly basis, they would call up the leasing team to give them the opportunity to  lease as a tenant. At this time, there were also other competitors in the malls who resisted and pressured the leasing team. But alas, Nose’s first store opened in Suria KLCC.”

With that, Nose began to grow over the years. But then, the pandemic struck and shifted the industry in a big way. For one, shoes weren’t something many were shopping for. But more detrimental was the rentals from shopping malls. 

“Rent was due regardless of the pandemic as per our leasing contract, and there was no government or legal involvement in this matter to ease retailers’ burden,” Vicky pointed out. 

Although the team tried to negotiate with the leasing team of each mall, some did not sway. Due to this, Nose closed down four stores. 

Thankfully, the business managed to pull through, and did enjoy the “revenge spending splurge” from customers which bolstered the business after this trying time.  

And of course, the rebranding exercise was a challenge in itself. 

“Internally, the struggle firstly was to educate and change the minds of the older generation,” Vicky admitted. “At the same time, we had to attract and build a younger team to build our creative and marketing arm.”

Pushing the new brand image to customers was difficult too. “Along the way we did lose some customers and had to persevere to attract new and younger customers,” Vicky said. 

Six locations and counting

To continue attracting new customers, Nose is working on creating more designs that can be their “hero items.”

“We’ve been quite successful on the ecommerce platforms like Shopee and Zalora but our official website has been lacking so we’re working on increasing the sales and customer experience on our official website,” Vicky elaborated.  

Beyond that, Vicky has ambitious plans to expand abroad and build Nose’s presence outside of Malaysia as well. The business had been present in stores in the Middle East prior to COVID, and had consignment agreements in Thailand, too. 

With Nose’s online sales to neighbouring countries increasing as of late, the brand is open to expanding abroad again, given the right partners.

Although Nose has gone through some tough times over the past three decades, it has continued to stand strong until today. Through rebranding and rebuilding, they might just have what it takes to reach greater heights. 

“Ultimately, we want to build a long lasting business with long term and sustainable success,” Vicky concluded. 

• Learn more about Nose here.
• Read other articles we’ve written about Malaysian startups here.

Also Read: Bigger is always better for displays, but size isn’t the only reason we like these 98″ TCL TVs

Featured Image Credit: Nose

Meta’s global layoffs hit S’pore, staff on parental and medical leave last yr among impacted

On January 14, Meta announced a 5% workforce reduction of their “lowest performing” staff, in preparation for what CEO Mark Zuckerberg described as an “intense year” for the company. 

Job loss notifications were scheduled to be sent out at 9 p.m. Singapore time on February 10, with workers in over a dozen countries across Europe, Asia, and Africa expected to be notified between February 11 and 18.

It appears that staff in Singapore have also begun receiving these notifications, according to several posts on LinkedIn and sources who spoke to The Straits Times. 

In a LinkedIn post on February 11, one user, who identified herself as Meta’s product manager based in Singapore, described the layoffs as a “deeply emotional” experience despite having witnessed previous rounds of cuts during her nearly three years at the company. 

She highlighted that some of the employees impacted by the recent cuts had been on parental or medical leave in 2024. 

Support event for those impacted

In response to the layoffs, career networking platform Key organised a two-hour support event at Clarke Quay on February 13. The platform offers various targeted channels, such as advice on layoffs and mental well-being support, to help laid-off workers connect with the broader tech community.

The gathering at Clarke Quay was led by Key co-founder Christopher Fong, and co-hosted by two former Meta employees—Grace Clapham and Anand Kumar Ramakrishnan—who lost their jobs in previous rounds of layoffs. 

According to The Straits Times, around 20 people attended the session, with about half of them having been laid off earlier last week.

During the event, Clapham shared that the job cuts in Singapore affected a range of roles, including engineering, partnerships, global business operations, and policy. 

Ramakrishnan, on the other hand, voiced concerns about employees who had recently been on leave. He noted that two employees in Singapore, who had recently returned from paternal and medical leave, were among those impacted by the layoffs.

One of them had previously sought clarification from Meta’s HR department about whether her leave would affect her standing and was reportedly assured it would not.

Is it legal?

But is it legal to dismiss employees on medical or parental leave?

According to Eunice Grace Choong, a certified Institute for Human Resource Professionals senior professional who spoke to The Straits Times, Singapore’s legal framework provides “specific protections” when it comes to retrenchment practices involving employees on medical or parental leave.

Under the Employment Act and Child Development Co-Savings Act, it is unlawful to dismiss employees during their maternity, paternity, or medical leave. 

However, retrenchment after the leave period is “not strictly illegal.” If perceived as discriminatory, affected employees may challenge the decision through channels such as the Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management or the Employment Claims Tribunals.

Additionally, the Creative Media and Publishing Union (CMPU), has expressed concerns about the lack of unionisation within Meta. 

However, the CMPU assured affected employees that they would provide support and encouraged them to reach out for assistance. 

In retrenchment exercises where there are individual union members working in non-unionised companies, the National Trades Union Congress’ affiliated unions or associations will extend assistance to these individual members should they be affected by the exercise.

Spokesperson from the Creative Media and Publishing Union

• Read more articles we’ve written about tech giants here.

Also Read: Turnover contagion, bad rep, low morale: Why layoffs will only come back to bite tech firms

Feature Image Credit: Shutterstock

More tenants from Parkway Parade leave amid rising rent, but is closing the only way?

Parkway Parade mall has faced a series of tenant departures since 2024.

Just yesterday (February 16), British retailer Marks & Spencer closed its outlet after over two decades amid rising rental costs and concerns about decreasing foot traffic, The Straits Times reports.

A spokesperson told the publication that the departure is part of an “ongoing effort” to refine its store portfolio and focus on key locations and the online business in Singapore.

While they did not confirm the number of employees affected, the retailer has expressed its commitment to support all affected staff. “This includes offering opportunities for redeployment to other stores or roles, where possible, as well as providing resources and assistance.”

At least seven other tenants have also vacated the 42-year-old mall at Marine Parade since 2024.

These include Malay kueh stall Ole Ole, which first set up shop at the mall more than 30 years ago, Singaporean restaurant chain Putien, convenience store 7-Eleven, Dyson’s demo store, restaurant Treasures Yi Dan Xin and Gadget Solutions.

Why are they leaving?

More than one of Parkway Parade’s tenants has cited rental increases as a key factor behind their closure following the opening of the Marine Parade MRT station on the Thomson-East Coast Line in June 2024.

Unfortunately, this was the case for Gadget Solution, which closed its shop after its lease expired in January 2025. According to its owner, Xu Hwa Heng, the monthly rent increased by 30% to S$14,000.

Even after the MRT started operation, I didn’t see a rise in footfall. Now, with the basement entrance facing my shop closed (to facilitate the construction of the linkway), my business would have suffered. It would be hard for me to survive if I had to pay such high rent.

Xu Hwa Heng, owner of Gadget Solution, speaking to The Straits Times on ending his shop’s nine-year tenure at Parkway Parade

Responding to The Straits Times‘ queries, Jenny Khoo, the head of retail and workspace management at the mall’s management Lendlease, said rental adjustments take into account factors such as market demand, tenant performance and overall economic conditions.

“Responding to changing market preferences, Lendlease aims to strike a balance between supporting long-time tenants and ensuring the mall remains vibrant and competitive, with a tenant mix that caters to the evolving needs of shoppers,” she said, without confirming the extent of the rental hikes reported by tenants.

Some retailers at Parkway Parade have seen an uptick in foot traffic after the opening of the MRT station, but even then, they have reportedly not experienced a corresponding increase in sales.

The ongoing construction of an underground linkway to Marine Parade station from the mall’s basement, due to be completed in 2027, is also expected to further affect these businesses.

Downsizing may not be a bad move

On the other hand, some of Parkway Parade’s tenants have chosen to downsize their operations and move to smaller units—which was what Nanyang Optical did after it moved from its original unit of 40 years at the mall’s basement to a smaller one on the same floor in June 2024.

Contrary to popular belief, downsizing business operations is not necessarily a backward move—as mall tenants face high rentals and inconsistent footfall, many are re-evaluating their strategies to stay competitive.

Take it from Singaporean activewear brand Vivre Activewear.

Originally an e-commerce brand, Vivre opened its first retail outlet at Far East Plaza several months after its debut and invested “several hundred thousand dollars” to launching five more outlets, delivery vans and warehouses.

This allowed the brand to achieve net annual revenues of S$1.9 million in 2020 and 2021. However, sales started to dip as more brands emerged, and the business barely broke even on average.

