With the start of the Muslim fasting month, the leading milk tea chains in Malaysia – Tealive and Chatime have announced their limited edition milk teas for the festive occasion.
Tealive collaborates with Horlicks
Tealive has partnered with Horlicks to launch two Horlicks-inspired milk teas.
Bang Bang Horlicks Milk Tea with Brown Sugar Warm Pearls
Black Diamond Horlicks Fresh Milk
Chatime picks kurma
Chatime has chosen kurma as the ingredient choice for its milk tea for the festive season.
Kuala Lumpur, 14 May 2019 – Calling all
music enthusiasts! You are now invited to be a part of the gaiety of the latest
‘Music is a Gift!’ Contest launched
by 7-Eleven Malaysia, the largest convenience store chain in the country. The
contest is available in Peninsular Malaysia including Langkawi, and submissions
period begins from 14 May to 24 June 2019.
Music comes
closest to expressing the inexpressible.
Imagine yourself enjoying Spotify music with the best headphones? Three
simple steps will lead you to stand a chance to win a SONY Wireless Noise
Cancelling Headphones worth RM1,599! Fret not, there are fifteen SONY
headphones in total to be won!
Entering the
contest would be a breeze for participants as they are only required to purchase
any Spotify Premium gift cards at 7-Eleven Malaysia stores and take a photo of
the purchased gift cards with the original receipt as proof of purchase. Once
completed, they will have to upload it on their own Facebook or Instagram
account with the official hashtags #7EMusicIsAGift #7ElevenMY. Participants can
increase their odds of winning by submitting more entries!
Ronan Lee, General Marketing Manager of
7-Eleven Malaysia said, ““Music is a
Gift!” Contest is the perfect way for our devoted customers to enjoy their
favorite music at Spotify Premium whilst being able to grab themselves an
amazing gift! Through this contest, we strive to enhance customer’s music
experience with Spotify Premium in our stores and arouse the feeling of
excitement among our customers to win the ultimate SONY headphones with
tailored noise cancellation!
He added, “Customers can now easily grab
a Spotify Premium gift card at their nearest 7-Eleven outlet and enjoy Spotify
Premium music at any time. Music can be convenient too. Quickly gift yourself
or someone you love with a Spotify Premium gift cards at our stores now!
For more information and contest terms & conditions, please visit www.7eleven.com.my or Facebook at 7ElevenMalaysia.
From left: 7-Eleven Malaysia Chief Finance Officer Mr. Wong Wai Keong, Chief Executive Officer Mr Colin Harvey, and Senior Operation Manager Mr. Kelvin Gan standing in line to officiate 7-Eleven Malaysia’s 2323rd store at Plaza Arkadia, Desa ParkCity.
Kuala Lumpur, 8th
May 2019 – 7-Eleven Malaysia, a wholly owned
subsidiary of 7-Eleven Malaysia Holdings Berhad and the largest convenience
chain store in Malaysia launched its 2323rd store at a launch ceremony
held at Plaza Arkadia, Desa ParkCity. This milestone number reflects the
unrivalled reach 7-Eleven has in the Malaysian retail scene and its latest
store reflects its contemporary concept store format, which has been gradually
rolled-out nationwide over the past few years.
Speaking at the ceremony, Colin Harvey, CEO of 7-Eleven
Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. commented, “We are
truly ecstatic at our latest milestone, which in less than 18 years, under the
astute vision and guidance of Tan Sri’ Vincent Tan, has grown from a mere 176
stores to become the undisputed retailer with the most number of retail outlets
in Malaysia. We are very pleased to have to have reached this milestone but
it’ll be business as usual as we have no intention of stopping here and will
continue with our rapid store expansion. We are also pleased to be able to
showcase here today our latest product and service innovations which sets us
apart from other convenience stores in Malaysia with a strong emphasis on best
in class fresh food.”
At the ceremony, a brief tour was given on key
highlights of the stores. The current generation of 7-Eleven stores encourages
customers to see 7-Eleven as a lifestyle store, where they can enjoy the range
of products on offer at the store in a relaxed manner, akin to what one would
experience at a neighborhood café. At the store in Plaza Arkadia, its full food
service offers a wider array of fresh food and beverages under the
brand name of 7-Eleven which include designer sandwiches, Cocoks™ – the brand’s
ever-popular skewered snacks that now can be purchased with 4 different sauces,
grilled sausages and newly re-packaged bakery range.
