CHICKEN RICE SHOP TO EXPAND OVERSEAS THIS YEAR

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 18 (Bernama) -- The Chicken Rice Shop, Malaysia's leading
halal chain of chicken rice family restaurants, is spreading its wings to the
Taiwan, Brunei and Philippines markets.

Managing director and co-founder of TCRS Restaurant Sdn Bhd, Gaik Wong said,
there are plans to work with joint venture partners in these overseas markets.

"We are also looking at franchising arrangement in our overseas ventures," she
said, during the media launch of the TCRS Feast of Happiness with Celebrity
Chef, Ismail Ahmad.

TCRS Restaurants which has 55 outlets nationwide and two in Singapore as well as
the Sweet Chat Cafe, is a homegrown company owned by the mother-daughter team of
Gaik Wong and Wong Kah Lin.

As for its expansion in the local market, Gaik Wong said an investment ofabout
RM8 million will be allocated for the opening of 10 new outlets, at strategic
locations in Johor and the Klang Valley as well as for the upgrading of existing
ones. (US$1=RM3.05)

"We had a double-digit growth last year and anticipate further growth in terms
of revenue with the new investment," she added.

She also said, the biggest challenge has always been the recruitment and
retainment of quality staff.

In the spirit of 1Malaysia, the Chicken Rice Shop today ushered in the year of
the rabbit, joined by Datuk Ismail Ahmad, members of the media as well as the
management team in a "loh Sang", an annual tradition of the Malaysian Chinese
community.

The event was held in conjunction with the launch of the Feast of Happiness, a
set of three food and beverage items, created exclusively for the Chinese New
Year.
-- BERNAMA