With high rental and manpower costs—amounting to approximately S$30,000 per store, according to the brand’s co-founder—it became “impractical” for Vivre to maintain its brick-and-mortar stores. As a result, the brand has since shuttered all of its outlets to focus on maintaining profitability through its e-commerce operations.

A business doesn’t have to continually grow to be deemed good or sustainable. Downsizing or right-sizing shouldn’t be perceived as a backwards move—the core focus should always be on delivering quality products or services.

Sylvia Lim, co-founder of Vivre Activewear

This serves as food for thought for other entrepreneurs, especially as rental costs might continue rising.

• Read more articles we have written on Singaporean businesses here.

Also Read: Singaporean YouTuber Jianhao Tan’s media company goes public on NASDAQ

Featured Image Credit: Shazwany / Shutterstock.com

PropertyGuru lays off 174 employees & closes down three of its business units

PropertyGuru laid off 174 (or 12%) of its employees last Thursday (February 13) following its acquisition and transition to private ownership by EQT Capital.

In a note published on the company’s website, PropertyGuru’s new executive chairman, Trevor Mather, said that the layoffs were part of the company’s efforts to streamline operations.

Moving forward, the company plans to refocus on its core real estate product, with any initiatives outside of this area being phased out or discontinued.

This includes PropertyGuru’s three business units, which are:

1. Its data and software solutions unit;
2. Sendhelper, which the company acquired in 2022 in a bid to enter home services, including cleaning and maintenance;
3. and PropertyGuru Finance, its mortgage advisory unit.

Retrenched employees will receive a support package including a month’s salary per year of service capped at 12 months or statutory severance (whichever is higher), a goodwill payment of an additional month’s salary, and performance bonuses.

They will be able to retain their work laptops, and foreign staff will also receive up to three months of extended unpaid leave and repatriation assistance.

“This was a difficult decision, made after deep consideration of what’s necessary for our long-term growth and success,” said Mather.

As part of the company’s efforts to drive “long-term” growth, PropertyGuru will also be doubling down on its focus on maintaining its position in its core markets.

“To sharpen this focus, we will direct all our energy, resources, and talent towards our marketplaces in Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Thailand.”

• Read other articles we have written on Singaporean businesses here.

Also Read: PropertyGuru lays off 79 employees, shutters unprofitable units to “future-proof” biz

Featured Image Credit: PropertyGuru

New to investing? Here are 7 SC-licensed apps in M’sia to take control of your finances.

Disclaimer: This article is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for financial advice. Readers are encouraged to do their own research before arriving at any conclusions based solely on this content. Vulcan Post disclaims any reward or responsibility for any gains or losses arising from the direct and indirect use and application of any contents of the written material.

Money is scary in more ways than one, especially when you have no clue what to do with it. And that’s exactly why so many wealth management apps have popped up in recent times.

Simply put, a wealth management app is a software designed to aid users in managing their investment portfolios and financial assets. These days, not only do apps provide investment advice, some also double as brokers themselves.

An update to a piece we did in 2020, here is a list of several wealth management apps licensed by the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) to embark on your investment journey.

Taking the bull by the horns

There was a certain period of time on YouTube where I’d get nothing BUT ads for one particular platform. Some of you might have heard of it, it’s called Moomoo.

Hailing from Silicon Valley, the company was founded in 2018, licensed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). It operates as a brand of Hong Kong-based Futu Holdings, and is the parent company’s entry into the global market.

Moomoo would make its way into Malaysia in 2023, becoming the company’s third expansion into Asia. Regulated by the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC), it hasn’t had any publicly known controversies to date.

Several have noted that this app is a solid place to start. This is in part due to the resources it provides users on coming up with an investment strategy. 

That being the case, Moomoo’s primary function is for trading. Users can trade stocks, ETFs (exchange-traded funds), options, mutual funds, and forex (foreign exchange) among others via the platform. Though there are slight differences when trading each type, generally the process is the same. 

After creating an account, users have to make a deposit of their choice. Then, they can navigate to what type and who within that type they want to trade in. Select the quantity, confirm the trade, and you’re golden.

• Minimum starting deposit: None
• Withdrawal fee: None
• Platform fees: RM3 per order
• Commission per transaction: 0.03%

Robo-advisors

Robo-advisors are wealth management platforms where the app itself will be the one managing your portfolio via algorithms.

Typically after creating an account, users will be presented with a series of questions regarding their financial situation or investment goals, for instance. From there, the app will recommend a portfolio tailored to the user’s needs and handle the rest, from making investments to rebalancing.

It’s no stretch of the imagination that, yes, you can expect to see artificial intelligence (AI) play a role in these apps’ operations. And whatever model they’re using is likely only going to get more competent as the world of AI continues to grow.

Regardless, robo-advisors present a beginner-friendly experience for those looking to make their start in investing.

1. Stashaway

Co-founded by ex-ZALORA CEO Michele Ferrario, StashAway got its start in Singapore back in 2016. It would enter the Malaysian market shortly after in 2018, becoming the first robo-advisor to be approved by the SC.

In July, 2020, however, Malaysian users were greeted with quite the scare when an error caused the app to make back-to-back transactions on their automated monthly payments. Though the official post-mortem analysis of the event no longer exists, the company carried themselves quite well throughout the ordeal. Accountability was taken and refunds were promptly made.

The company looks to have kept it clean since. 

• Minimum starting deposit: None
• Withdrawal fee: None
• Portfolio switching fee: None
• Annual management fee rate:

  • 0.8% for first RM50,000
  • 0.7% for any additional amount between RM50,000 to RM100,000
  • 0.6% for any additional amount between RM100,000 to RM250,000
  • 0.5% for any additional amount between RM250,000 to RM500,000
  • 0.4% for any additional amount between RM500,000 to RM1,000,000
  • 0.3% for any additional amount between RM1,000,000 to RM3,000,000
  • 0.2% for any additional amount above RM3,000,000
  • 0.3% for a single ETF Flexible Portfolio (no minimum)

2. Wahed

Wahed Invest is an American investment platform soft-launched in 2016. Claiming to be the “first Shariah-compliant digital investment platform,” it started operations in Malaysia in 2019 shortly after receiving SC approval.

Investments will not be made in anything involving liquor, firearms, gambling, tobacco, or pornography, as per Islamic values. This is monitored by a committee, and their certification can be viewed near the bottom of this webpage. 

However, since our last article, Wahed has found itself in two major controversies.

The first was a US$300,000 fine imposed on the company by the SEC in 2022. It was found that the company was advertising proprietary funds that simply did not exist on top of not rebalancing the advisory accounts of investors.

Wahed was also alleged to have used the advisory assets of customers to launch a proprietary ETF without consent or notification. The company paid the penalty without confirming or denying the report.

More recently, Wahed received heavy criticism for an advertising campaign which featured visuals of foreign currency being burned. In the UK, several of these ads have since been banned as per a report by the BBC. Though now unlisted, a video for the campaign is still available on YouTube at the time of writing.

• Minimum starting deposit: RM100
• Withdrawal fee: None
• Portfolio switching fee: None, but a switch can only be made once every three months
• Annual management fee rate:

  • 0.79% between RM100 to RM499,999
  • 0.39% from RM500,000 and above

3. MYTHEO

MYTHEO finds its origins in 2016 Japan with Money Design. Regulated by the Japan Financial Services Agency, the company is credited with creating the Land of the Rising Sun’s first robo-advisor, THEO.

Money Design would go on to collaborate with local industry veteran Silverlake Group to form GAX MD, tailoring THEO to suit the Malaysian market. Hence, MYTHEO.

The app launched in 2019 following its approval by the SC. MYTHEO has not had any major controversies since its inception that could be found.

• Minimum starting deposit: RM100
• Withdrawal fee: None
• Portfolio switching fee: Free for the first six switches of the year, US$2.50 for subsequent switches
• Annual management fee rate:

  • 1.0% for first RM30,000
  • 0.9% for next RM30,000 to RM100,000
  • 0.8% for next RM100,000 to RM300,000
  • 0.7% for next RM300,000 to RM500,000
  • 0.6% for next RM500,000 to RM1,000,000
  • 0.5% for over RM1,000,000

4. Versa Invest

A local contender, Vulcan Post previously covered Versa’s successful fundraising campaign in 2022.

The company’s story began in 2018 when founder Teoh Wei-Xiang was forced to break his fixed deposit for his dog’s emergency surgery, according to their website.

Unable to find an alternative that he liked, he partnered with his friends and Dato’ Teng Chee Wai’s AHAM Capital to create Versa. The platform was launched in 2020, and is regulated by the SC.