Customers
with sweet cravings can also opt to try 7-Eleven’s fresh donuts, Swiss rolls, a
variety of cake slices and its exclusive soft serve series, aptly named Aiskleem™. Moreover,
its extensive beverage selections including among others the world-famous
Slurpee® in fun and exciting new flavours like ManGoda, a playfully-termed
Mango Passion Fruit flavour. 7-Eleven Malaysia
has also increased its range of in-store services to customers with a wider
selection of utility providers of its 24/7 bill payment service, major
e-commerce offline payment option as well as being able to pay for your PTPTN
loan. E-wallets such as Razer Pay and Alipay are also now accepted with more to
come on board and fans of Google Play, Sony Playstation, Spotify, Netflix and
more can also conveniently purchase prepaid cards either for their own use or
as a gift to family and friends.
Mr. Harvey continued, “It is important to us to continue to innovate on not only our product
offering, but to also play more of a role in the daily lives of our customers.
By offering these services, we can offer a whole new level of convenience in
Malaysia and we continue to be the leader for the convenience sector. We are
enthusiastic about the future and will continue to deliver the best possible
product, services and promotional offerings at our stores based on what our
consumers want.”
7-Eleven Malaysia is the largest
stand-alone convenience store-chain nationwide, with now 2,323 outlets across
the country and continuously aspires to elevate customers’ shopping experiences
and to scale greater heights as the largest stand-alone convenience store
operator in Malaysia. To meet today’s expectations in providing convenience to
customers; 7-Eleven Malaysia opts to stay close to its customer’s heart by
staying true to its motto, Always There for You.
Hard Rock Cafe’s limited-time burger offerings combine global flavours with the traditional burgers fans have loved for decades. These new dishes include:
· Passion Fruit Sliders – get jammin’ with the winner of the BurgerRocker competition from Guanacaste, Costa Rica, Jacob Gonzalez. The menu item features three burger patties topped with a sweet and smoky turkey bacon jam, creamy Jack cheese and a crispy onion ring
· Tex-Mex Cheese Burger – let’s taco ‘bout another BurgerRocker champion, Jesus Lara from Chicago, Illinois, USA. This burger features a full-flavoured steak patty topped with rich guacamole, smooth Jack cheese, juicy tomato, crisp lettuce, chili spice and a soft, toasted bun.
· All-American Sliders – three burger patties topped with creamy American cheese and a juicy onion ring, atop a bed of coleslaw and served on toasted buns.
· Buffalo-Style Sliders – burger patties topped with spicy, classic Buffalo sauce, a crispy fried onion and the choice of cooling blue cheese or creamy ranch dressing
“As we expand our menu with limited-time offerings, we wanted to give guests the chance to go around the world in one sitting,” said Anibal Fernandez, Vice President of Franchise Operations & Development for Hard Rock International. “Our two BurgerRocker competition winners, The Passion Fruit Turkey Bacon Sliders and Tex-Mex Cheese Burger bring exciting twists to fan favourites by blending new flavours with our beloved classics that have remained the core of the Hard Rock Cafe since 1971.”
(from right) Barry O’Connell, Chief Executive Officer for Malaysia-Singapore-Brunei, Bottling Investments Group, The Coca-Cola Company at the Coca-Cola Collectors Fair 2019
Mini Me Insights had a chance to interview Barry O’Connell, Chief Executive Officer for Malaysia-Singapore-Brunei, Bottling Investments Group, The Coca-Cola Company on the sideline of the launch of the Coca-Cola Collectors Fair 2019 on 4 May 2019.
When asked about the response of The Coca-Cola Company towards the Malaysian government’s move to tax sugary beverages from 1 July 2019, the company said it is looking at “reformulation” as among the multiple options being considered at the moments, said O’Connell.
Reformulation, expanding the healthy beverage portfolio
O’Connell said the company has “made significant progress in the last couple of years” when it comes to reformulation. Apart from reformulation, it is looking at portion control and downsizing, while working at expanding its portfolio into healthy beverages.
He added that “it is easy to reduce the sugar content but you will lose consumers because you compromise on taste.” The beverage giant is very “deliberate” in what they do when it comes to sugar reduction.
