This first-of-its-kind collaboration between an Islamic bank and Malaysia ’ s premier shared kitchen provider enables SMEs to rent dedicated commercial-grade kitchen space with state-of-the-art facilities at a costeffective price .

This initiative is beneficial to SMEs operating from their homes but has plans to scale up their businesses and obtain halall certification . The collaboration is part of the bank ’ s ongoing efforts to tap on the ever-growing halal market by enhancing the awareness of the halal industry and increasing the number of new Halal-certified companies .

The SME foodpreneurs can capitalise on COOKHOUSE ’ s expertise as one of the most-established Cloud Kitchen Operators in the country , hence shortening their learning curve , lowering startup costs and bridging them to the market in a more efficient manner .

It also provides them with enterprise-ready solutions such as an online platform for ordering , cashless payments and integration into fooddelivery services .

Apart from leveraging networking opportunities , COOKHOUSE also provides SMEs with the avenue to increase their production capacity , benefit from bigger storage space , centralise their operations , and ultimately support their businesses ’ growth .

The partnership with COOKHOUSE came about from the bank ’ s engagement sessions with the SME customers , especially those in the F & B businesses who operate from home but wanted to grow their businesses and become Halal-certified .

One of JAKIM ’ s regulations on getting halal certification is the business premise where operations are conducted . Hence , this collaboration with COOKHOUSE provides an avenue for Maybank Islamic customers to address this requirement , with rent from as low as RM900 a month .

With the bank on board , we will continue our efforts to build quality community-based spaces for those in the F & B industry by modernising their operations and help them keep up with the rapid changes in the digital business landscape .”

— Huen Su San

Dato ’ Mohamed Rafique Merican said , “ We are always seeking ways to provide a path for our SME customers to grow their businesses .

Maybank Islamic CEO Dato ’ Mohamed Rafique Merican said : “ We are always seeking ways to provide a path for our SME customers to grow their businesses .

“ This partnership with COOK- HOUSE is timely as more and more food entrepreneurs are looking for a cost-effective way to expand their business and pivot to a delivery business model .

“ It also reinforces our efforts in the halal segment and echoes our humanising mission to assist the SMEs in these challenging times .”

He also said the purpose of these Cloud Kitchens was to facilitate SMEs to operate and hopefully expand their footprint across the country .

“ Halal is a supply chain responsibility of the business owners , but we at

Maybank Islamic can facilitate and assist their process in getting halal certified and provide further financing for their business expansion and future growth ,” he said .

Mohamed Rafique added that looking at the growing interest in the online F & B industry , the bank was confident there would be buoyant demand for the Cloud Kitchen in Malaysia .

“ This novel concept is a cost-effective way to grow the business in a way that ’ s strategic , flexible and profitable as it eliminates high overheads like rent or infrastructure costs ,” he said .

Launched in July 2020 , COOK- HOUSE operates in strategic locations in the Klang Valley , namely PJS3 Sunway , Taman Tun Dr Ismail , Seksyen 17 Petaling Jaya and Bukit Bintang .

COOKHOUSE Malaysia Founder Huen Su San said : “ We are delighted by the confidence of Maybank Islamic in COOKHOUSE ’ s capability in enabling budding F & B entrepreneurs to expand into the halal market space .

“ We can do this locally and internationally by providing religiously compliant facilities at Malaysia ’ s most comprehensive and best-equipped cloud kitchen .

“ With the bank on board , we will continue our efforts to build quality community-based spaces for those in the F & B industry by modernising their operations and help them keep up with the rapid changes in the digital business landscape .

“ The partnership with Maybank Islamic will open more doors and allow more Malaysian food businesses to leverage on the growth in halal markets worldwide .” – Xtra