The app offers Shariah-compliant funds, and, recently, a new mechanic known as “Versa Quests” was announced. This feature seeks to “gamify” the user experience, with rewards being handed out for completing certain tasks. Details about the feature can be found on these two web pages.

From what could be found, Versa hasn’t had any hiccups over the past few years.

• Minimum starting deposit: RM100
• Withdrawal fee: None
• Portfolio switching fee: None
• Annual management fee rate:

  • 0.3% to 1.8% depending on investment fund

5. BEST Invest

Run by Bank Islam subsidiary BIMB Investment, BEST Invest was launched in 2020. 

Shariah-compliant and cleared by the SC, users can choose between handling investments themselves or making use of their “robo-intelligence,” claimed to be distinct from robo-advisors.

No controversies have been noted as of the time of writing, but its 2.2 rating on Google Play is something that might raise a few eyebrows, with several reviewers complaining of being unable to even register properly due to bugs.

• Minimum starting deposit: RM10
• Withdrawal fee: None
• Portfolio switching fee: None
• Annual management fee rate:

  • 0.5% to 1.8% (not specified)

6. Kenanga Digital Investing (KDi)

KDi is the brainchild of 52-year-old Malaysian financial service company Kenanga Investment Bank Berhad.

Introduced in 2022, the platform takes particular pride in its AI and is licensed by the SC. 

Do note that there are currently two ways to access KDi’s robo-advisor services. The first is through the KDi app itself. This is the go-to choice for those solely looking to automate the investment process. 

If you’d like a Swiss army knife of all of Kenanga’s services however, then KDi GO would suit you better. This newly released app rolls together KDi, the “stockbroking e-wallet” Kenanga Money, and KenTrade 2.0, a manual Bursa and foreign stock market trading app.

Though KDi has not garnered any controversies so far, of note is its low rating on Google Play, with a score of 2.4. KDi GO also doesn’t fare much better with its 2.9 rating.

• Minimum starting deposit: RM250
• Withdrawal fee: None
• Portfolio switching fee: None
• Annual management fee rate:

  • Free for RM3,000 and below
  • 0.7% between RM3,000 to RM10,000
  • 0.6% between RM10,000 to RM100,000
  • 0.5% between RM100,000 to RM250,000
  • 0.4% between RM250,000 to RM500,000
  • 0.3% between RM500,000 to RM2,000,000
  • Flat fee of RM6,000 above RM2,000,000

7. Akru Now

Licensed by the SC, this is the only platform on this list that is not available as a mobile app.

Akru found its start in 2017 courtesy of co-founder Julian Ng. The now-CEO has 20 years of experience in the banking and fund management industries, working for names like CIMB and J.P. Morgan.

At present, the company itself has had no publicly known controversies since its inception. There is, however, a scammer currently running around online using their name. 

Though not uncommon for the industry, this does serve as an important reminder for all investors to be vigilant and cautious.

The company specifically notes in their report that Akru does not solicit new clients through WhatsApp. Should any suspicious activity be encountered, the company urges all to reach out to them via anita@akrunow.com or +60 12-279 4983 on WhatsApp.

• Minimum starting deposit: None
• Withdrawal fee: None
• Portfolio switching fee: None
• Annual management fee rate:

  • 0.7% for first RM100,000
  • 0.6% between RM100,000 to RM250,000
  • 0.5% between RM250,000 to RM500,000
  • 0.4% between RM500,000 to RM1,000,000
  • 0.3% between RM1,000,000 to RM3,000,000
  • 0.2% above RM3,000,000

Walk before you run

It is important to note that investing will always be risky. Profits are hard to guarantee, and there’s always a chance that platforms will go under. That was the case with Raiz Invest which made our previous list, and has since shut down its Malaysian operations. 

Exercise caution, read reviews, and do your own research before diving deep. It is equally important to also temper expectations and be realistic as well as patient. 

Money, as they say, is serious business.

• Read other articles we’ve written about fintech here.

Also Read: CARiNG’s CNY video reminds us what “home” really means, and it’s not about a place

Featured Image Credit: Vulcan Post

Meet the Nyonya owner behind this Peranakan restaurant in Melaka that’s stood for 25 yrs

Hailing from Melaka, I have a soft spot for Nyonya food. 

Although the details are lost on me whether I truly have any Peranakan heritage, my grandma grew up with the Nyonya culture and would often whip up delicious dishes like pongteh and bubur cha cha. 

As a home cook, there are dishes that she can’t (or just doesn’t want to) replicate though. But thankfully, Peranakan food isn’t too hard to come by in Melaka. 

Nancy’s Kitchen in Kota Laksamana is one of the purveyors of the cuisine. With over 2,700 reviews on Google, the restaurant has certainly made quite a name for itself. 

Born and raised in Melaka, Nancy—the owner and founder of the eponymous eatery—grew up in a Peranakan household. That meant that food was a big part of her life, and she was taught to cook at a young age.

“I always dreamt of opening my own restaurant in my early twenties, but raising my young children meant I had to wait until the right opportunity,” she shared with Vulcan Post. 

While waiting for her golden opportunity, Nancy would sell homemade pineapple tarts while reselling T-shirts on the side to earn extra income.

The mother was finally able to realise her dreams in 1999. In October that year, she opened the doors to Nancy’s Kitchen for the first time. 

Spreading her heritage 

In Malaysian cooking, there’s a very popular phrase and practice called ‘agak agak,’ a saying that directly translates to ‘guess-guess’ or estimate.

With this culture comes a practice of never quite writing down recipes in detail. Rather, recipes were often passed down verbally and through demonstrations. 

For Nancy, her family’s recipes were passed down from her great-grandmother, through watching and learning in her kitchen. 

“I have vivid memories of my grandmother’s strict instructions and the ‘pantang larang’ (taboos) I observed while I helped her cook,” she reminisced. 

These memories have manifested as bestsellers in Nancy’s Kitchen, such as Pongteh Pork, Assam Fish, Pai Tee, and Popiah. Nancy’s personal favourite is Ayam Buah Keluak, which comprises chicken, tamarind gravy, and buah keluak nuts. 

While fond memories of passed-down recipes are a great starting point, running a restaurant demands consistency. 

“I can’t just ‘agak-agak’ measurements; I need to use the best available resources and ingredients to ensure my regular customers return for the familiar flavours they love,” Nancy said. 

Managing expectations 

Interestingly, Nancy shared that a big challenge she faced along the years was introducing her family’s authentic recipes to the Peranakan community, who often had varying expectations of familiar flavours. 

At the same time, there was also the challenge of educating new customers about the staple dishes found in Peranakan homes. 

“We received a lot of feedback, both positive and negative, and had to make adjustments along the way, especially regarding our raw meat suppliers,” Nancy expressed. “We even had to sever ties with some suppliers to ensure we were serving the highest quality dishes possible.” 

Although Nancy’s Kitchen has gotten its fair share of critiques, the founder has also received direct feedback from satisfied customers. It’s a source of pride for her, seeing them bring home their rempah (spice paste) to recreate the dishes at home. 

“And, most importantly, seeing their familiar faces return time and time again,” Nancy added. 

Growing with Melaka

Over the years, Melaka has grown as a tourist hotspot, having earned its World Heritage status in 2008. 

In tandem with that, Nancy’s Kitchen’s popularity has also grown over time. However, that comes with its own challenges. 

“The increased demand meant longer wait times for tables and a need for faster turnover. We adapted by becoming more efficient in our service,” she said. 

Growing interest in the cuisine also means heightened competition. But Nancy believes that her kitchen stands out with a focus on authenticity and remaining non-halal, even though that may limit their customer base. 

“Many people are unaware that pork is a key ingredient in many authentic Peranakan dishes,” she expressed. “This focus on pork is what distinguishes us and allows us to serve truly authentic Peranakan cuisine.”

Nancy’s Kitchen’s customers typically comprise middle-aged and older individuals who are familiar with the food and culture, though tourists such as Singaporeans make up a large portion of their clientele too. 

As Peranakan culture gains more recognition, the restaurant has also become popular with local Malaysian tourists and travellers from Japan, Korea, and China. 

“More recently, since the pandemic, we’ve seen a surge in local interest. Food delivery services have made our dishes more accessible and helped to broaden our appeal within Melaka,” they said. 

However, the pandemic affected other revenue streams, such as Nancy’s cooking classes, which have been halted since COVID-19. 

A family business 

Nancy has been steadfastly running her restaurant for 25 years—a milestone that is no small feat. 

