Sunday, December 11, 2022

Top 3 Places to visit while in Ipoh | December 2022

Ipoh is Georgetown's relaxed little brother and the gateway to the Cameron Highlands. This town-sized city is undiscovered on the usual Malaysia route. Within the old town, the colonial buildings stand out. Timeworn streets have been freshened up with contemporary street art. Wander a bit to find vibrant temples, surrounded by spectacular limestone cliffs, caves, and lakes. The hidden gem of Ipoh is a great addition to your Ipoh Visit Itinerary!

1. Sunway Lost World Of Tambun WaterPark


Spend a fun-filled day in Ipoh at this exciting theme park with a water park, natural hot springs, performances, animals petting, feeding sessions, and more fun activities
Hop on adrenaline-pumping and family-friendly rides at the Lost World Amusement Park. 

Dip into the Lost World Hot Springs with natural views of the forest around you and stay till nightfall for a soak in the Lost World Hot Springs Night Park. You will even get to enjoy a fire show performance that is bound to wow you.

Admire the agile Siberian Tigers and learn about the Malaysian Tin Mining History. Get a thrill out of the theme park's seven elements of fun rides and attractions that promise great fun for adults and children alike and surround yourself with majestic limestone cliffs that date back to 400 million years! 

Have a splashing fun time at the Lost World Water Park by racing down twisting water slides such as Tube Raiders and Cliff Racer, having a battle with water cannons, or relaxing in the wave pool To ensure the safety of the staff and guests, we have enhanced the park’s safety procedures and hygiene measures. Please click here for your very own awesome moment

2. The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat 
Luxury Spa Resort in Ipoh Malaysia



Built around the beauty of nature, The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat is Ipoh, Malaysia’s first luxury natural hot springs wellness retreat offering bespoke holistic experiences for ultimate relaxation, restoring overall wellbeing, finding inspirational ideas, rekindling romance, hosting the wedding or events of your dreams and more.

Its 44 Garden, Water and Lake villas offer the best in pampering and indulgent accommodations, and with its international standards of service, The Banjaran provides an all-round package of utmost comfort and relaxation.

The sanctuary is nestled in a 22.7-acre valley in the northern state of Perak, only a 15-minute drive away from Ipoh city and 2 hours from Kuala Lumpur. It's the ideal place to be for both a tranquil getaway or a transformational corporate event.

Besides its unique spa features, The Banjaran also offers special dining experiences, one such example being Jeff's Cellar, built into a cavern of a 260-million-year-old limestone hill, the restaurant is known for its fine-dining experiences as well as its host of organic and rare wines, all presented alongside an ambience that's one of a kind. Located within the cave is also our Jeff's Cellar Bar which was listed as the top-five most magnificent bars in the world by CNN Greece.

In keeping with the exclusivity and ideals of this bespoke sanctuary, The Banjaran only accommodates adults and guests 12 years of age and above.

3. Ipoh Parade Christmas Decoration

The first contemporary shopping centre in the old town of Ipoh was Ipoh Parade. The mall offers bowling lanes, laser tag arenas, karaoke booths, and Perak's largest movie theatre, the GSC Cineplex, which also has a MAXX theatre. Additionally, it has a Muslim prayer room and a daycare centre for moms. 









Large-scale neighbourhood gatherings, including competitions for lion dance, cosplay, the annual Shuddup N' Dance, and the Diabolo Masters Championship, have all taken place in the mall.

On top of that, they were also awarded with the Malaysia Book of Record as the "Biggest Outdoor LED Advertising Screen" as well. So, if you're planning a visit in December 2022, be sure to not miss out on their exciting festive celebration in conjunction to Christmas! There will be filled with performances, workshops, special character appearances and more to look forward to during this colorful season!


Wednesday, December 7, 2022

Local Merchants to lead Entrepreneurs

Growing a business in the food and beverage (F&B) industry is not an easy feat, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Businesses which sustained growth are truly inspirational, especially homegrown brands that have built their business from ground zero and sometimes with limited resources compared to the bigger players.

It takes an immense amount of foresight and agility in adopting business models to suit current customer trends. The opportunities to do even better are aplenty, with many local merchant heroes opening new branches to meet popular demand for their food.

ShopeeFood is proud to partner with many of these local food enterprise heroes who have chosen the mobile app as their preferred digital solution and delivery provider. Many local merchants have successfully adopted digitalisation to expand their market. This is not a surprise as at least 90% of more than 800,000 local MSMEs (micro, small and medium enterprises) are estimated to continue adopting digital solutions for their businesses by 2025.

