MADO PLANS FULL-FLEDGED ICE-CREAM, DESSERT OPERATIONS

By Nurul Jannah Kamaruddin

KUALA LUMPUR, June 9 (Bernama) -- Turkey's leading ice-cream company, MADO,
plans to establish full-fledged operations, comprising dessert cafe chain, goat
farming and production of mutton, milk and ice-cream in Malaysia in five years.

MADO and Dondurma AP Sdn Bhd recently inked a joint-venture agreement to
introduce dessert cafe chain in Asia-Pacific, with Malaysia as the production
and distribution centre.

Dondurma AP's Shaifulbahrim Mohd Salleh said an investment of US$100
million will be set aside for a five-year development in the country.

"The plan is to have our own outlets first before opening hundreds of MADO
Cafes under a franchise system in Malaysia and then in the region," he told
Bernama in an interview recently.

Shaifulbahrim said so far, the company has received 15 enquiries to
participate in the franchise.

"One of them plans to open 10 MADO outlets. But we have to hold them because
we want to open our outlet first to sort out the supply chain," he said.

He said the company plans to open between two and five branches with
investment of between US$700,000 and US$1 million for each dessert cafe outlet
this year.

"We are a high-class brand. So, we have identified a few up-market tourist
spots in Bukit Bintang and a few areas in the Klang Valley," he said.

Shaifulbahrim said in addition to ice cream, the cafe will serve specialty
coffee and baklavas as well as other Turkish desserts and pastries.

He said as the company uses goat milk to produce MADO ice cream, a
production chain will also be set up here to cater to the demand in the region.

"The factory will either be in Kuala Lumpur or (the state of) Selangor.

"We will also need thousands of goats. So, this will be a good opportunity
for those who are interested to supply goats to us," he said.

Shaifulbahrim said MADO's goats are fed herbs to remove the strong odour
normally associated with goat milk while enhancing its taste.

"The production technology also enhances the quality of the milk in
combination with special orchid extracts found only in the Marash region of
Turkey," he said.

To meet local demand, he said, MADO is in the midst of studying the
possibility of having ice cream with dragon fruit and durian flavours.

He said Malaysia will be a good start to expand in the region.

"The joint-venture aims to be a major player in the high-end confectionary
sector in the region, and Malaysia is well-poised to benefit from the spillover
effect plus technology transfer from the partnership," he said.

MADO is among Turkish companies participating in the Malaysia International
Food & Beverages 2010 (MIFB 2010) which will be held from July 9-11.

It will make available all its 60 flavours of ice cream at MIFB 2010.
-- BERNAMA