“Running a restaurant takes hard work, determination, and a lot of patience, especially when I first started on my own,” she expressed. 

Today, she is joined by her daughter, sister, and brother who all work to preserve their family recipes. 

“The satisfaction we get from our customers’ appreciation of our food is what has truly made this family-run business a success,” she said. 

For others hoping to embark on their own entrepreneurial journey, as she once had, Nancy’s humble advice is to be patient and work hard, and your efforts will be rewarded in time. 

“Second, love what you do. For me, that’s creating familiar, home-cooked Peranakan dishes,” she advised. “Finally, be generous. Even though there are other similar businesses, there’s enough to go around. It’s a cake to be shared.”

To continue sustaining the business, Nancy and her family are working to maintain their standards, ensuring the legacy of Nancy’s Kitchen continues by passing it on to the next generation. 

• Learn more about Nancy’s Kitchen here.
• Read other articles we’ve written about F&B businesses here.

Also Read: Bigger is always better for displays, but size isn’t the only reason we like these 98″ TCL TVs

Featured Image Credit: Nancy’s Kitchen

Titan Digital Media’s parent company GCL goes public on NASDAQ

YouTuber Jianhao Tan’s media company, Titan Digital Media, a subsidiary of GCL Global Holdings, is going public on NASDAQ in the United States as part of GLC Global Holdings’ completed merger with special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) RF Acquisition Corp (RFAC). 

A SPAC uses proceeds from its initial public offering (IPO) to merge with a private firm, and such mergers can let a private firm sidestep lengthy IPO processes to list its shares on bourses.

Founded in 2014, Titan Digital Media was established by Jianhao after transforming his passion for creating YouTube videos into a full-time career with the goal of “fostering the next generation of creators.”

The company was initially registered under the name ‘The JianHao Tan Co.’ However, after receiving backing from GCL, Jianhao later changed the company’s name to ‘Titan Digital Media Pte Ltd’ in 2018.

GCL, which produces and distributes video games across seven countries, announced plans to merge with RFAC in October 2023 in a deal valuing GCL at US$1.2 billion. According to Ng Tse Meng, the Chairman and CEO of RFAC, the merger with GCL was strategically chosen for its growth potential in the gaming industry.

From YouTube content to game development

With Titan Digital Media as part of its subsidiary, RF Acquisition Corp will now be able to seize a valuable opportunity to leverage the company’s KOL network as a “powerful distribution channel” for games.

According to the company’s website, Titan Digital Media boasts a portfolio of over 20 owned YouTube channels and has jointly achieved more than 10 million subscribers on YouTube. Boasting a team of over 70 in-house KOLs, they create cross-platform content across the lifestyle, gaming, and beauty sectors.

Beyond establishing an extensive KOL network, Titan Digital Media is now making strides into game development.

In an exclusive interview with Vulcan Post, Jianhao shared that the company’s business direction has evolved significantly since he first entered the YouTube space.

It’s been quite a journey. When I started creating content on YouTube, it was all about entertaining people and building a community. Over time, I realised how powerful the platform was, not just for content but as a business. That’s how Titan Digital Media grew—by diversifying into different ventures.

Jianhao Tan, co-founder of Titan Digital Media

Since the partnership with GCL came along, Titan Digital Media has intensified its focus on the gaming space—not only serving as a distribution channel for games through its KOL network but also expanding into game development.

“Titan Digital Media’s move into game development is a natural progression,” said Jianhao. “A large portion of our advertising revenue already comes from brands with digital products like games and apps. Since digital content is our strength, we have seen high conversion rates—viewers only need to click and download.”

In 2021, the company released its first game—Class Rush, a mobile endless runner game where players could take the role of one of the students of Jianhao’s web series Titan Academy—which, according to him, “topped the charts for weeks.”

Building on the “success of Class Rush,” Jianhao aims to leverage the company’s intellectual property (IP), which includes Titan Academy, to “create scalable gaming businesses.”

Note: Class Rush was temporarily removed from App Store and Play Store for updates. According to Jianhao, the game is expected to return by the end of the month.

By listing in the US, Titan Digital Media will have “access to capital that will help [the company] scale faster and innovate more aggressively.”

Currently, Jianhao revealed that the company is actively working on multiple new games and exploring ways to expand Titan Academy as a brand.

“The IPO [will help] us fuel these ambitions and position ourselves to compete on a global scale,” he said.

We plan to use the funds to invest in game development, expand our publishing capabilities, and grow our digital marketing operations.

This isn’t just about raising money—it’s about positioning ourselves as a global leader in gaming. We want to reach new markets, build more strategic partnerships, and create gaming experiences that resonate worldwide.

Jianhao Tan, co-founder of Titan Digital Media

• Find out more about Titan Digital Media here.
• Find out more about GCL here.
• Read other articles we’ve written on Singaporean startups here.

Also Read: From publication to distribution: GCL Asia founder on becoming a titan in the gaming world

Featured Image Credit: Jianhao Tan via Instagram

Backed by a M’sian grocery chain, this halal fried chicken brand is taking on fast food giants

Walk into any fast food chain, and nine times out of 10 there’ll be fried chicken on the menu.

KFC and Texas Chicken go without saying, and even Burger King, Domino’s, and our local Marrybrown have their own takes on this classic favourite. And that’s before getting into Korean fried chicken.

But amidst this saturated market, 30-year-old Adrian Chin believes that there’s still gaps to be found. That is why he started Chicago Chicken City (CCC).

A part of local supermarket chain Tunas Manja Group (TMG), his solution to being competitive is surprisingly simple.

Just be Malaysian.

Trial by fire

CCC’s now-general manager had no experience whatsoever in F&B, or running his own business. Instead, he was doing retail.

But wanting to pursue his passion for creating “unique dining experiences” and diversify his portfolio, CCC would be put onto the drawing board in April, 2021.

“The pandemic had drastically reshaped consumer behaviour,” Adrian noted. 

True to form, though other F&B outlets were struggling to cope at the time, fast food thrived due to its convenience and comfort.

“We saw this shift as a chance to introduce a homegrown fast food brand that could meet these demands while standing out for its quality and value.”

In hindsight, Adrian admits that this was quite the bold decision. It’s not like the virus had suddenly just upped and left after all. But he believed in the months he spent developing every aspect of the brand from scratch. 

With the backing of TMG who provided the necessary resources, infrastructure, and supply chain, his vision would be made reality come September that same year.

Of course, success is never guaranteed. This was not lost on the brand’s co-founder in spite of his confidence. 

“When we first started CCC, it was more of a trial project,” he explained. “We wanted to explore the F&B industry but approached it cautiously, knowing it was an entirely new field for us.”

The initial focus was on understanding operational demands, quality control, managing supply chains, customer engagement, and branding.

Even their choice of location, Kuantan, was partly because it was the market he and his team knew best.

But soon enough, stories from happy customers about how CCC had become part of family meals or gatherings would reach his ears.

It was impossible not to want to go all in at that point..

“By the time we opened our second and third outlets, it was clear that CCC had the potential to grow into a major fast food brand,” Adrian shared.

A local twist

Despite “Chicago” being in the name, something that CCC deeply prides itself in is its Malaysian identity.

Adrian notes that the menu was crafted “specifically for Malaysian tastes,” with inspirations being drawn from local flavours. 12 of their 15 outlets are already halal certified by JAKIM, so all Malaysians can dine at CCC with peace of mind. The outlets pending certification are in Tanjung Lumpur and Kuala Lipis in Pahang, and Dungun in Terengganu.

“This localised approach gave us an edge and allowed us to stand out in a market dominated by international fast food brands,” he added.

At the start, CCC initially targeted itself towards families and teenagers. 

Using chilled instead of frozen chicken, the idea was to offer large portions that would appeal to those sharing a meal or have big appetites.

As more students and office workers started pouring in, though, wraps and burgers were introduced into their lineup to provide a convenient on-the-go option.

Beyond just the menu, the brand’s patriotism is also reflected in how they choose to market themselves. They use Bahasa Malaysia as their primary language. 

“It helps us create a sense of familiarity and pride amongst our customers, reinforcing that CCC is a brand built for Malaysians by Malaysians,” said Adrian.

So, then, you might be wondering, why “Chicago”?

The company’s name is simply in reference to the Western heritage of fried chicken. It’s not that they use Chicago-made recipes, or that the founders have a sentimental tie to the American state.

But more than that, it is also a representation of what the goal is for CCC’s image.

“Chicago, as a city, represents energy, vibrancy, and a bustling urban lifestyle—qualities we wanted to reflect in our brand.”