“We are honoured that ShopeeFood has contributed to the success of our local merchants through our digital solutions. Being on our platform has opened up many potentials for our local merchants as they explore the advantages of incorporating digital solutions in their business models,” said Kwa Yin Leng, Head of Operations for ShopeeFood Malaysia.

“We are certainly proud of them and their successes. They are an inspiration not only to us but to other new entrepreneurs as well. We will continue to provide the support required to help uplift our local merchants, such as our upcoming year-end 12.12 Birthday Sale. Merchants can look forward to connecting with new customers as well as offer their loyal customers even more value and rewards via the promotions we have lined up,” she added.

ShopeeFood not only offers a convenient and seamless food delivery experience but also allow users to utilise its mobile wallet (ShopeePay) to make secure payments easily when ordering food. Merchants on ShopeeFood and ShopeePay can also leverage Shopee’s platform to discover and engage new customers. They are also able to generate more sales revenue via ShopeeFood’s regular promotions and special deals. Currently, ShopeeFood is available in Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, Selangor, Penang, Johor, Ipoh and Kota Kinabalu.

Hometown Favourite


ShopeeFood local merchant, Borenos Fried Chicken, has made quite a name as the favourite fast-food chain in Kota Kinabalu for their juicy fried chicken. The Sabah-based brand is so popular that they constantly receive requests from customers to open new outlets in other parts of the country. 

“Fans of our fried chicken are not only found in Kota Kinabalu but also from out of Malaysia, especially in Southeast Asia. We are thankful to our loyal customers who want us to open an outlet in their hometown,” said Janice Yeo, Founder of Borenos Fried Chicken.

The local enterprise started using ShopeePay in June 2021 and ShopeeFood in July 2022 to explore new ways to serve its customers during the COVID-19 pandemic. “As a business, we must evolve to suit the needs of the masses as the world becomes more technologically advanced. It was only natural for us to join ShopeeFood to reach a wider audience as well as to establish a more convenient platform for our customers to connect with us,” explained Yeo.

Yeo also added that customer transactions are more convenient and streamlined with ShopeePay which is easily available on the mobile app. “As both food delivery and payment are available under one application for our customers, there are fewer barriers for them to use either feature,” she said. 


Founded in 2015, Borenos Fried Chicken currently has three outlets in Kota Kinabalu – a flagship store in Asia City Complex, and two other locations in Plaza 22, Papar, and Alamesra, offering dine-in, takeaway and delivery services. The company is also planning to expand its delivery service to the peak of Mount Kinabalu for its fried chicken to be enjoyed just about anywhere.

Order these Borenos favourites from ShopeeFood: Full Spring Chicken Meal, a juicy whole chicken served with coleslaw, fries and drinks; the 1-Piece Cheesy Chicken Rice, Borenos fried chicken served with savoury cheese sauce and rice; and the Premium Chicken Burger, a made-to-order juicy chicken thigh drenched in sweet and smokey BBQ sauce between a charcoal bun.


Building Business Confidence


Dubbing itself as Malaysia’s #1 Tech-Driven Coffee Chain, homegrown brand ZUS Coffee first opened store in Kuala Lumpur towards the end of 2019. Today, it continues to brew success delivering over 8.8 million cups of coffee to date - staying true to its vision to evolve the concept of coffee consumption to make speciality coffee affordable for everyone, every day.

“Our journey has been positive with so many Malaysians loving our brand and products. Customers have been sending in requests for us to open up in their neighbourhoods. We also ensure that the local community benefits from our expansion through job opportunities,” said Stephy Foong, Vice President of Growth and Marketing, ZUS Coffee.

Since being on ShopeeFood three years ago, Foong says the coffee chain utilises customer data it receives from the platform to make better business decisions. “We can now predict a spike in sales period to better manage our inventories,” shared Foong.


For ZUS Coffee, going digital is not just an advantage for the business but also a way to give back to its customers, which in turn helps build loyalty. “The ease of ShopeePay and ShopeeFood have attracted many customers to utilise the platform, and in turn, we were able to reach out to new customers through it. The platform has also allowed us to better understand our customers’ taste preferences, and this helps us to create more innovative products around our coffee products,'' concluded Foong.

Try these ZUS Coffee bestsellers: Spanish Latte, espresso-based with sweet and textured milk, Gula Melaka Latte with espresso, gula melaka, pandan, and coconut cream, and CEO Latte, a stronger pick-me-up with less milk, stronger coffee.

