KUALA TERENGGANU: AT a time when many entrepreneurs are at their wits' end about their businesses survival post-Covid-19, several nasi dagang traders in Terengganu have expanded their business by marketing spices and instant paste of the traditional food on online platforms.
Nasi Dagang Atas Tol owner Tuan Saidatul Jamilah Tuan Zainuddin said she began to sell her nasi dagang spices and paste online as her restaurant was not allowed to operate when the Movement Control Order (MCO) came into force on March 18.
"There was high demand during Ramadan and Syawal as many buyers are people from Terengganu who could not return to their hometowns to celebrate Hari Raya due to the MCO.
"The feedback we received was very encouraging for the buyers were thankful as they were able to satisfy their cravings for traditional food without having to drive to Terengganu and stand in long queues to buy nasi dagang at eateries," she told Bernama here yesterday.
The 28-year-old began her nasi dagang business in 2014 and has opened four branches of Nasi Dagang Atas Tol in Terengganu.
Nasi dagang Terengganu is a dish consisting of rice steamed in coconut milk, fish curry, and extra ingredients such as pickled cucumber and carrots.
Tuan Saidatul Jamilah said she marketed the paste and spices of nasi dagang through 150 agents and 100 dropship agents in the country, which indirectly create an opportunity to generate extra income since the MCO was implemented.
Another nasi dagang trader, Mariah Juhari, 59, expressed hope that more Malaysians could enjoy the food at their own convenience by using the paste and spices under Dapur Mok Bonda.
"Customers only need to add coconut milk and their favourite raw ingredients such as chicken, beef or fish.
"This is convenient for housewives, especially those who are working, to prepare nasi dagang with Terengganu recipes.
"I am lucky because my children help me to market the nasi dagang spices through online platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp," she said, adding that she also sold paste for fish, beef and chicken as well as laksa paste.
The implementation of the MCO gave a new experience to a contract teacher, Saidatina Nur Ain Mohd Salleh, 26. She got involved in the business world when she started to market her Nasi Dagang Haji Mat spices, a business run by her parents, since last April.
"My mother and father have been in the catering business for a long time and have been taking orders for nasi dagang, nasi minyak, nasi Arab and nasi Bukhari for decades.
"During the MCO, I was worried about my career since I am just a contract teacher. After discussing this with my family, I dared myself to promote Nasi Dagang Haji Mat spices to my friends on social media.
"Many acknowledged our spices as tasty and easy to prepare, not to mention my father is well known for his tasty cuisine that uses spices from Terengganu.
"That indirectly makes it easier for the brand to remain in the market," she said, adding that she was looking for agents for business networks.--Bernama