Though it may not perfectly capture their local pride, it certainly does spark a conversation.

Spreading their wings

Since opening in 2021, 15 self-owned CCC outlets have been opened across the country, with another 10 to 15 in the pipeline for this year, Adrian shared.

Over the next decade or so, the plan is to establish CCC in every state across Malaysia. 

Following that is an expansion into the rest of Southeast Asia. Singapore, Indonesia, and Thailand were listed as examples.

“Our ultimate vision is for CCC to become a global ambassador of Malaysian culture, where every meal tells a story of our heritage and hospitality,” he explained. 

“The road ahead is ambitious, but with dedication, teamwork, and the continued support of our customers, we believe that Chicago Chicken City can achieve this vision and become a proud representation of Malaysia on the international stage.”

• Learn more about Chicago Chicken City here.
• Read other articles we’ve written about F&B businesses here.

Also Read: CARiNG’s CNY video reminds us what “home” really means, and it’s not about a place

Featured Image Credit: Chicago Chicken City

After being forced to shut down her 17 Y/O restaurant, this M’sian chef dared to try again

To understand what it took for Chef Yenni Law to get where she is today with Meat Feds, you need to go back to her childhood. 

Born in Taiping, she’s always found cooking to be fun. She was born into a family of great home cooks, but because of that, she never really got to do the important parts, such as the actual cooking. 

“I was more like my mother’s minion in the kitchen, doing everything else except for cooking,” she said. 

Little did she know that would lay the groundwork for her culinary profession. 

But pursuing her studies at Taylor’s School of Hotel Management, Yenni didn’t think she would end up as a chef. 

“I actually aspired to be a GM of some fancy hotel someday,” she recalled. “Somehow, due to some silly reasons, I chose to specialise in cuisine. Which was one of the subjects I really sucked at.”

Although she got bad grades at first, she knew she had to buck up or bear the brunt of putting her parents to shame. With her headstrong mindset, she ended up graduating with honours. 

And that was how Yenni truly embarked on her tumultuous culinary journey. 

Her own business

After 10 years in the industry, she had the chance to take over an existing failing business called Boathouse. 

“I’ve always wanted to own a restaurant one day, but I knew very well that coming from a family whereby my parents were just schoolteachers it was impossible for me to own my own business,” the chef shared.

So when the opportunity arose to take on Boathouse, she was eager but scared. Going from being a chef to an entrepreneur, there were a lot of learning curves and challenges. 

“As a chef, I wish to give my guests the best of what I cook or create, and the hard part is making sure it makes business sense doing it,” she shared. “Because we can’t run a business without money, and F&B is a cash business.”

To stay ahead of the curve, Yenni has to constantly wonder, “What do our guests like or dislike? What does it take for the team to feel happy?  How are our suppliers doing? What are the festive seasons? How do we manage low seasons? How many people are showing up or not showing up for work?” 

From relationship to financial management, there’s much for the chef-owner to consider outside of just cooking. 

“Very often my parents would always ask me why I ever chose this profession. Why couldn’t I be a normal person and get a proper 9-to-5 job like every other normal human being? But I was never really an obedient child to begin with,” Yenni joked. 

But through hardship and perseverance, the chef managed to sustain Boathouse, and even started to make a mark for herself. She was even offered to write a recipe book with a mini autobiography titled Meatology. 

When it was published in 2015, Yenni also refreshed Boathouse, rebranding it to Meatology, too. 

Closing shop 

But 2019 came, and the COVID-19 pandemic struck. It was a fight to keep Meatology alive—one that they ended up losing. 

“I had built my business over the past 17 years from a failing business to a profitable one—only to lose it all in the end,”  Yenni expressed. 

At that point, the restaurant had a capacity of 110 pax. But because of the pandemic, they could only rely on takeaways. The team tried everything from gimmicks and deals to giveaways and entertainment. They even livestreamed to sell their meats and teach people how to cook steaks at home. 

For the entire year, that was all they did. Even when Meatology wasa allowed to reopen, they were only allowed to serve 30 pax in one seating.

“Those two years really took every dime we had from the business,” Yenni said. “By the end of it I just had to call it quits. I had to fold. I had already exhausted all funds including my life savings.”

She continued, “I could have called it quits sooner at the beginning of COVID, but I refused to go down without a fight. At least I know I’ve tried everything.”

The start of something new

Losing a business of 17 years is nothing short of shocking. For Yenni, it felt like losing a 17-year-old child. 

“Depression started to creep in,” she admitted. “I accepted the reality that I no longer could run a business but didn’t have the courage to take my own life.”

Thankfully, she shared that these thoughts are in the past now. But it took a lot of will and perseverance to overcome them. 

“I ate the humble pie and went out looking for jobs,” she shared. Thankfully, she had kind friends who would connect her with job interviews.

However, she felt that people were afraid to hire her for the sheer fact that she hadn’t been an employee for more than a decade at that point. Could someone like that really take orders? 

Thankfully, another opportunity came. Yenni’s wine supplier reached out and asked if she was interested in running a restaurant with them. 

At that point, she didn’t have other options left. With no money and no job, all she had left was her trusting mentee Shelly (who would be her business partner), a credit card, and a whole lot of experience. 

“Having any confidence or not wasn’t even something to be considered at that point,” she said. 

“It was only to do or not to do. Was I even scared and marred by the fear of my previous failure? Of course I was. But driven by that fear, I worked even harder than I ever did. It was like the threshold of being able to put in the hard work has been erased from my vocabulary.”

Thus, Meat Feds was born.

A meat-centric eatery, Meat Feds is all about sharing with people the many special and different parts of the cattle, which they do not usually get from a typical steakhouse. 

Yenni believes that each part of the cattle is unique in its own flavour and texture, and wanted more diners to experience that.

After three years of collaborating with their wine partners, though, they decided to part ways. Meat Feds still works with them as a supplier, though. 

Lessons over the years

Having been in the F&B scene for decades, Yenni understands that it’s ever-evolving. As such, it’s vital to stay nimble and agile. When times are moving fast, you need to move faster to stay relevant. 

“So far, I am not content, and I always keep searching for ways and new skills to stay ahead of myself on a daily basis,” Yenni expressed.

This mindset is one that she extends to the rest of her team, too. Yenni’s ambitions for Meat Feds is to invest in their own talents and grow them to be entrepreneurs and their own partners.

“From this whole experience, I now am a strong believer that somehow the universe doesn’t give us what we cannot possibly handle,” she determined. 

And clearly, Yenni isn’t someone who just survives through all her hardships, but thrives through them, too. 

• Learn more about Meat Feds here.
• Read other articles we’ve written about F&B businesses here.

Also Read: Bigger is always better for displays, but size isn’t the only reason we like these 98″ TCL TVs

Featured Image Credit: Meat Feds

Some say romance & work don’t mix, but this S’porean cake shop’s 2nd-gen owners beg to differ

They say that you should never work with family or loved ones, but Zhuo Jia Yi and Chan Kai Yang are among the many couples who have debunked this saying.

The duo first met after matching on Tinder in 2019, where they realised that they were polar opposites of one another. “Kai Yang is a charismatic extrovert who used to party every week. I’m an introvert who’s always preferred to stay home,” Jia Yi wrote in a TODAY article.

Despite their differences, they got married in 2023, and together, they helm CakeInspiration—a cake shop that was founded by Jia Yi’s parents and known for their customised cakes.

Continuing her parents’ legacy

Watching her parents assemble cakes since she was nine, Jia Yi often helped out after school and during the holidays. Naturally, her interest in the business grew as it allowed her to hone her creativity. But that was not the only reason she wanted to carry her parents’ legacy.

Jia Yi explained that if she decided not to take over the business, CakeInspiration would have shut down when her parents retired. However, after watching her parents work for “16 hours straight” every day, she felt that it would be “a shame” given how dedicated they were to building and sustaining the business.

“I wanted to continue what they started instead of letting the business close down,” she firmly stated.

Her drive spurred her to pursue a diploma in Food and Beverage Business at Nanyang Polytechnic, as she wanted to gain the acumen needed to run and grow the business.

However, when she joined the business after graduating in late 2021, CakeInspiration’s sales were heavily affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, as large-scale events that require grand and intricate cakes were limited.

This led Jia Yi to expand CakeInspiration’s product range and introduce two brands: Eggyi.co, which focuses on bento cakes, and Petissier, which sells customised cakes for cats and dogs.

The cake shop also gained its first B2B orders, where they assisted cafes with crafting their menus. They also produced and supplied desserts and cakes for hotel events.

