KOTA KINABALU: Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun urges bakeries and the food industries to mould creativity and quality into their products as the lifestyle of people evolves.
YUMMY: Masidi (left), Foo (third left) and other invited guests and staff posing near a specially designed decorative cake.
He stressed the need for Kota Kinabalu, as a city and tourism destination, to create new products due to the changing profile of visitors from Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Europe, as well as the more sophisticated lives that the people now lead.
“In the end it’s not about how much you pay, but the quality of the product.
“We need to factor into consideration the changing lifestyle of the population when doing businesses, and have the courage and heart to invest so as to come up with creative products.”
Masidi said this when officiating at the grand opening of ConsFood new outlet at Taman Yakim Jaya here yesterday.
The opening day also coincided with the birthday of ConsFood managing director Foo Woh Toong.
With more arrival of tourists and expatriats choosing Malaysia as their second homes, Masidi stressed the importance of the service and food industries in offering quality products.
He said there had been an increase of 27 percent in international tourist arrival to Sabah in the first eight months of this year compared to the same period last year, while Europeans constituted 60 per cent of outbound tourists.
“Over the years, we look at the trends where people put up a second home in Kota Kinabalu and Sabah. Those from England and more sophisticated society are indicators of the growing need for more sophisticated food products, bread and pastries.”
Masidi added that bread was an important meal for Europeans, and thus it was important to provide them pastries that they used to enjoy in their own countries.
Executive director of ConsFood, Victor S K Wong, said the idea of the outlet was to provide customers a convenient place to shop while enjoying good quality products and refreshment in a comfortable environment.
“We have the five in one concept which encompasses cold storage, bakery ingredients, chocolate and patisserie, cafe and bakery all under one roof.
“This is the start of much more to come,” he said in his welcoming speech.
Also present were Foo, director Collin C K Tan and Kashaf Holdings Sdn Bhd managing director Abbas DSP HJ Mohd Kassim.