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Yes, some of you might have known this already but some have always thought that BABA’S is a brand imported internationally.
According to a Tweet by Richard Ker, not many people actually knew this super reliable curry powder brand is Malaysian!
Let’s get to know the story behind the 45-year-old Malaysian spices and curry brand.
From selling out of the small van to owning a Malaysian spice and curry powder empire
In the late 70s (1977), a young man in his 30s put all his life savings into a van. R Pagalavan started off his business by selling cooking essentials to customers in the Klang Valley off of his van.
He brought his mobile sundry shop to residential areas twice a month, selling products from rice to spices and condiments. Many – especially housewives – loved his products and eagerly waited for his van to come by their areas.
Another feature that made his small business a popular one was because of his buku 555 membership. He accepted credit terms from the housewives to make the payment easier for them.
If customers requested some other products that he didn’t have, he would make sure to cater to them eventually. He also tried his best to source the ingredients from the best possible places and give his customers the best possible pricing.
It was actually thanks to his customers that made him invent a special blend of curry powder that catered to his multiracial customers. He developed the blend through trial and error, and with help and feedback from his regulars as well.
With continuous effort and a passion to serve only the best to his customers, the curry powder soon became his best-seller! The BABA’S van soon evolved into the BABA’S brand.
Demand was so high that he was forced to work 7 days a week with a 4-day production time and 3-day selling time. The one special curry blend then became two different blends specifically developed for meat and seafood respectively.
Fast forward to today, BABA’S has around 30 products ranging from Masala Mixes, Pure Spice Powders, Pure Flour, and Staple Food Mixes, to Snack and Sweet Mixes, that can be found on almost every retail shelf nationwide.
They’re not just popular nationwide, but globally too
Being Malaysia’s leading curry powder and spice brand (they have 60% of the Malaysian spice market) now, recent studies have shown that at least one in three main meals consumed by Malaysians daily has at least one product from the BABA’S range.
Not only is BABA’S seen in almost every Malaysian kitchen today, but the product is also available internationally. BABA’S can be found in North America, Canada, Europe, South Africa, Australia and most of Southeast Asia.
According to Richard Ker, their footprints are even found everywhere. There are even BABA’S products in a store in Ottawa, Canada.
Besides being halal-certified, BABA’S range of products are made of the finest quality ingredients from around the world and are truly vegetarian recipes.
They have also partnered with multiple companies like Air Asia, Thermomix, Tabung Haji, TGV and more to grow their business further.
This successful business all came from a humble man selling his spice products from his small van. A remarkable story, indeed.
READ MORE: 5 F&B Brands You Probably Didn’t Know Were Malaysian
READ MORE: These “International” Brands Are Actually Malaysian-Made!
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