Always shoot your shot

On the other hand, Jia Yi’s husband, Kai Yang, comes from an engineering background. He has always aspired to run a business, which doesn’t come as a surprise, as his parents had their own business in the data storage industry.

Kai Yang also had the opportunity to pursue a six-month internship at a tech startup in Vietnam, where he was required to network with other business professionals through LinkedIn and cold-emailing, which became one of his valuable assets.

Upon returning to Singapore, he pursued other career paths and helped out at CakeInspiration over the weekends—but he soon identified a problem with the business. “I saw immense potential in their craftsmanship and products, but the brand lacked visibility.”

With a new challenge at hand, Kai Yang relied on his networking skills and reached out to established restaurants, hotels, and even luxury brands. “As a fan of luxury goods, I recognised that our customised cakes could be a great addition to luxury brands’ Customer Relationship Management (CRM) programs.”

One successful shot was when he connected with Vincent Phang, the CEO of the catering division of homegrown F&B powerhouse TungLok Group, who introduced him to F&B associations, opening doors to potential partnerships.

It was then that he decided to fully support Jia Yi in growing CakeInspiration and joined the company after the couple’s marriage in 2023.

Making it work

Being in the F&B industry is no easy feat. Operating costs such as rental and ingredients have only increased over the years, which has resulted in many businesses raising the prices of their offerings—CakeInspiration was no exception.

“It was not as easy for us to explain to our customers the reasons behind increasing our cake prices, and some of them will not take it that well,” lamented Jia Yi. With more brands and home bakeries offering customisable cakes, the competition has also become more intense.

To sustain CakeInspiration and ensure its growth, the duo decided to focus on building its B2B business, with Kai Yang noting its consistency.

“With a fixed number of orders coming in every month, we can better project our sales. We have experienced very dry months after the pandemic, and it was not easy to have enough sales via the B2C route; our B2B business covers a part of our running costs, which helps to ease the stress,” he explained.

However, Kai Yang added that establishing credibility and relationships with the big guys “took time.” Many luxury brands and corporate clients have go-to suppliers, making it essential for CakeInspiration to distinguish themselves with their niche—”full customisation and quality.”

“Many people assume cake customisation is as simple as picking a design from a catalogue. We often have to educate them on the craftsmanship and time required, especially for handcrafted figurines,” added Jia Yi.

It seems that they made the right move, as they claimed to have not only recovered the losses incurred from the pandemic but also increased sales by 20 to 30% since mid-2023.

CakeInspiration also secured partnerships with many client brands, including Singaporean hospitality giant Ascott, who asked the couple to organise cake decorating classes for residents at two of its serviced apartments, Ascott Orchard and Raffles.

Looking forward, the cake shop will be renovating its storefront at Joo Chiat in a bid to look more “welcoming” to customers. The duo is also considering launching a takeaway cafe concept after renovations have been completed and will introduce more cake-decorating workshops.

Jia Yi and Kai Yang may have contrasting personalities, but they’ve managed to make their partnership work, both in love and in business.

However, for some couples—including Jia Yi and Kai Yang—striking a balance between work and personal time is an ongoing challenge. While the duo are “still new to this,” they have some tips that help maintain harmony in and out of work:

“Keep the romance going. We are not just business partners but life partners as well, that has to be kept in mind,” emphasised the couple, proving that romance and work can mix.

• Learn about CakeInspiration here.
• Read more stories we have written on Singaporean businesses here.

Also Read: How this S’porean couple went from baking jelly cheesecakes at home to bringing in millions

Featured Image Credit: CakeInspiration

This S’porean opened Joji’s Diner that went viral in 6 mths, now has a 24-hr sandwich shop too

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but some people take this saying to a whole new level.

For George Tang, his love for the meal started with McDonald’s all-day breakfast, but there was just one teeny tiny problem: it’s only served up to 11am.

“Actually… I want to eat breakfast anytime, any day,” he joked. This drove him to start not one but two all-day breakfast spots in Singapore: Breakfast Club and Joji’s Diner, with the latter going viral during the COVID-19 pandemic.

And he takes the term “all-day” very seriously, with both eateries operating 24/7.

Here’s the story of how the 25-year-old monetised his love for all-day breakfast in Singapore.

His first F&B business was a “gamble”

George’s first stint in F&B was Breakfast Club, which served, you guessed it, all-day breakfast and rostis—a Swiss dish consisting of grated potato pressed flat (like a pancake) and fried in oil. He launched the business in 2020 and operated it from a food stall at a kopitiam located at Kovan.

(Upon further research, Breakfast Club has rebranded to Star Western, serving “old school hawker-style Western dishes.”)

However, opening his stall just right before the circuit breaker was a huge gamble. George explained that S$20,000 was invested into the business, and that amount was his mother’s life savings—which meant that the business “had to work.”

“Despite it being a bad period (referring to the COVID-19 pandemic), I saw an opportunity, and I foresaw that it could potentially become a hit,” explained George—and it did. With few places offering rosti back then, Breakfast Club quickly drew in customers with its offerings.

But George was still hungry for more. He wanted to serve food beyond what a typical kopitiam stall offers, aiming for bigger servings and an authentic American diner experience.

With a clear vision, George took a leap of faith, taking a loan and investing his life savings to open Joji’s Diner in 2021, which he claimed totalled S$120,000.

“The first pot of gold“

Given that social distancing restrictions were still in place at that time, one might believe that Joji’s Diner’s chances of success would be slim—but the reality was quite the opposite.

Half a year after opening their doors at Serangoon, the diner achieved overnight virality after they were featured in a local news publication, Mothership, leading to an overwhelming response from the public.

As this was his first restaurant, George had to learn how to manage customers’ expectations and the business operations on a bigger scale. However, in hindsight, these challenges were “just part and parcel” of entrepreneurship.

“Being new to the business, there are always some things that we won’t know until it’s brought up during the process; hence, managing [and addressing] some of the needs, requests, and expectations have to be learnt from experience.”

While Singapore is no stranger to all-day F&B spots, one might wonder if the footfall is guaranteed.

It sounds simple in theory: the longer the operating hours, the higher the potential for customers to come in and patronise your business. However, according to George, reality paints a different picture.

“The footfall during the wee hours fluctuates a lot,” he stated, adding that the business has incurred losses in sales on certain days. Despite this, he continues to stand by the 24-hour concept, reiterating that it provides convenience to his patrons.

“Also, many American diners in the US are actually 24 hours. I just find it fascinating how you can get breakfast no matter how late it is,” added George.

The diner’s popularity allowed it to open its second outlet at Telok Ayer in 2022 to target white-collared workers in the Central Business District (CBD) as well as the weekend crowd. However, the outlet has since closed due to the lack of footfall in the area.

“I think one of the main reasons was because right after the pandemic, a big part of the CBD population was working from home,” explained George, although he did not let this setback deter him from growing his business.

Opening a new sandwich parlour

This time, George has expanded Joji’s Diner by launching a sandwich parlour located right next to the business itself last September, to which Vulcan Post received an exclusive invite to taste some of its signatures. Long story short, our stomachs were left extremely happy and full.

When asked what spurred him to open a sandwich joint, George explained that he enjoyed having American sandwiches and wanted to challenge himself to replicate them in Singapore.

“I decided to open a sandwich joint because I feel that I can really express my creativity. Anything between two pieces of bread is considered a sandwich! The possibilities are endless,” he said with a laugh.

While George remains tight-lipped about his plans for the diner and sandwich parlour, he expressed his commitment to growing the business and, in turn, growing as an individual and entrepreneur.

Not only Joji’s Diner but I myself have grown a lot. Being in the business taught me a lot of things that I’ll always be grateful for.

I’m not sure about milestones but I’m sure that my journey just started.

George Tang, founder of Joji’s Diner

• Learn more about Joji’s Diner and Joji’s Sandwich Parlour here.
• Read more stories we have written on Singaporean businesses here.

Also Read: He quit the corporate life to start a S’pore snack brand selling ancient superfoods

Featured Image Credit: Joji’s Diner

Ramadan buffets with early bird deals: 17 luxury hotels in the Klang Valley for iftar in 2025

If you’re looking to get a headstart on your Ramadan plans, then an early bird deal is hard to beat.

To help you lock down a pick that suits you, we’ve curated a list of 4- and 5-star hotels in the Klang Valley that have an average Google review of 4.1 or higher. Here are their dinner buffets and early bird deals being offered.

1. InterContinental Kuala Lumpur

A returning name for Vulcan Post, InterContinental Kuala Lumpur is offering two dinner buffets at Serena Brasserie.

