Walk into almost any mall in the Klang Valley, and you’re likely to spot an MBG Fruits kiosk. Rows of neatly arranged apples, pineapples, and bananas greet you, each one quietly telling the story of a brand built not just on business savvy, but on heart, heritage, and halal values.
This year, that story earned national recognition.
Adnan Lee, the founder and managing director of MBG Fruits, was honoured with the Distinguished Halal Brand Award at the Islamic Distinguished Enterprise Award (IDEA) 2025. The accolade recognises not only his remarkable business journey, but his unwavering commitment to building a halal-certified fruit empire that champions integrity, resilience, and community values.
But like many inspiring journeys, MBG’s roots were planted in humble soil.
MBG Empire: It All Started with a Beca and a Bag of Fruits
In the 1950s, Adnan’s grandfather emigrated from China to Malaysia. To make ends meet, he worked various odd jobs, including ferrying goods on a beca (trishaw). One small habit would unknowingly plant the seeds of a future legacy: before heading home, he’d stop by the market to buy fruit for his wife.
He soon noticed that fruit sellers made better income than most traders. And so, the family’s journey in the fruit business began, with a modest stall in Petaling Street.
Decades later, Adnan’s father continued the trade in the 1990s. And by the time Adnan was just 18, he took over the family business, swapping his short-lived design career for the gritty reality of street market stalls.
MBG = Money-Back Guarantee
In 2004, while opening a stall at NSK Selayang, Adnan learned that mall retailers were required to have a proper brand name, logo, and signage. Reflecting on what customers asked most: “Is this fruit sweet?,” he came up with MBG, short for Money-Back Guarantee.
It wasn’t a marketing gimmick. It was a bold promise.
If customers weren’t happy with their fruits, MBG would replace or refund them. It was a risky move in a business as unpredictable as agriculture, but one that instantly built trust, and that trust became the foundation for everything that followed.
From Wet Market to Avenue K
The big break came in 2005, when a regular customer offered Adnan a chance to open a kiosk in Avenue K, an upscale shopping mall next to the Petronas Twin Towers.
At the time, more urban Malaysians were moving away from wet markets and embracing the cleanliness and convenience of shopping malls. MBG rode this wave, offering freshness with reliability, wrapped in a modern, trusted brand.
That same year, MBG began its steady expansion. But Adnan never rushed. He grew organically, opening new outlets only when the company had enough in hand.
Today, MBG Fruits operates over 40 outlets across the Klang Valley. The company imports fruits from around the world, with Egypt contributing 26% of its total imports, and continues to lead the retail fruit sector in Malaysia.
A New Generation, A New Vision
Now, the next chapter of MBG’s legacy is being written by Nur Lee Mei Yee, Adnan’s daughter and the fourth generation in the family business.
She began working part-time in the shops at just 14. Today, at 23, this Taylor’s College business graduate is managing MBG’s import and logistics division, coordinating with international suppliers, managing storage, and navigating complex customs requirements across time zones.
Mei Yee oversees operations for a number of outlets in the Klang Valley, ensuring that fruit quality, freshness, and pricing remain consistent. She’s already facing real-world challenges like fluctuating currency rates and fierce competition from budget fruit traders, but she’s unfazed.
Her future vision? To expand MBG beyond retail, possibly into fruit-themed cafes and other innovative concepts that bring fresh produce into new lifestyle spaces.
A Business Built on Balance
MBG’s growth has always been marked by thoughtful strategy, not reckless expansion. When the ringgit weakened, Adnan didn’t raise prices, he reduced quantity. Instead of seven apples for RM10, customers got six for the same price.
It was a clever approach. Customers still felt they were getting value, while the business protected its margins, and encouraged repeat visits. That same balance applies to staffing too. After facing betrayal from a trusted staff member who stole company funds, Adnan didn’t wallow, he moved forward, with lessons learned and a sharper eye for hiring.
A Story of Perseverance
As a mualaf (convert to Islam), Adnan’s commitment to halal isn’t surface-level. It’s personal.
“Alhamdulillah, right now we’re growing organically without taking any loans or grants. I try my best to steer clear of riba (interest-based financing),” Adnan said in a recent interview.
For Adnan, success isn’t about flashy achievements or fast growth. It’s about knowing your next goal, staying consistent, and staying grounded.
“It’s unlikely you’ll achieve your goals if money is your top priority. Money is just a number. I don’t really know how much I have in my pocket or the bank. If you know too much, you will worry more,” he once shared.
In many ways, MBG Fruits is more than just a business. It’s a story of perseverance, family legacy, and values that stand the test of time.
With the fourth generation now stepping up to lead, the journey is far from over, the MBG story is still growing, one fruit at a time.
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