Store link: ZUS Coffee

A Must for Survival



Not all F&B businesses were negatively impacted during the pandemic; in fact, some were even established at that time and have flourished since. One example is a popular local food enterprise brand: Classic Taiwan Braised Pork Rice and Dessert. This Malaysian homegrown brand selling authentic Taiwanese food with a local twist now has 29 outlets in Klang Valley, Melaka, Kampar and Johor with plans to open even more.

“Aside from constantly innovating our menu to attract customers and adopting technology for our daily operations, ShopeeFood has helped us improve our brand visibility,” said Tiang How Soon, the 36-years old founder of the brand. 

“We opened our restaurant around the time of the Covid-19 pandemic. The pandemic lockdowns meant that we had to turn to technology to expand our sales avenues and discover more customers. We were also able to come on-board ShopeeFood easily and this was an important factor when we considered going digital. Since being on ShopeeFood two years ago, our sales have increased, and we often get positive feedback from our customers. More so because most of our customers are e-wallet users that enjoy seamless processes for ordering and enjoying their food,” added Tiang.

For new and modern entrepreneurs that are looking to start their own food business, Tiang offered good advice from his own experience. “Continuous learning is key. There is always a new concept, new taste and new service. There is no time for you to stop and rest,” he concluded.

Order these hot picks from Classic Taiwan on ShopeeFood: The classic comfort food Taiwan Braised Pork Rice, the popular street food Oyster Mee Shuah, and all-time favourite snack Taiwanese Salty Fried Chicken.


The Sweet Taste of Success




It is no secret that Malaysians love bubble tea and dessert-inspired beverages. By just looking at the mushrooming of specialty beverage outlets, it is easy to tell how competitive the sector has become. Bubblebee in this respect is a local food enterprise that has done well.


Established just three years ago in Shah Alam, the Malaysian-based company now has 56 outlets in West Malaysia – and with growing demand, they are opening even more outlets nationwide in the near future. Currently, the business is also expanding into retail where loyal customers can also get their hands on Bubblebee merchandise.

“Bubblebee is recognised throughout Malaysia and we are grateful to our customers and their endless support since the opening of our first outlet. We believe in the idea that you don’t just build a business, but in building people and communities. This is why our motto is to bring smiles to everyone’s day – one person, one cup and one neighbourhood at a time. We are proud to have been able to deliver this and more to our fans,” said Shahmira bin Muhamad (Shuib), one of the three Directors for Bubblebee.

Incorporating technology into daily business operations has allowed Bubblebee to enhance its efficiency and food quality. This also enhanced customer experiences. Since joining ShopeeFood a year ago, Shuib said Bubblebee has leveraged on the platform’s seller features to improve its productivity significantly, which has led to an increase in profit margins as well.

Check out these Bubblebee bestsellers on ShopeeFood: Golden Series Ice Cream paired with honeycomb, Honey Ice Cream drizzled with honey and served with crispy cereal, and Milk Series for that creamy goodness.

Store link: Bubblebee


Make sure to check out December’s 12.12 promos and discounts from ShopeeFood and ShopeePay when ordering. Here’s what is in store: 

ShopeeFood

● Free Delivery with RM0 min spend

● Discounts up to 50% OFF on selected merchants. Lookout for these popular names: ZUS Coffee, Thong Kee Cafe, Old Town White Coffee, Bubblebee, Hotpot Kitchen, Black Whale, Coolblog, Tea Garden, Little KL Food Hall, Tea Can Tin, Pop Meals, Kee Nguyen - Vietnam Coffee, Nasi Lemak Saleha and much more

● Shocking Sale at RM12 until the 12th December 2022. Here are some yummy merchants to try from Marrybrown, Neighbourhood Food Court Kota Damansara, Restoran Mariya, Nurich Cafe and Catering, King Tomyam Kitchen, MyLaksa, BMS Organics, Tiger Sugar, Sangkaya, Baskin-Robbins, HWC Coffee, JuiceLab and lots more. Be sure to check details on ShopeeFood app:

https://shopeemy.onelink.me/356033421/cbsteheh

ShopeePay

● Get RM10 Cashback AND 500 Shopee Coins when you transfer with DuitNow min. RM50



Saturday, December 3, 2022

ShopeeFood reveal best-rated restaurants across locations in Malaysia

The cultural diversity of Malaysia in many ways has influenced our unique flavours and ingredients. An amalgamation of Chinese, Indian, Malay and Borneo flavours, our taste buds are constantly tickled by a variety matched perhaps by no other place on earth.  

Which brought ShopeeFood to survey our cities for the best five-star cuisines as rated by ShopeeFood users. During its last three major campaigns, such as the 9.9 Shopping Day, 10.10 Brand Sale and 11.11 Big Sale, ShopeeFood gathered data on food trends to find out what Malaysians loved to eat. Measured based on the most frequently ordered items on the ShopeeFood app, the survey showed two clear favourites: rice-based dishes and fried chicken. 