The Santai-Santai Iftar Dinner Buffet will be running from March 4 to March 27. The Santai-Santai Iftar Raya Buffet, meanwhile, will be a two-day event, spanning April 10 to April 11.

Regardless of which you go for, these two buffets will be more or less the same, with the only difference being the date.

Our colleague who went for the media preview of InterContinental’s dinner buffet found it to be a pleasant surprise, with the chefs adding a refined flair to traditional and classic dishes. You can read about her experience here.

• Early bird offer: 25% off until March 3, 2025

• Standard prices:

  • RM288 nett per adult
  • RM178 nett per child (ages 6 – 12)
  • Free for children aged five and below

• Time: 6:30PM – 10:30PM

• Menu highlights:

  • Rendang Minang Smoked Barbecue Beef Ribs
  • Xinjiang Whole Lamb with Bukhari Biryani Rice 
  • Gulai Assam Rong-style Claypot Roasted Duck

• Reservation contact:

  • +60 16-202 4623
  • fnb.admin@ickualalumpur.com.my

2. The Westin Kuala Lumpur

Jom Balik Kampung is The Westin KL’s contender in the Ramadan buffet scene this year. Though the main attraction will be “traditional favourites,” Western, Chinese, and Indian dishes will also be available for some variety. 

From our experiences with previous buffets at The Westin KL, you’ll definitely be walking away at the end of the night stuffed full of delicious food inspired by the chefs’ own upbringing.

The buffet will be up from March 4 to March 28, 2025.

• Early bird offer: RM155 nett per adult until February 28, 2025

• Standard prices:

  • RM198 nett per adult
  • RM99 nett per child (ages 7 – 12)
  • RM155 nett per senior citizen

• Time: 6:00PM – 10:00PM

• Menu highlights:

  • Nasi Biryani Utara
  • Acar Jelatah
  • Salmon Bakar Kuala Perlis
  • Rendang Ayam Kampung Hijau

• Reservation contact:

  • +60 12-305 1715 (WhatsApp)
  • westindining@westin.com

3. Hotel Indigo Kuala Lumpur on the Park

Hotel Indigo Kuala Lumpur on the Park will be hosting their Selera Kampung Buffet at Wok Star, one of their restaurants. 

Located on the sixth floor, the buffet will be available daily from March 6 to March 28, 2025.

If you’d like to know more about what you can expect from Hotel Indigo, you can read about our time with them last year here.

• Early bird offer: RM148 nett per person until March 5, 2025

• Standard prices:

  • RM168 nett per person

• Time: 6:30PM – n/a

• Menu highlights:

  • Roasted Kambing Golek
  • Murtabak
  • Ayam Percik
  • Nasi Dulang

• Reservation contact:

  • +60 12-388 4509
  • reservation.kulpk@ihg.com.

4. Four Points by Sheraton Kuala Lumpur, Chinatown

Bringing together two cultures, Four Points will be hosting their Chinese Muslim Ramadhan Buffet at Quan’s Kitchen.

With a particular focus on street food, this event will have an early start, lasting from February 28 to March 30, 2025.

• Early bird offer:

  • RM128+ per adult until February 27, 2025

• Standard prices:

  • RM168+ per adult
  • RM84+ per child (ages 5 – 12)
  • RM84+ per senior citizen (ages 60 and above)

• Time: 7:00PM – 10:30PM

• Menu highlights:

  • Chinese-style lamb skewers, fried meat and seafood chuan-chuan skewers
  • Roasted Lamb with Xinjiang Marination

• Reservation contact:

  • +60 12-507 3327 (WhatsApp)

5. MiCasa All Suite Hotel

Icip-Icip Desa will be another returning name for visitors to spend their evening feasting this year. A showcase of “Malaysia’s culinary heritage,” doors will open from March 7 to March 23, 2025.

Our previous experiences here had us lauding the homey-ness of the food, which incited a sense of nostalgia even in those of us who didn’t have these dishes growing up.

• Early bird offer:

  • RM109 nett per adult until February 28, 2025

• Standard prices:

  • RM139 nett per adult
  • RM95 nett per child (ages 5 – 12)

• Time: 6:30PM – 10:00PM

• Menu highlights:

  • Kerabu Kerisik Kulit Timun
  • Nasi Ambeng
  • Asam Pedas Tetel
  • Itik Salai Masak Lemak Cili Api

• Reservation contact:

  • +60 17-219 6126
  • fnbkul@micasahotel.com

6. Sunway Putra Hotel

The Santapan Nusantara Putra will feature over 100 dishes from both Malaysia and Indonesia, as per Sunway Putra themselves.

To be held at Kopi Haus from March 1 to March 27, 2025, the event will also feature a lucky draw between March 1 to March 23, 2025. Prizes include an “exclusive stay” and dining vouchers, though only those paying for six adults in a single receipt will be eligible for entry.

• Early bird offer:

  • RM135 nett per adult until February 25, 2025

• Standard prices:

  • RM159 nett per person
  • RM99 nett per child (ages 6 – 12)
  • Free for children aged 5 and below

• Time: 7:00PM – 10:00PM

• Menu highlights:

  • Gulai Daging Kawah
  • Daging Sapi Taliwang
  • Tongseng Kambing

• Reservation contact:

  • +60 19-305 2372
  • spkl.ch@sunwayhotels.com

7. Element Kuala Lumpur

Seeking to evoke the atmosphere of a bazaar, the aptly named Mai Bazar Element will be held from March 1 to March 28, 2025.

What’s not like a bazaar, however, will be how high up guests will find themselves. The event is set to take place at TRACE Restaurant & Bar, situated on the 40th floor of the hotel. Certainly quite the change of pace for a dining experience.

Also of note is that Marriott Bonvoy members and certain banks’ credit card holders will also be eligible for a 20% discount.

• Early bird offer:

  • RM148 nett per adult until March 9, 2025

• Standard prices:

  • RM198 nett per adult

• Time: 6:30PM – 10:00PM

• Menu highlights:

  • Murtabak Penang
  • Sup Merah Lamb Shank
  • Assam Pedas Claypot
  • Braised Beef Short Ribs with Kerutuk Gravy

• Reservation:

  • Web page

8. The St. Regis Kuala Lumpur

St. Regis’ Malam Warisan Melayu will also be making a return for 2025. The event draws inspiration from the Perahu Kolek, a traditional boat used in the past to gather spices and ingredients.

Intended to be a celebration of Malaysia’s heritage, guests will be treated to dishes from all 14 states.

The buffet will run from March 7 to March 30, 2025.

• Early bird offer:

  • RM255 nett per adult from March 7 to March 10, 2025

• Standard prices:

  • RM298 nett per adult
  • RM138 nett per child

• Time: 6:30PM to 10:00PM

• Menu highlights:

  • Kedah Beef Brisket “Gulai” with Bamboo Shoots
  • Perak Signature Smoked Short Ribs “Rendang Tok” with “Manjakani”
  • Terengganu Flower Crab “Asam Pedas” with Banana Blossom
  • Selangor Lamb Spare Ribs “Gulai” with Turkey Berries

• Reservation contact:

  • +60 3-2727 1111
  • stregis.kualalumpur@stregis.com

9. Courtyard by Marriott Setia Alam

If you were lucky enough to know of Courtyard’s Citarasa Iftar – Sajian Nostalgia Abadi in January, an RM119 offer on seats for adults would’ve been available. No worries, though, because their February offer is still up for grabs. 

Running from March 1 to March 20, 2025, the buffet will feature live cooking stations to emulate the bazaar experience.

Chinese, Western, and Indonesian dishes will also be served as well.

• Early bird offer:

  • RM129 nett per adult until February 28, 2025

• Standard prices:

  • RM159 nett per adult
  • 50% off for children aged 6 to 12 and senior citizens (according to month booked)

• Time: 6:30PM – 10:00PM

• Menu highlights:

  • Kerabu Sotong Bunga Kantan Thai
  • Rendang Kacang Bersama Hati and Pedal
  • Butter Popcorn Chicken with Curry Leaf & Bird Eye Chili

• Reservation contact:

  • +60 3-5021 9899
  • +60 12-560 9077 (WhatsApp)
  • Fivewells.SetiaAlam@courtyard.com

10. One World Hotel Petaling Jaya

For those hoping to indulge in One World Hotel’s Sajian 14 Negeri, you’re gonna have to act fast because their promotion ends on February 15, 2025.

The event will be held at the Cinnammon Coffee House, running from March 2 to March 30, 2025.

In addition to a daily menu, a rotating main menu will also be available, featuring one dish from every state.

