BY LEONG Z-KEEN
KUCHING: The month of Ramadan is also a time when entrepreneurial locals sell an array of food, beverages and desserts for the breaking of fast and also to the wider market.
At Aeon Mall Kuching Central, Nurul Mimie Abdul Hamid, owner of Fluffy Bites Kitchen, operates a confectioneries stall selling an assortment of both traditional festive cookies and modern snacks.
The stall’s chocolate tub product stands out given its absence in most conventional Ramadan biscuit stalls.
Speaking to New Sarawak Tribune, the 38-year-old explained that the product is actually a tub of cereal coated with chocolate for customers to enjoy on the go or take it home and soak in hot water before enjoying the cereal with velvety melted chocolate.
“We have a total of five flavour tubs currently in stock which are white chocolate, dark chocolate, strawberry chocolate, milk chocolate and our newest bestselling flavour, ruby chocolate.
“I like having multiple flavours in stock for the chocolate tub as I can cater to customers with differing flavour preferences,” she said.
The chocolate tub flavours are priced at RM11 for strawberry chocolate, RM20 for milk chocolate and white chocolate, and RM 25 for dark chocolate and ruby chocolate.
However, Nurul expressed difficulties in sourcing a local supply chain for the chocolate tubs.
“I previously made and sold my own chocolate tubs six years ago, but I discontinued the venture because it was hard finding local suppliers who specialise in manufacturing crispy bubble rice.
“Also, my costs would be higher by a few ringgit because I prefer to use a crispier version of bubble rice to have that extra crunch for my customers to savour.
“Thus, the chocolate tubs available at my stall are sourced from Peninsular Malaysia. I prefer to import from there since the stock is ever ready and chocolate tub product suppliers are easier to find,” she added.
Apart from that, Nurul also collaborates with 24 entrepreneurs to sell their products which include pistachio-almond cookies, mascot-themed cookies, chocolate rice cookies, Nestum rolls, almond matcha tarts, pineapple tarts and onde-onde cornflakes, at her stall.
During the Ramadan month, Nurul operates two stalls, one in Aeon Mall Kuching Central and another one in Plaza Merdeka which sells the same products.
Both stalls operate daily from 10am to 10pm, with the Aeon Mall Kuching Central stall extending its hours until 10.30 m on Fridays and Saturdays.