There is no denying that rice is the heartland of this country. Aside from the multitudes of paddy fields across the nation, rice is our staple food, incorporated in our baby food, snacks, desserts and almost every meal. Whether it’s Chinese-style bowls of steaming rice, or the ever-famous Indian banana leaf meal, and not forgetting our beloved Malaysian Nasi Lemak, rice is in the DNA of Malaysia and its people.  

While Roti Canai may have hit the top spot on ShopeeFood’s top five cuisines survey, rice-based dishes and some form of fried chicken are abundantly featured in our food trends.  

Chicken dishes especially fried chicken not surprisingly also came out top in the best five stars cuisine found on the ShopeeFood app. Fried chicken is a treat savoured by young and old alike. 

For some, fried chicken was a treat enjoyed during large weekly family gatherings or just as a workday lunch or dinner.  

According to a survey in 2021, Malaysians are the third highest chicken consumers in the world with almost 50 kilograms of chicken consumed per year, per person1. While it does not close in on the 82.3 kilograms of rice a Malaysian eats per year2, for a population of just over 32 million people to be the 3rd highest chicken consumer in the world goes to show how much Malaysians love their chicken.  

And we are not biassed either. Whether it’s Ayam Goreng Berempah or the latest Korean-style fried chicken, Malaysians love their chicken in every way they can get it. Today we have hundreds of different styles of chicken at our fingertips – whether in person or online at ShopeeFood, the list is endless. 

What ShopeeFood Order Trends Say 

During the Covid-19 pandemic, Malaysians made the move towards delivery platforms to get their meals safely and easily. Given the convenience and wide variety of food options available at their fingertips, Malaysians increasingly prefer online food delivery. There are over 2,000 cuisines to choose from depending on your mood and taste for the day.  

“People are becoming increasingly reliant and comfortable with digital services. Malaysians have readily adopted food delivery as it provides convenience, value, and variety. At ShopeeFood we are equally committed to helping more merchants whether enterprise or local heroes to benefit from Shopee’s large ecosystem and adopt new ways of doing business and gaining new customers,” said Kwa Yin Leng, Head of Operations for ShopeeFood Malaysia.   

“We are very excited with this survey as it shows what we love most as Malaysians when it comes to food. During our peak promotion periods like 9.9, 10.10 and 11.11, rice-based dishes had approximately 3x uplift in terms of orders compared to an average day. This shows that Malaysians not only enjoy rice as a staple food but are also keen to take advantage of the sale period to get the best value for their orders,” she added. 

ShopeeFood was established in 2021 to help its users benefit from a convenient and hassle-free food delivery experience by providing numerous eateries, from popular joints to local street food stalls, at the best value. As part of Shopee’s existing ecosystem that includes the mobile wallet ShopeePay, along with amazing deals and promotions all year round, Malaysians have a secure, and rewarding payment and delivery experience with ShopeeFood.  

ShopeeFood Users Rate Their Favourite Five-Star Restaurants 

ShopeeFood surveyed its users’ choices to find out the best rice dishes and fried chicken in Kuala, Lumpur, Putrajaya, Selangor, Penang, Johor, Ipoh and Kota Kinabalu. While the all-time favourites included Nasi Lemak, Bubur Ayam, Nasi Kukus and fried chicken - we observed that users loved variety when it comes to preparations such as Middle Eastern, Korean, International and Japanese. 

Here’s a list of the top five restaurants from all over Malaysia picked by ShopeeFood users as the best places to get your rice dishes and a variety of fried chicken fixes from. 
 
Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya 
Whether it’s Nasi Campur or Chinese cuisine, these folks know where to go for good food. For the best five-star rated rice dishes and fried chicken, just click on the links below and ShopeeFood users will show you the way.  


Penang 
Up north at our very own food haven Penang, besides the distinct Penang food, users also enjoy Middle Eastern food such as Mandi Chicken and juicy fried chicken burgers. 



Johor 
Johorians love their traditional fried chicken with rice. Apart from that, Johorians picked ‘hotpot’ soup to go with their rice, deep-fried chicken with herbs and spices and some amazing curry and rice. 


Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

Middle Eastern, Japanese, and local cuisines – diverse Sabahans love a variety and their top picks will leave you spoilt for choice.


Ipoh, Perak
Known for its Hakka culture, cave temples and colonial old town, Ipoh is most definitely famous for its food. Along with its heritage dishes, nasi lemak, fried chicken chop and Korean fried chicken are some of the dishes that made it to the top of Ipoh’s favourite list. 

