Most consumers of these very popular brand in Malaysia probably thought that they are imported from overseas. You will surprise to know that the largest manufacturing plan worldwide for the brand Sunquick is situated in Malaysia. Yes, you heard it right. Today, the fully automated manufacturing facility is even bigger than one on the brand owner’s home turf! So do you know who’s the man behind these two products in Malaysia?
Meet the guy who produces Sunquick and our childhood candy Hacks
Most probably you don’t know who is Datuk Seri Barkath Ali Haji Abu Backer. But, if we mention Sunquick concentrated juice and Hacks candy – you may get the hint. If you want to know, Barkath Ali is the owner of the Barkath Group; the company that produces Sunquick and Hacks in Malaysia for a long time.
Originally, his late father opened a small retail store in Penang
His late father, Haji Abu Backer opened a small retail store named Barkath Stores in Penang. In the 50s, the imported Hacks candy from England received a warm response from local.
He then contacted the company in England and convinced them that he could be the sole agent of the candy products. Due to his determination, the producer of Hacks, White Hudson Pte Ltd agreed and appointed Haji Abu Backer as the sole agent of Hacks for Malaysia and Singapore.
Due to the high tax, he worked on a plan to manufacture the product here in Msia
In 1965, there was an issue affected on the process of imported candy Hacks got delayed – coupled with the high tax and price competition. So, Haji Abu Backer asked the company White Hudson Pte Ltd to partner with Barkath Stores to manufacture Hacks in Malaysia.
He then sent his son, Datuk Seri Barkath who is now the director of Kumpulan Barkath (Barkath Group) to England to learn the techniques of marketing and producing Hacks.
Datuk Seri Barkath went back hometown and launched the company – producing Sunquick and Hacks
After a year studying everything about the production of the product, he returned to Malaysia and successfully launched the company – Hacks Malaysia Sdn Bhd. Over the years, Barkath Stores has been a distributor of Sunquick orange drinks made by Danis Company, Co-Ro Food A/S and markets it to more than 80 countries around the world. Now, Barkath Group produces the concentrated juice product, Sunquick in Malaysia.
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