KUALA LUMPUR: While most people are still asleep, thousands of packets of rice and side dishes, as well as kuih – all traditional delicacies of Kelantan – are transported hundreds of kilometres from the east coast almost daily to customers in the Klang Valley, Negri Sembilan and Melaka.
One of the businesses driving this delivery chain is Nasi Berlauk Kelate Express (NBK Express), operated by Mohd Syafrini Azmi, 38.
Embarking on the venture a decade ago, his delivery service started with about 200 packets per trip before expanding to more than 3,000 packets per trip to the Klang Valley.
The company has also since opened delivery routes to Terengganu and Pahang.
He said it was his friend Mohd Yusri Mohd Yusoff, 38, who came up with the idea of bringing Kelantanese food to markets outside the state due to the sizeable Kelantanese community, especially in the Klang Valley.
Mohd Syafrini said initially, he was only delivering nasi berlauk Air Dingin, but the “menu” has since expanded to a wider variety of Kelantan specialities, including rice with chicken, fish and beef dishes from popular “brands” such as Kak Chik, Tengku Noor, Depey Tanggo, Kakak Aisyah and Nasi Kerabu Paloh.
NBK Express also transports a variety of traditional Kelantanese kuih and delicacies, including tepung bungkus, lompat tikam, nasi tumpang and nasi kapit sambal.
He said more than 20 suppliers and food operators in Kelantan are now supplying various dishes and delicacies to NBK Express, with collection taking place at several locations in the state, including Tumpat, Wakaf Che Yeh and Machang.
For the Klang Valley route, the van stops in Gombak, Selangor, where the food packets are handed over to over 80 agents and runners who distribute them to restaurants and other sellers in the Klang Valley, Negri Sembilan and Melaka.
NBK Express opened the new route to Terengganu and Pahang two months ago, transporting about 2,000 packets of food on each trip to Setiu, Kuala Terengganu, Paka, Kuantan and Rompin, among others.
Mohd Syafrini, who resides in Selangor, told Bernama that for the Klang Valley route, the driver begins collecting supplies in Tumpat at around 10pm before heading to other collection points.
“For me, this effort also provides a source of income for others,” he said, adding that he is also considering expanding his delivery service to Johor if time and logistical constraints can be overcome.
Meanwhile, Datuk Azri Che Zan, who operates Stesen Bukuh restaurant in Puchong, Selangor, said he has been selling Kelantan food packets supplied by NBK Express since Sept 12, after seeing strong demand for the food in several other areas, including Shah Alam and Bangi.
“Our highest sales reached about 2,000 packets on Sept 16, which sold out within just three hours,” he said.
He said the majority of customers were Kelantanese who said the taste was close to what they enjoyed in their home state, with nasi kapit sambal and Kak Chik dishes among the most popular choices.
