Butterfield looks to matcha formulation for growth

From left: Butterfield independent non-executive director Koay San San, Butterfield independent non-executive director Tan Soo Mooi, Butterfield executive director Lee Chan Hua, Butterfield executive director Yeap Chin Loon, Butterfield non-independent non-executive deputy chairman Yeap Kim Siew, Butterfield independent non-executive chairman Datuk Seri Lee Kah Choon, Butterfield executive director cum chief executive officer Lee Mong Khai, Butterfield independent non-executive director Datuk Faiza Binti Zulkifli, M & A Equity Holdings Bhd managing director Datuk Bill Tan Choon Peow, M & A Securities Sdn Bhd head of corporate finance Gary Ting Hua Tai, M & A Securities deputy head of corporate finance Rachel Ho Seow Leng.

KUALA LUMPUR: Newly listed Butterfield FB Bhd sees matcha formulation sales as a key new growth engine moving forward, backed by growing market demand and rising popularity of the tea-based powder.

The manufacturer of coffee and tea extract powder blends is capitalising on matcha’s current prominence as a trend, having set up a dedicated 312-tonne capacity matcha production line, which has been operational since February 2026.

“From what we have seen in the market so far, matcha has been quite promising, and we’ve made efforts to capture market share from the first quarter (ended July 31, 2026),” Butterfield’s executive director and chief executive officer Lee Mong Khai said at a press conference following its listing on the ACE Market of Bursa Malaysia yesterday.

Post-listing, the group plans to expand its Bukit Minyak facility to accommodate a fourth manufacturing line for coffee and tea extract powder blends, which will bring annual production capacity to 12,597 tonnes from 8,502 tonnes currently.

On targets for the next two years, Lee said the group aims to fully utilise its manufacturing capacity while expanding beyond its core markets, Malaysia and Thailand, to other potential markets in the Asean and the Middle East.

Meanwhile, he noted that Butterfield’s diversified network of international suppliers have enabled it to weather global supply chain disruptions. He said the group has been able to minimise the impact of commodity price fluctuations by working closely with suppliers from different regions.

“We want to deliver stable prices to our customers, regardless of what happens in the markets. We have gained experience of more than 20 years, and I think this has been very important know-how for us to still be present in this market.”

Butterfield debuted on the ACE Market with a share price of 43 sen, below its initial public offering price of 48 sen, with an opening volume of 5.27 million shares.

The shares closed at 46 sen per share with 107 million shares traded. It was the second most actively traded stock of the day.