Selangor 
And finally, users in Selangor have a thing for Asam Pedas with rice, old-time favourite Ayamas fried chicken and a fancy for Korean chicken.  

Hungry Already? Here’s a 12.12 Promo Sale for You! 

The year-end 12.12 sale is finally here! Get exclusive deals from a wide range of restaurants and order all your favourite food with these super offers: 

  • ● Free Delivery with RM0 min spend 
  • ● Super Deals up to 50% OFF on selected merchants such as Thong Kee Cafe, Little KL Food Hall, Tea Can Tin, Pop Meals, Kee Nguyen - Vietnam Coffee, Nasi Lemak Saleha and much more. 
  • ● Shocking Sale at RM12 starting from 6th - 12th December 2022 

Thursday, December 1, 2022

Molfix Diapers celebrates 1 year in Malaysia | Available in over 4,500 stores nationwide!


Hayat Kimya, a global player in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) industry, is currently the world's 5 largest diaper manufacturer and is committed to continuing to grow its presence in Malaysia through its high-quality diaper brand, Molfix. In case you're unaware, the brand is now available in over 4,500 stores both physically and virtually. But going deeper into the company, we would definily be more familiar with their diaper brand known as Molfix. Molfix brand was first introduced in Malaysia last year in 2021, in tandem with Hayat Kimya's strategic business plans to expand its footprint to Southeast Asia, following its entry into Vietnam and Thailand. Since then, the brand has become the preferred choice of millions of Malaysian parents, offering them peace of mind while providing babies comfort and joy at all times.


Commenting about Molfix's 1st Anniversary in Malaysia, Mr. Alp Bilgili, General Manager of Hayat Hygienic Products Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., said, "The tremendous support and trust from Malaysian parents reflect their preference for products made from natural materials in an effort to ensure safety and to protect their babies' skin. At Hayat, we believe in the importance of understanding the needs and trends of our consumers, hence we place great emphasis on research and development (R&D) to develop innovative products that are organic and of premium quality."


The brand's collaboration with the celebrity couple, Scha Al-Yahya and Awal Ashaari as ambassadors have further helped position Molfix among mums who are constantly looking for the best for their little ones while enjoying the journey of motherhood. Scha Al-Yahya shared, "We are thrilled to be part of this journey to build the Molfix brand among Malaysian parents and to share the experience, uniqueness, and quality of this wonderful product that never fails to bring joy, comfort, and protection to babies. We had the opportunity to experience these and many more when our daughter Lila, who is now one year old and has tried Molfix products. We trust Molfix, and are happy that we decided to partner with a brand that believes in providing the best for mums and babies."


Spreading joy to mums and babies across five continents in over 100 countries around the globe, they have been producing products with utmost care and is designed to be extremely gentle on baby's sensitive skin. Molfix Natural range, with its selective ingredients of natural bamboo fiber and organic cotton, can provide the ultimate softness and skin-friendly touch as proven by dermatologists in Europe.

The range is able to carry a large amount of baby's urine. Interestingly, laboratory test data has shown that its dryness can be achieved for up to 14 hours*. Together with Molfix Extra Dry range, both diaper range provides superior absorbency, thanks to the extra dry layer technology which makes absorption much faster and easier. Hence, giving babies complete protection and keeping their healthy skin comfortably dry. Mums can experience peace of mind knowing their babies are comfortable all day long.


In its effort to create awareness and grow the brand, Molfix engaged with many organizations, and business partners such as hospitals, retail stores, and online affiliates while participating in various consumer-facing activities such as the MITEC Baby Fair 2022, and many more. Within the first year, Molfix bagged the BabyTalk MamaPapa Reader's Choice Award 2022 for the Best Tape and Best Pant Diapers categories.


As part of the celebration, 10 Molfix consumers walked away with exclusive Molfix products, specially autographed by both Scha Al-Yahya and Awal Ashaari. The ambassadors shared their experiences with Molfix brand. Hayat Kimya has a commitment to its growth in Southeast Asia and will be continuing to further strengthen with the establishment of the new regional manufacturing plant in Vietnam, which acts as the ASEAN hub for Molfix products. The plant will cater to the demands of the region including the Malaysian market. This would enable consumers to enjoy premium quality products that are competitively priced, which are produced in the region, and in tandem with their needs and current trends.

Molfix products are currently available at selected supermarkets, and hypermarkets such as AEON Retail, AEON Big, Lotus's, Giant, Billion Shopping Centres, Econsave, TF Value Mart, HeroMarket, Manjaku, and others as well as leading online platforms.