KOTA SAMARAHAN: The rising cost of raw materials, including rice, is affecting food traders, especially those selling mixed rice dishes.
The owner of Pinang Bistro Mohd Nurhakim Mohd Hashim, 34, said that this inflationary pressure is evident, as preparing various dishes requires diverse raw materials.
“Therefore, the rise in the price of raw materials and rice currently indeed impacts traders like us, especially regarding the preparation costs. This is because I’ve noticed the price of raw materials increase every two weeks. To offset these costs, I’m compelled to increase the price of dishes by around RM1 to RM2,” he told Suara Sarawak recently.
He also had to increase the price of a plate of white rice from RM1.50 to RM2 due to the escalating rice prices.
“Earlier in September, when we made a purchase for a week’s stock, the receipt surprised me, prompting me to contact the supplier. At that time, I was informed that the rice price had risen. What shocked me most was that rice, which was previously priced around RM25.50 or RM26, now costs RM36 for every 10 kilograms (kg), marking an increase of up to RM10. I purchase 150 kg of rice weekly, so the extra cost I face is RM150, especially if there are no orders for catering. This certainly has a significant impact,” he said.
To boost sales, Hakim now also runs a night-time stall selling nasi lemak called Nasi Lemak Pinang in front of the restaurant.
“I operate this nasi lemak stall as take-away only. This is my way of increasing sales, and thankfully, I can now earn around RM500 to RM600 daily.
“We can’t just rely on marketing or advertising; the quality, taste, and uniqueness of the food must also align to attract customers to continue buying. If we don’t maintain that quality, there certainly won’t be repeat customers after their first purchase,” he added.
Regarding his overall business, Hakim observes a stable sales performance.
“Customer responses are unpredictable and seasonal. Sometimes there are many customers come in the middle of the month, and sometimes many during payday. However, I am grateful for having customers who continue to support,” he said.
Hakim revealed that the catering offered still receives a good response, especially towards the end of the year, in October, November and December.
“Although it’s also seasonal, there’s no issue with demand; only the cost of raw materials is a concern as it’s higher than before,” he added.
Pinang Bistro operates from Monday to Saturday, while Nasi Lemak Pinang operates on the same days from 6 pm to 10 pm. For further information about catering and other inquiries, please contact 010-9617405, email at pinangbistro@gmail.com, or visit the Pinang Bistro Kota Samarahan page on Facebook.