• Early bird offer (until February 15, 2025):

  • RM178 nett per adult
  • RM126 nett per senior citizen (ages 60 and above)
  • RM89 nett per child (ages 6 to 12)

• Standard prices:

  • RM238 nett per adult
  • RM168 nett per senior citizen (ages 60 and above)
  • RM119 nett per child (ages 6 to 12)

• Time: 6:30PM – 10:30PM

• Menu highlights:

  • Rendang Belanga Ayam Kampung
  • Nasi Briyani & Dalca Tulang Kambing
  • Asam Tempoyak Keladi Daun Kesum Pahang (Menu 1 exclusive)
  • Sayur Midin Turnis Belacan Sarawak (Menu 1 exclusive)

• Reservation contact:

  • +60 3-7681 1157
  • +60 16-210 9521 (WhatsApp)

11. PARKROYAL COLLECTION Kuala Lumpur

PARKROYAL COLLECTION will be offering multiple dining options for those looking to break fast with them this year.

The first, Nostalgia Ramadan, will be available daily throughout the entire month of Ramadan, running from February 28 to March 31, 2025.

The second is called Koleksi Iftar, only being available on selected dates. This includes March 7, 8, 14, 15, and 21, 2025. The event will be held at the hotel’s ballroom and will feature lower prices than that of Nostalgia Ramadan. The menus will also be different, with Koleksi Iftar’s menu available here.

• Early bird offer:

  • RM169 per adult on first come, first served basis (Nostalgia Ramadan)
  • RM148 per adult on first come, first served basis (Koleksi Iftar)

• Standard prices (Nostalgia Ramadan):

  • RM248 per adult
  • RM124 per child (ages 6 to 11)

• Standard prices (Koleksi Iftar):

  • RM218 per adult
  • RM109 per child (ages 6 to 11)

• Time: 6:30PM – 10:30PM

• Menu highlights (Nostalgia Ramadan):

  • Rendang Kambing Golek
  • Pesamah Daging Rusa
  • Rendang Itik Serati
  • Ayam Kampung Berlado Hijau

• Reservation contact:

  • +60 10-229 7156 (WhatsApp)
  • dining.prckul@panpacific.com

12. EQ Hotel Kuala Lumpur

Another to offer guests dinners in different flavours, EQ Hotel will also be hosting two distinct buffets this year. Citarasa Nipah will be available first, running from March 2 to March 30, 2025. This will be a more traditional restaurant affair, taking place at Nipah Restaurant.

A day later, the EQ Bazaar Ramadan Buffet will commence at Level 1 of the hotel. This event intends to emulate the neighbourhood Raya pop-up market experience, minus the parking headaches and the heat. The runtime will be from March 3 to March 28, 2025, with prices lower than that of Citarasa Nipah.

• Early bird offer:

  • RM198+ per adult, redeemable only on March 2, 3, 4, 5, 29, and 30, 2025 (Citarasa Nipah)
  • RM158+ per adult, redeemable only from March 3 to 5, 2025 (EQ Bazaar)

• Standard prices (Citarasa Nipah):

  • RM238+ per adult
  • RM119+ per child (ages 6 – 12)

• Standard prices (EQ Bazaar)

  • RM178+ per adult
  • RM89+ per child (ages 6 – 12)

• Time: 6:30PM – 10:30PM

• Complete menus:

  • Citarasa Nipah
  • EQ Bazaar

• Reservation contact:

  • +60 3-2789 7839
  • +60 12-583 5319 (WhatsApp)
  • dineateqkl@kul.equatorial.com

13. Le Méridien Petaling Jaya

Returning for another year, the Jamuan Bazaar will be held at Le Méridien Petaling Jaya’s Pasar Baru and the Grand Ballroom simultaneously. 

Serving as the hotel’s all-day dining restaurant, Pasar Baru’s doors will open from March 3 to March 28, 2025.

The Grand Bazaar will follow suit seven days later, opening from March 10 to March 28, 2025.

• Early bird offer:

  • RM148 per adult at Pasar Baru until March 10, 2025
  • RM98 per adult at the Grand Ballroom until March 10, 2025

• Standard prices:

  • RM198 per adult at Pasar Baru
  • RM128 per adult at the Grand Ballroom

• Time: n/a

• Menu highlights:

  • Kambing Bakar
  • Ikan Bakar
  • Ayam Golek

• Reservation contact:

  • +60 10-216 3810 (WhatsApp)

14. VE Hotel & Residence

Located in Bangsar South, VE Hotel’s Citarasa Sedunia 2025 will be held at The Straits Estate.

On the menu will be over 100 items and eight live cooking stations. Short video previews for the event can be found on Instagram where they’ve been tagged.

Diners will be able to enjoy their selection from March 5 to March 28, 2025.

• Early bird offer:

  • RM118+ per adult until March 4, 2025
  • RM59+ per child (ages 6 – 12) until March 4, 2025

• Standard prices:

  • RM168+ per adult
  • RM84+ per child (ages 6 – 12)
  • RM108+ per senior citizen

• Time: 6:30PM – 10:00PM

• Menu highlights:

  • Fresh Sushi Bar
  • Cheese Wheel Pasta
  • Roasted Whole Lamb
  • Grilled Seafood Station

• Reservation contact:

  • +60 3-2246 2888
  • dine@vehotel.com 

15. Hotel Royal Kuala Lumpur

Hotel Royal Kuala Lumpur has dubbed their buffet the Pesona Rasa Ramadan.

Hosted at Makan2 Coffee House, a special appearance will also be made by Jer’s Band.

Visitors will be welcome from March 6 to March 26, 2025.

• Early bird offer:

  • RM 98 nett per adult until February 28, 2025

• Standard prices:

  • RM118 nett per adult
  • RM68 nett per child (ages 5 – 12)
  • RM68 nett per senior citizen (ages 60 and above)

• Time: 7:00PM – 9:30PM

• Menu highlights:

  • Kambing Golek
  • Nasi Minyak
  • Satay

• Reservation contact:

  • +60 16-520 0579 (WhatsApp)
  • fb.coordinator@hotelroyalkl.com
  • nazli.jusoh@hotelroyalkl.com

16. Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur

With a theme of “palace food,” Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur will be hosting their Ramadan buffet at their very own JPteres.

Named The Grand Artistry of Royal Delicacies, diners will be welcome from March 3 to March 30, 2025. Unlike the other entries on this list, however, their special deal won’t be for early birds. Instead, it’ll be for specific dates, namely the first five and last three days of the event. 

For a more detailed look at what’ll be on the menu, you can take a look at their Instagram post here.

• Special offer:

  • RM198 nett per adult between March 3 – 7, 2025, and March 28 – 30, 2025

• Standard prices:

  • RM248 nett (indoor) / RM228 nett (outdoor) per adult
  • RM124 per child

• Time: 6:30PM – 10:30PM

• Menu highlights:

  • Iga Bakar Bali
  • Thalaserry Chenmeen Curry
  • Udang Galah Sambal Lado
  • Daging Pesamah Diraja Perak

• Reservation contact:

  • +60 12-621 9869 (WhatsApp)
  • restaurant.kuagh@hyatt.com

17. Eastin Hotel Kuala Lumpur

Lastly, from March 7 to March 28, 2025, will be Eastin Hotel’s Icip-Icip Kampungku Buffet Dinner. 

Available daily, a live band performing “modern instrumental music” will also be present at the event to add to the dinner’s atmosphere.

A video preview of selected menu items is visible on their Instagram here.

• Early bird offer:

  • RM158 nett per adult until March 6, 2025

• Standard prices:

  • RM198 nett per adult
  • RM99 nett per child

• Time: 6:30PM – 10:30PM

• Menu highlights:

  • Kambing Panggang stuffed with Biryani Rice
  • Soup Gear Box Berempah
  • Ayam Penyet Cabai Hijau

• Reservation contact:

  • +60 3-7665 1111  
  • +60 16-262 2070 (WhatsApp)
  • swez.brasserie@eastin.com

The early bird gets the worm

Ramadan is one of the few times of the year where meals become more than just a daily necessity. They turn into mediums for reflection and community.

While it is very easy to go a little overboard at buffets, we can’t blame you, having done that several times ourselves at a number of these hotels’ buffets.

Just remember to leave some space for dessert.

• Read other articles we’ve written about F&B businesses here.

Also Read: CARiNG’s CNY video reminds us what “home” really means, and it’s not about a place

Featured Image Credit: Le Méridien Petaling Jaya / EQ Hotel Kuala Lumpur / The Westin Kuala Lumpur