Collaborate with the government
The Coca-Cola Company is continuing to work with the government as the company “believes in the value of being a contributor to the issue of health and wellness.”
Coca-Cola Coffee won’t be in Malaysia soon
Globally, the company is releasing Coca-Cola Coffee in more than 25 markets by the end of 2019. Coca-Cola Coffee is a blend of Coke soda with coffee targeting consumers who want more caffeine in their drink but less sugar.
For Malaysia, we have to wait because O’Connell said The Coca-Cola Company will not “immediately” launch Coca-Cola Coffee in the country. The reason is the soft drink giant has to make “conscious decision on what to bring in and very often the most difficult decision is not what to bring in.” He added that “now is probably not the right time for coffee but then again that could change.”
Sports drink market overlapping with sparkling
In Malaysia, the isotonic market and the sparkling market overlap significant, said O’Connell. “Consumers tend to use them for similar things such as hydrate and to get a boost of energy.” This means Coca-Cola is directly competing against 100Plus, which is the leader in the isotonic/sport drink segment in Malaysia.
Energy drink remains a small segment
The Coca-Cola Company feels the energy drink market is not as large as other areas. The company’s focus will continue to be on soft drinks.
Dairy-based drink and RTD tea are important categories
Dairy will be a significant category for The Coca-Cola Company, said O’Connell. RTD tea is also another big category and the company is making a “very good progress” with Heaven & Earth and Authentic Tea House, added O’Connell. He said there will be more innovations around those two brands in the coming 12 to 18 months.
Ms. Lam Hui Min, Senior Brand Manager of BRAND'S Suntory Malaysia with the two Senior Scientists of BRAND'S Suntory International
6 May 2019. Over 100 pharmacists from leading pharmacy chains along with other invited guests discovered “The Science Behind BRAND’S® Essence of Chicken” in a recent 2-day interactive dialogue session that was led by Senior Scientist BRAND’S® Suntory International, Dr. Jack Wong Jing Lin.
Dr. Jack Wong Jing Lin, Senior Scientist of BRAND’S Suntory International
According to
Dr. Wong, drinking BRAND’S® Essence of Chicken is not only good for
the body and mind which reduces tiredness and improves concentration, but gives
precious benefits that are most valuable for lactating mothers.
“BRAND’S®
Essence of Chicken has been widely studied and supported by over 40
international scientific papers and clinical studies and it is also proven to
improve the quality of colostrum and helps to boost up the quantity of breast
milk.” explained Dr. Wong.
“In addition
to that, knowing that Malaysian’s staple food are mostly white rice and bread,
we have research showing that consumption of BRAND’S® Essence of
Chicken together with white rice or bread helped reduce glycaemic response.
This could be beneficial to people who are concerned about their blood sugar
level.” he summarized.
BRAND’S® Essence
of Chicken has long been a favourite based on trust and experience, especially
among the older generation. Today’s consumers, however, are more discerning and
need hard evidence for them to believe in a product that is safe and beneficial
to be consumed.
During the
session, the participants were also introduced to the new BRAND’S®
Lutein Essence by Dr. Tan Zhen Wei, Senior Scientist BRAND’S® Suntory
International. BRAND’S® Lutein Essence is the only health
tonic in the market that has been developed based on science and has been
proven to increase macular pigment in the eyes which is essential in filtering
blue light.
“Malaysians
spend an average of almost 14 hours a day on digital devices with 89% engaged
with digital devices once awake and before sleep. BRAND’S® Lutein
Essence helps to protect the eyes from over exposure to blue light through
prolonged usage of electronic devices which can lead to various digital eye
strain such as eye fatigue, dry eyes and blurred vision.” said Dr. Tan.
BRAND’S®
Lutein Essence contains two important nutrients for eyes which are Lutein and
Zeaxanthin, both of which have been proven to increase macular pigment in the
eyes which is essential in filtering blue light.
BRAND’S® products are scientifically based and have been researched and published in various journals. BRAND’S® will now take it further by creating an online information resource by launching BRAND’S® Health Enrichment Centre website (www.BHEcentre.com), next month. The site aims to translate scientific knowledge into practical health and lifestyle resources to help health care professionals and consumers to be in their optimal health.
