For decades, Malaysia’s pizza market has been dominated by international giants. Brands such as Pizza Hut and Domino’s became household names, making it difficult for local players to compete on a large scale. Yet in just a few years, Mokky’s Pizza has emerged as one of the country’s most talked-about homegrown pizza brands.
Today, Mokky’s Pizza operates multiple outlets across the Klang Valley, serves thousands of customers every month, and has set its sights on becoming Malaysia’s number one pizza brand.
Behind the business is founder Muhammad Shahmi Shaharudin, better known as Mokky, whose passion for pizza transformed into an entrepreneurial journey that few could have predicted.
How Mokky’s Pizza Began With A Simple Craving
Before founding Mokky’s Pizza, Shahmi was an engineering student in the United States. During his time there, he developed a love for New York-style pizza, famous for its large slices, thin crust, chewy texture, and generous toppings.
When he returned to Malaysia, he realised that authentic New York-style pizza was not easy to find. Like many people during the Covid-19 pandemic, he suddenly had extra time on his hands during the Movement Control Order (MCO).
Instead of picking up a new hobby, Shahmi decided to teach himself how to make pizza.
Armed with YouTube tutorials and countless hours of trial and error, he experimented relentlessly from his own home kitchen. Burnt crusts, failed doughs, and imperfect recipes became part of the learning process.
After months of research and experimentation, he finally developed a dough recipe that captured the qualities he loved about New York-style pizza. That homemade recipe would eventually become the foundation of Mokky’s Pizza.
Building Mokky’s Pizza
Starting a business is never easy. Starting one during a global pandemic is even harder.
While many people were holding onto their savings during uncertain times, Shahmi made a bold decision. He used some of his EPF savings to fund the business, purchasing equipment, ingredients, and the essentials needed to get started.
There was no guarantee that Mokky’s Pizza would succeed.
The pizzas were initially prepared and sold on a small scale, with every customer providing valuable feedback. The operation was simple, but the vision was ambitious.
Rather than waiting for the perfect opportunity, Shahmi chose to build one himself.
That decision would ultimately change the course of his career.
The Four Friends
Although Shahmi created the pizza recipe, the growth of Mokky’s Pizza quickly became a team effort.
His friend Umar took responsibility for business operations and management, while another partner, Zharif, handled construction and outlet development. Azfar later joined the team, bringing experience from the café and hospitality industry.
Together, the founders pooled their resources and opened their first outlet in i-City Shah Alam in 2021 with an initial investment of approximately RM40,000.
At that stage, their goal was not to build a nationwide chain.
They simply wanted to introduce Malaysians to a different style of pizza.
When Mokky’s Pizza Faced Its Biggest Challenges
The early years were far from smooth. Despite having a product customers enjoyed, Mokky’s Pizza struggled with location challenges. Their first outlet did not attract the foot traffic they had hoped for, making growth difficult.
The team later tried another location in Shah Alam. Although they managed to build a loyal customer base, the outlet still failed to achieve the results they wanted.
For many entrepreneurs, these setbacks could have been the end of the journey.
Instead, the founders viewed every challenge as a lesson.
They realised that success required much more than great food. Branding, customer experience, marketing, accessibility, and operations were equally important.
These lessons would later become some of the biggest reasons behind the company’s success.
The Rebranding That Changed Everything
A major turning point came when Mokky’s Pizza rebranded and opened a new outlet in Bukit Jelutong.
This time, things were different.
The location offered better visibility, easier access, and a stronger customer base. More importantly, the team embraced social media marketing as a key growth strategy.
Consistent content on Instagram, TikTok, and X, combined with collaborations with influencers and local brands, helped introduce Mokky’s Pizza to a much wider audience.
The results were immediate.
Customer traffic increased significantly, and word-of-mouth recommendations began spreading across social media platforms.
For the first time, the company was gaining the momentum it had been working towards since day one.
Why Customers Keep Coming Back To Mokky’s Pizza
One of the biggest reasons behind the success of Mokky’s Pizza is its focus on authenticity.
Unlike traditional Italian pizzas, New York-style pizza is designed to support larger quantities of toppings while maintaining its signature chewy texture.
The dough recipe, which Shahmi spent months developing, remains one of the brand’s biggest differentiators.
Today, customers can choose from more than a dozen pizza flavours.
Among the most popular are the Holy Pep!, featuring beef pepperoni, mozzarella, basil, and Italian tomato sauce; the Alfredo Chicken, which combines baked chicken, spinach, and house-made Alfredo sauce; and the crowd-favourite Fake Margherita.
The brand also offers a half-and-half option, allowing customers to enjoy two flavours on a single pizza.
Creating A Unique Dining Experience
The founders wanted Mokky’s Pizza to be more than just another takeaway restaurant.
As many major pizza chains increasingly focused on delivery and takeaway services, Mokky’s chose a different path by investing in the dine-in experience.
The goal was to create comfortable spaces where families and friends could gather, celebrate, and enjoy meals together.
The company also introduced a pizza-and-coffee concept, pairing its pizzas with freshly brewed coffee, premium cookies, teas, and other beverages. It was an unusual combination, but one that resonated strongly with customers.
Today, Mokky’s Pizza is no longer a small startup operating from a home kitchen. Some outlets sell between 100 and 120 pizzas daily, while weekend sales can rise significantly higher. In many cases, pizzas are sold out before closing time.
That figure highlights just how far the brand has come in a relatively short period.
From a small pandemic project, Mokky’s Pizza has evolved into a recognised name among pizza lovers in the Klang Valley.
The Bold Plan Behind Mokky’s Pizza
Despite its rapid growth, the founders believe they are only getting started.
Their long-term ambition is clear: build Mokky’s Pizza into Malaysia’s number one pizza brand.
The company has reportedly outlined plans to strengthen its systems, improve operational efficiency, expand its central kitchen capabilities, and eventually open 108 outlets across Malaysia.
Inspired by the success of local brands that successfully challenged global competitors, the founders believe there is room for a strong Malaysian pizza brand to emerge on the national stage.
It is a bold goal, but then again, so was starting a pizza business during a pandemic.
From Home Kitchen To Fast-Growing Local Brand
The story of Mokky’s Pizza is ultimately a story about entrepreneurship, persistence, and business growth.
It began with a simple craving for New York-style pizza, a few YouTube tutorials, and a willingness to take risks when opportunities seemed scarce.
From using EPF savings to launching a business from a home kitchen, overcoming early setbacks, embracing social media, and building a loyal customer base, the journey has been anything but ordinary.
Whether Mokky’s Pizza eventually becomes Malaysia’s leading pizza chain remains to be seen.
What is already clear, however, is that this local brand has proven that big ambitions can start from small beginnings, and sometimes, all it takes is one homemade pizza to change everything.
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