Group managing director, Datuk Mohammad Nazar Samad said the company, which currently operates 39 outlets in Peninsular Malaysia, is negotiating with related parties in Sabah and Sarawak for the new openings.

“We are looking to open a number of stores simultaneously in both states, to avoid unnecessary financial outflow. We are currently focusing on shopping malls situated in the region for easy access to our restaurants,”

he added.

Mohammad Nazar was speaking to reporters after launching the refurbished A&W restaurant — Malaysia’s first fast food outlet — in Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman (formerly Batu Road).

The Minister of Federal Territories and Urban Well-being, Senator Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin, graced the occasion.

In a related development, Mohammad Nazar said, KUB expects its food and beverages (F&B) division to be a major contributor to the Group’s overall turnover by 2013.

“Currently, the division is contributing less than ten per cent annually,” he explained.

Under the F&B division, the company manages A&W Restaurants (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, A&W Restaurants (Thailand) Co. Ltd, KUB Agrotech Sdn Bhd and KUB Sepadu Sdn Bhd.

KUB Malaysia is an investment holding company, operating in the core business of information, communication & technologies (ICT), property & construction as well as food and beverage industries.

Source: Bernama

Chicken Rice Shop

The Chicken Rice Shop Restaurants Sdn Bhd (TCRS) plans to open new outlets in Australia and the Middle East to expand its operations overseas.

TCRS chief operating officer Wong Kah Lin said it was now exploring opportunities in the two markets, including the possibility of partnerships.

“No target timeframe but we are now working on that,” she told reporters after launching the first of the TCRS monthly coupon campaign here.

Wong said TCRS also planned to open its second outlet in Singapore soon, adding to its current 50 outlets nationwide.

She said a new local outlet is scheduled to open at Bangsar South, Kuala Lumpur, in August this year.

On the monthly coupon campaign, Wong said it was introduced in tandem with the new TCRS brand philosophy called “Its The Little Things That Count” as well as the brand’s ninth anniversary.

“Being a leading chain of halal family restaurants, TCRS is committed towards ensuring that the brand is able to give value to Malaysians in various but tangible ways,” she said.

The coupons available at all TCRS outlets nationwide will enable customers to enjoy either free additional dishes or discounts on a daily basis.

“These coupons will be given to customers at the end of each month at all outlets and the campaign will be start in July,” Wong said.

Source: Bernama

Ayamas Food Corporation Sdn Bhd is targeting to raise its contribution to 30 percent of the KFC Holdings (Malaysia) Bhd group’s sales within three years.

This is expected to be achieved through its Sudut Ayamas or “shop-in-shop” marketing initiative which was launched today as well as a series of new products, said KFC Holdings’ chairman Tan Sri Muhammad Ali Hashim.

At a press conference on the Sudut Ayamas launch here, he said Ayamas, a wholly-owned subsidiary, was currently contributing about 20 percent to the group’s sales.

KFC Holdings recorded a revenue growth of 26 percent to RM2,179.8 million last year from RM1,730.4 million in 2007.

Under the Sudut Ayamas initiative, freezers will be installed at retail outlets such as hypermarkets, mini-markets and provision shops across the country to offer Ayamas frozen food and canned products.

Muhammad Ali said RM4 million will be spent over a three-year period to upgrade the existing 1,500 Sudut Ayamas freezers in suburban and rural areas, and install an additional 1,500 freezers at new retail outlets.

He said the upgraded and new generation freezers will be dual-purpose two-in-one freezers that are able to store both frozen and freeze-to-fryer products as well as shelf stable products.

“The freezers will enhance Ayamas’ new ‘shop-in-shop’ concept and increase sales by offering more choices in the form of frozen foods and dry consumer products to customers at these outlets,” he added.

Muhammad Ali said Ayamas was in the process of discovering new markets, particularly for its frozen food and freeze-to-fryer products that are non-chicken-based to further stabilise its current market share.

“It is an important step by us to respond to the changing patterns of consumer demand and bring the benefits of our food products to a wider cross-section of Malaysian consumers,” he said.

According to him, Ayamas currently has 36 percent overall market share in frozen frozen and freezer-to-fryer products in the country.

Muhammad Ali said Ayamas also planned to expand its dine-in restaurant Rasamas by another 10 new outlets by this year, adding to the existing 30 outlets.

KFC Marketing Sdn Bhd’s managing director Foo Peng Peng said eight new products will be launched this year, with four chicken-based and the other four non-chicken-based.

Source: Bernama