13 November 2014 – New Straits Times
KUALA LUMPUR: Naza Corp Holdings Sdn Bhd, one of the country’s largest privately-owned companies, is riding on the recent wave of “café culture” in Malaysia to expand its food and beverage (F&B) sector.
The group recently signed a mutual understanding with South Korea’s SPC Group to develop and operate the latter’s artisan bakery, Paris Baguette, here.
Paris Baguette is one of the top bakery café franchise brands in South Korea.
Naza Corp plans to open up to 30 outlets in major cities and urban areas nationwide within the next five years.
It will start with the opening of five outlets in the Klang Valley by 2016.
“We are confident that Malaysians will be receptive to new F&B concepts such as Paris Baguette. This is due to the recent wave of ‘café culture’ which is rising at a rapid pace locally, presenting opportunities for our collaboration with the SPC Group.
“I am confident that we will nurture the brand into the best bakery chain in the Malaysian market,” Naza Corp F&B division director Nur Nadia SM Nasimuddin said.
The Naza group entered the F&B industry in 2008 after capturing the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co franchise for Malaysia.
SPC Group is South Korea’s leading and largest F&B conglomerate, generating over US$4 billion (RM13.4 billion) in annual sales.
Its group chairman Hur Young-In said the partnership is in line with the company’s goals to expand into Southeast Asian countries, where there is high growth potential.
