Marrybrown to expand to Iran, New Zealand

Johor Tourism,Trade and Consumerism committee chairman Datuk Tee Siew Kiong (fifth from right) with Marryborwn Sdn Bhd chairman Datuk Lawrence Liew (third from right) and the company's founder and managing director Datin Nancy Liew (left) with guests at the opening of Marrybrown 17th franchised outlet in Urumuqi, Xinjiang, China, yesterday.

URUMUQI (Xinjiang): Malaysia’s home grown quick service restaurant (QSR) operator, Marrybrown Sdn Bhd, is expanding its presence internationally with upcoming outlets in Iran and New Zealand.

Founder and managing director Datin Nancy Liew said the first franchise outlet in Iran’s capital Tehran would open for business by the end of the year, followed by another restaurant in Auckland in the first half of 2018.

“The franchising system is the way forward for the company to bring and introduce Malaysia’s household QSR brand in the global market,” she said.

Liew said this after the opening of its 17th franchise outlet here in China’s Xinjiang autonomous region capital by Johor tourism, trade and consumerism committee chairman Datuk Tee Siew Kiong.

Tee was leading a tourism and trade delegation with officials from the Johor State Investment Centre, Johor Islamic Religious Council, Johor Tourism and PIJ Holdings Sdn Bhd. The delegation is on a week-long visit to Xinjiang and Gansu.

The two regions are located in northwestern China. Xinjiang has a population of 25 million people, of which 60% are Muslims.

Gansu, which also has a large Muslim population, has 23 million people.

“We are the first Malaysian-based QSR operator to open a halal-certified QSR outlet in China in 1992 which is also the first country for us (in the expansion) of our franchising business,’’ she said. Liew said the company, which was founded 36 years ago, took a risk when it ventured into China about 25 years ago.