ANSAL TERNAK'S BUSINESS GETS BOOST FROM SOCIAL MEDIA

By Rashidah Abd Rahim

JASIN, Feb 23 -- Social media platforms such as Facebook (FB) and Instagram have given a huge boost to the business of local frozen food and sauce business Ansal Frozen and Trading (AFT).

AFT manager Fazlina Anuar, 39, said demand for the company’s products has been rising after she took part in a Localised eDagang Services (PeDAS) programme organised by the Ministry of Communications and Multimedia through its agency the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC).

"I already had an FB account, but didn’t know how to use it properly to promote my products and make paid advertisements, but after attending the PeDAS course, I have gained much knowledge.

“Before, I was apprehensive about putting down money for advertising on FB, but now I put in RM50 daily to advertise my products under the ‘Kari Kambing Cikgu Anuar-Ansal Ternak’ Facebook page,” she told Bernama at the Ansal Ternak office and sales centre in Jasin Bestari here recently.

Fazlina, an accountancy degree holder and a former accountant, said FB posts on her products and restaurant have garnered 1,000 likes and shared by 562 Facebook users.

She said in the PeDAS course, she was taught and guided by experts in entrepreneurship and technology to produce an attractive business profile in the correct format to promote her products to consumers and retailers.

She said the idea for the company’s marinating source came about from her discussions early this year with MDEC via PeDAS.

"We were previously more focused on frozen food products based on meat including marinated mutton, chicken and beef, but it’s difficult for them to penetrate the international market as that would need several certifications such as Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP)...it’s quite difficult, and takes time to obtain them.

"The idea came about when we found out that marinated source has a huge market potential in the future and that it is easier to market the sauce abroad than marinated mutton, chicken or beef,” she said.

Fazlina, who set up AFT on June 1, 2016, said the company produces between 300 and 400 kg a month of marinated mutton, for which there is high demand, adding that all AFT’s products have halal and MeSTI (Food Safety is the Responsibility of the Industry) certifications.

The locally-born mother of two said 20 per cent of her marinating sauce comprises garlic, which she said acts as a natural tenderiser.   

All the company’s products are available at Restoran Kari Kambing Cikgu Anuar in Jasin Bestari as well as at several halal marts, mini markets and pasar tani (farmers markets) statewide, besides several shops in Kuala Lumpur, Johor and Negeri Sembilan.

AFT also has agents in Kelantan and Terengganu, where demand is particularly high, she noted.

The PeDAS initiative is implemented nationwide through 10 Rural Internet Centres (PIDs), and aims to galvanise digital transformation among rural micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in line with the rapid development of the e-commerce industry.

With its motto of ‘One Click, A Million Opportunities’, PeDAS services are offered at PIDs, which function as one-stop centres to provide the space and opportunities for rural MSMEs to hone their e-commerce skills.

-- BERNAMA