Bandar Seri Begawan - Food processor BMC Food Industries Sdn Bhd is looking to send its products across the border to nearby Malaysian cities next year, its factory manager told The Brunei Times yesterday.

In an interview at the company's main office in Junjungan, Tan Too Yeo said the Bruneian company is in the process of listing with Malaysia's Agriculture Department to obtain government approval to sell its goods in Malaysian cities.

"We are looking at Sabah, Miri, Labuan and Kuching to bring most of our products to," he said, adding that from there they will slowly expand to other cities on Borneo.

It is hard for a company, he added, to go international because of the challenge of maintaining the quality of its products and brand name while transporting them to cities far from Brunei.

"Our company is very strict when it comes to halal compliance and food safety. We really practise what we preach," he said.

It is also expensive to ship internationally so it will be a challenge to sell at a competitive price overseas, the factory manager said, noting that as it is, selling at competitive prices in the domestic market is not easy.

Tan said that although other products may be cheaper, BMC provides better quality and taste compared with the imported goods because of the ingredients they use.

"This is why customers still prefer to buy (BMC) goods. Even those who go overseas bring our products with them," he said, "especially the Chicken Frankfurter with Cheese, one of company's best products and has won the National Product Best Award 2009 in August."

BMC was also awarded with the ASEAN Best Product for Brunei last Thursday during the 11th ASEAN Food Conference Gala Dinner at The Empire Hotel & Country Club.

Tan Too Liang, BMC's managing director, said the food processor is facing tough competition locally because of all the imported goods.

"Some Malaysian products are selling a lot cheaper than our products but thanks to the support of our local customers and the government, we have managed to stand strong" despite tough competition from imports, he added.

Moreover, the company has been to many international food expos where it had received good feedback from customers overseas.

BMC has been operational since 1998 and has been one of the leading food manufacturers in the country with about 40 halal certified products in the market.-- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

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