BUKIT MERTAJAM: Penang food manufacturer and distributor Barkath Group plans to diversify its product range by venturing into food sauces and personal hygiene equipment.
Its managing director Datuk Seri Barkath Ali has disclosed that it has begun manufacturing and distributing razor shavers and oyster sauce through its main distribution channels in the country.
The company has a channel of over 30,000 distributors, wholesalers and retailers throughout the country.
While affirming plans to expand regionally, Barkath said the company is keen to diversify its range of 150 products as part of its effort to meet the growing expectations of its clientele.
The company has leveraged off its monopoly of the sweets candy Hacks and Sunquick (concentrated juice drink), which have become part of the food and beverages that Malaysians have grown accustomed to.
Barkath was speaking at the launch of the company’s “Sweet Run” – a community run which was held to mark the 80th anniversary of the company’s formation at its corporate headquarters in the Bukit Minyak Industrial Park.
Meanwhile, group COO Loh Gim Huat said the male personal hygiene amenities market in Malaysia is worth up to RM100 million annually.
“It is a big market which we are just keen to tap a slight percentage of it,” he said, adding that the group will position its products cheaper than imported brands.
For the food sauce market, he said it is worth up to RM50 million a year.
Despite a growing market for the two segments, Loh stressed that Barkath will not be overly ambitious.
“We will have a conservative outlook, but we are eyeing for more opportunities in such markets due to the increasing demand,” he added.
