Appetite for Australian Quality in Malaysia
Since the early 1990’s, there has been a growing appetite for Manildra Group’s Australian-grown and made premium wheat-based products in Malaysia. Used in traditional sweet and savoury foods from cakes, snacks and crackers, noodles and dumplings, processed meats, vegetarian products to batter coatings for fried foods, Manildra Group’s superb quality products are second-to-none.
As one of Manildra Group’s earliest export markets, Australia’s economic and trade relationship with Malaysia continues to remain strong and mature. In 2019, Malaysia was Australia’s second-largest trading partner in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and ninth largest partner overall
“We have had a long-standing friendship with Malaysian businesses and consumers, and that relationship continues to grow,” said Manildra Group General Manager Peter Simpson whilst announcing that our expert international team has been “bolstered” with a presence in Malaysia.
“We’re delighted to have Ms Liew Wang Shiang join the Manildra Group team as our Asia Sales Manager (Food Ingredients) to manage our sales, operations and business development in Malaysia and Singapore. Her role is crucial in further developing business for our product range in new global markets.
“Ms Liew’s extensive experience and background in the food industry will be key for our family- owned Australian business in the region, enabling us to explore new product development opportunities from speciality fats and oils in the bakery industry, confectionary and ice creams to non-dairy creamers in ice creams and beverages,” Mr Simpson told The Cultivator.
Ms Liew said she was “enthralled” to join the Australian family-owned business which was a trusted supplier in Malaysia. Popular is Manildra Group’s Halal and Kosher certified Australian-grown and made premium wheat starch, integral to providing good crunch to snack foods like Kellogg’s much-loved famous Pringles range, produced locally in Malaysia.
Backed by the company’s global reputation for best-practice processes, reinvestment in state-of-the-art technology and world-leading innovation, Ms Liew said there was great opportunities for Manildra Group to provide real value in a range of emerging industries and markets.
“With the global pandemic, we are seeing an e-commerce boom which has presented exciting expansion opportunities for our range of native and modified wheat starches a key ingredient in the production of corrugated cartons – providing board stiffness and adhesion,” she said.
“There are huge prospects for our premium low GI sugars, isolated wheat proteins, modified starches and vital wheat gluten to meet demands in a range of industries including high-protein, low-carb and high-fibre content baked goods to vitamin supplements in the form of pestill and chewy jellies, to plant-based drinks and meals, and fresh cow milk.”
Mr Simpson said Australia’s rich natural assets and our GMO-free range of premium products exceeded Malaysian consumers’ expectations of Australia as a clean and green country.
“We have a loyal, continually expanding customer base in Malaysia, with continuous growth over the decades. This is tribute to Manildra Group’s renowned reputation for customer
relationships, reliability, high-quality products, and willingness to listen and adapt according to market demands,” he said.
Ms Liew said there is a strong preference in Malaysia for Manildra Group’s premium products including:
- Ethyl-alcohol is used in the pharmaceutical industry for hand sanitisers and disinfectants.
- Premium, GMO-free 100 per cent Australian isolated vital wheat gluten proteins are
used as a protein booster in low-carb tortilla wraps. - Wheat starch is used to provide good crunch to snack foods and crackers, and as a binder delivers the desired texture, colour and transparency for noodles, dumplings and steamed buns – and to improve paper quality, board stiffness and adhesion in industrial applications.
- 100 per cent Australian vital wheat gluten and specialty proteins are used in breads, baked goods, breakfast cereals, udon noodles and ramen.
- Manildra Stockfeed DDG-S (Dried Distillers Grain Syrup) wheat pellets – an excellent source of protein and energy for Malaysian dairy cows – specifically formulated to maximise milk production and enhance calf growth and wellbeing.
“We have had a long-standing friendship with Malaysian businesses and consumers, and that relationship continues to grow,” Mr Simpson told The Cultivator.
He said Manildra Group had an established reputation in Malaysia through local distributor Synerchem Sdn Bhd, with Founder and Director Mr Lai Kok Siong (Gavin Lai) “instrumental” to their success.
“Since the early 1990’s, Mr Lai Kok Siong, has been selling our premium wheat starch in Malaysia. Manildra Group’s business has grown under his guidance. With Mr Lai Kok Siong’s warehouses used to distribute our diverse Australian product range.
“His distribution network is unrivalled. Factories are scattered across Malaysia and they are renowned for their delicious freshly made rice noodles, traditional decadent savoury and sweet cakes along with crunchy batter mixes for fried foods, dumplings, snacks and crackers.”
Contact Manildra Group Asia Sales Manager (Food Ingredients) Liew Wang Shiang for more information on liew.shiang@manildra.com.au.
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