Pharmacists and Members of Moms Club at The recent BRAND’S Science Forum event
Kuala
Lumpur, 3 May 2019 – 7-Eleven Malaysia, the nation’s leading convenience chain store,
carries on its goodwill of providing for the underprivileged community through
its annual CSR charity programme this time of the year with Semurni Kasih
through the Community Care program.
The donation drive will be held in
the holy month of Ramadhan, running for 43 days from now until 10 June 2019. Customers
are encouraged to contribute through the campaign by purchasing necessities and
supplies from 7-Eleven stores nationwide and placing them into the collection
box positioned in a prominent area of the store. Supplies could range from
biscuits, instant food, groceries, medications, and other household essentials
found in the store. The contributions will then be distributed by 7-Eleven to
selected beneficiaries across the country.
Since its inception in 2008, Semurni
Kasih has collected and disbursed almost RM15 million worth of provisions to close
to 2,000 beneficiaries in Malaysia.
“We believe each contribution to
Semurni Kasih, be it small or big, would make a positive impact towards the
less fortunate community. From supporting local orphanages, nursing homes, and
care centres, we are motivated to make this year’s campaign a bigger one, and
encourage the public’s unwavering support and contribution to make this a
successful initiative. With our network of 2,300 stores throughout Malaysia,
doing good this Ramadhan is convenient and easy!” said Ronan Lee, Marketing
General Manager of 7-Eleven Malaysia.
Semurni Kasih is part of 7-Eleven
Malaysia’s Community Care, a non-profit entity set up to implement corporate
responsibility and philanthropic initiatives in support of underprivileged
groups and sustains environmental conservation efforts.
For more information on Semurni Kasih
and 7-Eleven Community Care, please visit www.7eleven.com.my or follow
7ElevenMalaysia on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
About 7-Eleven Malaysia
7-Eleven
Malaysia Holdings Berhad through its subsidiary 7-Eleven Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. is
the owner and operator of 7-Eleven stores in Malaysia. Incorporated on 4 June
1984, 7-Eleven Malaysia has made its mark in the retailing scene and has been a
prominent icon for over 35 years. 7-Eleven Malaysia is the pioneer and largest
24-hours standalone convenience store operator in Malaysia with over 2,320
outlets nationwide and serves close to a million customers daily. 7-Eleven
stores can be found across bustling commercial districts to serene suburban
residential compounds throughout Malaysia, from petrol stations and LRT
stations to shopping malls and medical institutions. 7-Eleven is Always There
For You.
All 70 participants from 11 countries with CEO Barry O' Connell
Going back in time at the Coca-Cola Collectors Fair 2019
Kuala Lumpur, 4 May 2019 – Coca-Cola fans and members of the public were recently given the opportunity discover hidden treasures and get-up-close-and-personal with 76 passionate collectors from around the world, surrounded by vintage Coca-Cola collectibles dating as far as more than five decades ago at the 9th Coca-Cola Collectors Fair 2019.
The exciting one-day event saw the collectors from China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Macau, the Philippines, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand and Taiwan gather to exhibit their collectibles ranging from cans, limited-edition bottles, iconic posters and artwork, souvenirs to even bottle openers to fellow collectors and members of the public alike.
“The annual Coca-Cola Collectors Fair is one of the many activities conducted to bring together people from all walks of life for just one thing – their love for everything Coca-Cola. It is the perfect venue for collectors, fans and customers to catch a glimpse of Coca-Cola’s colourful history, while at the same time, buy, trade and sell their vintage Coca-Cola merchandise,” said Barry O’Connell, Chief Executive Officer for Malaysia-Singapore-Brunei, Bottling Investments Group, The Coca-Cola Company, who officiated the event.
Aptly themed “Celebrating Festivities”, this year’s Fair was held just before the upcoming fasting month, leading up to the Hari Raya Aidilfitri festivities. In addition to getting a head-start in shopping for the upcoming festivities, Malaysians were transported back in time as they admired the quality craftmanship and innovation behind this iconic brand that has endured over the years. Many were left dazzled and in awe at the carefully curated Coca-Cola memorabilia of every shape, size and colour exhibited by the collectors.
“The Coca-Cola Collectors Fair is also conducted to increase awareness and understanding about the different facets of Coca-Cola, the deep level of thought, creativity and inspired innovation that goes behind our incredibly unique assortment of merchandise, ranging from every day and pop culture items to rare, commemorative pieces from all over the world. Some are even exclusively custom-made for a specific country for a limited time-frame and is therefore not found anywhere else in the world,” explained Barry on the rationale behind the Collectors Fair.
