Forest Secret Malaysia to spread wings overseas

31st January 2010: 

Forest'Secret, a herbal-based wellness and beauty brand developed and managed by Forest'Secret Sdn Bhd, will score a first when it spreads its wings to Middle East, China and Hong Kong this year. 

The company is optimistic its foray into the international market will be a productive venture as it will introduce and heighten awareness of Malaysian herbal-based products.

Forest’Secret Sdn Bhd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Malaysia International Franchise Sdn Bhd (MyFranchise), uses only local herbs in its range of products. 

"As for China, we are looking at dividing the distribution to two regions. We have identified a dealer in China so far and recently participated in a trade show along with them in China.

"Talks are going on to determine single or multiple dealership. We are thinking of using the same party for distribution in the Hong Kong market," said chairman of MyFranchise Datuk Ahmad Shalimin Ahmad Shafie in an e

xclusive interview.

He said the company had interested parties from Middle East who have come forward for negotiations. 

"We are planning to tap the market in Jeddah and Abu Dhabi as we believe there are openings for herbal-based products," he said. 

Currently, the company, with 10 outlets, aims to invest RM2 million to open another six to eight outlets by year-end. There are several other Indian companies in the health and beauty space. 

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Lifeline Group acquires Medicine Shoppe franchise rights in Middle East

Lifeline Group LLC of Abu Dhabi has acquired the master franchise rights for The Medicine Shoppe pharmacy chain for the Middle East. This will compliment the region with the best pharmacy practices from across the globe. The agreement was signed between Bruce Burnett, Vice President International for Medicine Shoppe and Dr. Shamsheer of Lifeline Group LLC.

The Medicine Shoppe is the world's leading franchisor of independent pharmacies, and has a proven track record in pharmacy practices and operating systems across the world. The Medicine Shoppe was established in 1968 and is ranked the 33rd largest international franchise by the Entrepreneur International Magazine. With over 1,100 pharmacies spread across 6 countries the Medicine Shoppe is expanding in the international market.

The Lifeline Group includes hospitals, pharmacy, pharmaceuticals, organic food, and medical conference organizing and advertising agency. Bruce Burnett, Vice President International for the Medicine Shoppe said, "Medicine Shoppe International is looking forward to our relationship with the Lifeline Group. Medicine Shoppe's pharmacy model for providing superior customer service together with Lifeline's commitment to excellent healthcare will bring a higher level of patient care than what is currently experienced in the Middle East market".

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Malaysian Entrepreneur wins Lawsuit solicits overseas Franchising Inquiries

22nd January 2010: Meet the man who took on McDonald’s and won. P Suppiah, a Malaysian born in Tamil Nadu, runs McCurry in Kuala Lumpur. McDonald’s sued him for trademark violation. What followed was a remarkable story of big MNC vs small entrepreneur. Now he gets fan mail from India all the time. You can’t have fries with that and no, you can’t supersize it either. But yes, it is called McCurry. In the heart of Malaysia’s capital Kuala Lumpur, within spotting distance of the landmark twin Petronas Towers, stands Restoran McCurry.

The restaurant serves Tosai Masala (masala dosa, as we know it) for 2.50 Malaysian ringgit, Roti Canai (an adapted Chennai parotta) for RM 1.00, Ghee Uttapam (RM 1.70), and even Chicken Tikka (RM 6.00) and Aloo Paratha (RM 2.50). 

It is Indian fast food, unmistakably, but the menu is not its claim to fame.

McCurry hit headlines around the globe last year-end for delivering a legal thrashing to the global fast food giant McDonald’s in a trademark infringement case in Malaysia’s highest Federal Court. The one-outlet McCurry thus retained the right to use the ‘Mc’ identifier in its name.

It was a battle that captured the imagination of Malaysia, a country dominated by Malay Muslims but home also to Chinese and ethnic Tamil Indians. Now its victorious owner P. Suppiah, 55, a third-generation Malaysian who traces his roots back to Tamil Nadu — his grandfather came to Malaysia 100 years ago to work on rubber plantations and he himself was born in Tiruchirapalli — says he wants to go global with McCurry.

Fresh from the legal triumph, Suppiah, who dabbles in Malaysian real estate market, runs a bistro and dips into the running of his family’s palm oil plantations, says he is already talking licensing arrangements with partners in Sri Lanka, Australia and Indonesia. Since the landmark win against McDonald’s, likened by the global media to a David versus Goliath battle, McCurry has become a tourist hot spot. More importantly for Suppiah, the victory has also brought a flurry of overseas franchising inquiries, some 53 from 21 countries at last count.

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