M'sia's Kawan Food Plans To Expand Into Ready-Cooked Products

By Nor Awaina Arbee KUALA LUMPUR, May 29 (Bernama) -- Frozen food manufacturer, Kawan Food Bhd, plans to make a foray into ready-cooked products from convenient raw products such as its famous pratas and chappatis. Currently, Kawan Food derived 60 per cent of its revenue from its 'pratas' and 'chappatis' and the remaining from springroll pastry, oriental buns and western breads, said Chief Executive Officer John Fang. Going forward, Kawan Food is looking to expand their business by exploring the ready-cooked food market which is patronised by end users like housewives and institutions, he said. "With ready-cooked products we can venture into bigger channels and reach a lot more end-users," he told Bernama after the company's annual general meeting here Friday. On other developments, Fang said Kawan Food was in the process of consolidating its existing Malaysian factories. "We currently have three factories with two in Shah Alam and one in China. We will be consolidating the two Malaysian factories under one roof in Pulau Indah by fourth quarter of this year," he added. Kawan Food's products are exported to 35 countries mainly to North America. For the first quarter ended March 31, 2015 it posted a pre-tax profit of US$2 million (RM7.34 million), up from US$1.48 million (RM5.44 million), registered in the same quarter last year. (US$1 = RM3.66) Revenue widened to RM37.34 million from RM34.37 million, previously. At lunch break, its share price was four sen higher at RM1.88. -- BERNAMA