Always ready to give back to those in need, the collectors also participated in the Coca-Cola Collectors Fair Charitable Auction which raised funds for the Malaysian Association for the Blind. Some of the sought-after items included a limited-edition Coca-Cola bottle as well as montage poster of the collectors.
Fuelling the passion and brand love for the Coca-Cola brand is more than 40 local chapters of collectors’ clubs currently in existence all over the world. Some of these collectors have travelled the world over to seek rare and unique items to add their Coca-Cola collection. Through global collectors’ network, these collectors have built long-lasting relationships and gained unique experiences in their quest for that ultimate, one-of-a-kind Coca-Cola collectible. In fact, the Collectors Fairs throughout the world are essentially venues for them to strengthen their own connections, apart from trading items.
“At Coca-Cola, it’s all about passion and brand love. Everything we do starts with our passion for what people want and make life’s everyday moments more enjoyable. As a total beverage company, we ignite and unlock growth by turning our passion into a brand that people love. The Coca-Cola Collectors Fair is an example of how we make real, meaningful difference in the lives of people globally,” added Barry in closing.
The Coca-Cola Collectors Fair is an annual event organised by Coca-Cola Malaysia to encourage its avid fans to buy, trade and sell vintage Coca-Cola memorabilia, ranging from locally produced items to some of Coca-Cola most sought-after iconic items. It has been held annually since 2011, in conjunction with Coca-Cola Founder’s Day on 8 May – the day when Coca-Cola drink was first sold. Apart from bringing together passionate collectors, the Coca-Cola Collectors Fair also raises awareness on the high quality of inspired innovation and creativity behind Coca-Cola’s merchandising and branding over the last 133 years.
Gardenia, the top packaged bread company in Singapore and Malaysia, has diversified into noodles in Malaysia and into snacks in Singapore.
In Malaysia, Gardenia has introduced NuMee Gardenia, a halal-certified yellow noodle. NuMee is also the first pasteurised yellow noodle in Malaysia. The pasteurised process eliminates bacteria and harmful microorganisms. The noodles are free from added colouring.
Gardenia has access to wheat, which is a major ingredient in bread making. Diversifying into wheat-based yellow noodle therefore makes perfect sense for Gardenia.
Moreover, the yellow noodle segment, dominated by numerous small brands, is ripe for disruption. The new NuMee Gardenia addresses consumer concern about the halal status of yellow noodles and the bitter taste found in some of the poorer quality yellow noodles in the market.
McDonald’s Malaysia has done it again with a reported double-digit growth in revenue in 2018, said its managing director and local operating partner Azmir Jaafar. the fast food giant is looking at a strong double-digit growth of 19% in 2018 with a projected growth of 15% for 2019, which will still be a stellar performance considering McDonald’s is not a new player in town.
2019: 15% (forecast)
2018: 19%
2017: 23%
2016: 16%
2015: 12%
“The drive-thru business has become a critical component of McDonald’s business strategy to elevate its market leadership,” said Azmir.
In fact, drive-thru stores account for 60% of the existing 278 outlets in Malaysia. The company plans to open another 20 new drive-thru outlets in 2019 to add to the existing 167 drive-thrus.
On 27 April 2019 (Saturday), McDonald’s Malaysia set a new record in the Malaysian Book of Records for the “Largest Participation for a Drive-Thru Challenge in 24 Hours” with a total of 164,235 cars participated.
Setting a new record. Image from McDonald’s Malaysia
Mobile app is another growth driver for McDonald’s Malaysia. The app, launched in early 2018, was updated around August 2018 offering personalized promotions based on user history and demographics. In addition to that, the McDelivery app was made available 24/7.
Domino’s Pizza charging ahead
Domino’s Pizza Malaysia is in the same league as McDonald’s Malaysia with a reported double-digit growth in revenues for several years.
Domino’s Pizza Malaysia operations senior GM Shamsul Amree Ab Rahman said in July 2018 that “our revenue every year has been experiencing a double-digit growth. In the last three years, we have opened 90 stores, and at least 40% of our growth come from the new outlets.”
