PREPARING dodol, a traditional Malay delicacy, often involves a sticky ordeal — serving it in square blocks can feel like more trouble than it is worth.
But the sweet delicacy prepared by Eizwan Solleh, a 28-year-old autistic man, and his father, Solleh Wahab, 58, gets a modern touch.
Together, they've founded Ewan Dodol, a fresh take on the beloved treat that's easy to enjoy without the fuss.
Their version is packed in jelly cups with an array of flavours tailored to different tastebuds.
Eizwan, who spearheads the marketing wing, shared that the idea emerged from a desire to make dodol both glamorous and simple to eat.
"When the people, especially in Kedah, think of dodol, they picture the traditional packets, which are wonderful but might not appeal to everyone. They're also sticky and a bit tricky to eat.
"But with our bite-sized dodol, that's not the case. That's why I came up with the tagline, 'tak lekat dijari, tak lekat digigi, tapi lekat dihati' (doesn't stick on fingers and teeth but sticks to the heart). It's the perfect snack," said Eizwan during a visit to the company's factory in Anak Bukit here.
Eizwan said besides the original taste, their dodol comes in flavours such as chocolate, pandan, strawberry, blueberry, cappuccino and even durian.
Years of Challenges
Solleh, who oversees production, said that his son's condition has not stopped him from building a successful career and life.
"I entrusted him with leading the marketing. Eizwan has worked tremendously hard. Initially, people questioned why he struggled to speak when presenting the product, but I gave him my full support.
"Now, not only has he successfully marketed the product on multiple online platforms, but I've also noticed that it has helped him become more articulate and improved his social skills."
Reflecting on his own challenges, Solleh said Ewan Dodol took eight years to achieve real success.
"I invested a lot in a factory with high-tech machinery because I dreamt of establishing a company that would benefit my family for generations.
"The factory complied with the good manufacturing practice standards, which is rare for a 'traditional' product. But for seven years, we struggled to market dodol in its traditional form.
"We also faced challenges when the Covid-19 pandemic affected our operations."
Going International
Solleh said Ewan Dodol was featured at the Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS 2024) on Sept 17 and will be marketed at the Malaysian Agriculture, Horticulture and Agro Tourism Exhibition (MAHA) 2024 next month.
"At first, people looked down on dodol, but we've since received great feedback. We're determined to market this internationally as well.
"Next year is Visit Kedah Year 2025, and we've reached out to the state government to showcase our product as a tourism product," he added.
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