WINNING first place in a Ramadan bazaar competition has given Amnah Yasin the confidence to turn her love of cooking into a profitable venture.
A joint corporate social responsibility event by Suria FM and Kimball Malaysia in Shah Alam, Selangor, saw her bagging RM3,000 in cash after outperforming her competition with the most sales.
Amnah sold 159 packets of “Spaghetti Nara Tom Yam Dengan Ayam Panggang” in 90 minutes and made RM795.
It was the finale of the “Resipi Jadi Rezeki Bersama Kimball 2026” (Recipe Becomes Revenue with Kimball) campaign aimed at empowering home cooks to start a business.
Amnah, from Seremban in Negri Sembilan, said she joined to hone her cooking skills.
“Additionally, the digital marketing training offered during the programme taught me how to promote to consumers.
“With the win, I feel more confident about starting my own business,” she told StarMetro when met at Stadium Shah Alam Ramadan bazaar.
Siti Zaleha Mokhtar, who came second, said the programme improved her marketing skills.
“I used to be shy, but you cannot be shy if you want to sell your products,” she said.
Joining the programme gave her the courage to promote her “Ayam Goreng Tiram Bersama Kuah Sos” at the event.
Siti Zaleha, who sells nasi tomato in Temerloh, Pahang, said: “I believe the knowledge and skills I gained can help me in my restaurant business too.”
Isapia Lasake came third with “Golden Popiah Keju Nara” which she sells part-time.
The full-time nurse said the programme had already boosted business.
“Sales went up by about 80% after I learned marketing from the programme.”
Noradila Abdul Hamid from Kuala Lumpur, in fourth, said she would consider adding her “Ikan Sambal Harum Manis” to her restaurant’s menu.
“I believe the skills I learned from the programme can improve my sales,” she said.
Amnah, Siti Zaleha, Isapia and Noradila were among 10 participants of the entrepreneurship campaign launched in February.
Their recipes created during workshops impressed netizens, Kimball Malaysia judges and local chef Asma Nordin who was their mentor.
Kimball Malaysia brand manager Chloe Lim said all the food sold during the finale was priced at RM5 in the spirit of sharing blessings during Ramadan.
“Each finalist prepared about 200 portions of their recipe using Kimball products.
“Kimball Malaysia doubled the total sales and donated it to charity,” she said.
Also present at the competition were Kimball Malaysia brand manager Rachel Hui as well as Suria FM deejays Cik Piah, Kai, Elly and Chiwan who lent their vocal support to the finalists.
