Malaysian Durian-Flavoured Ice Cream A Hit At Investment And Trade Fair In China

By Amirul Muttaqien Meketar LANZHOU (China), July 10 (Bernama) -- Malaysian durian-flavoured ice cream and coffee are among the products which receive good response at the four-day 23rd China Lanzhou Investment and Trade Fair (CLITF) held here since Thursday. Regal Plus and Taluwang Sdn Bhd, are among the 31 Malaysian companies showcasing their halal products and services at the trade fair. Regal Plus managing director Loh Wee Keng, whose company produces the Jumbo Tropical Delight ice cream including musang king durian ice cream and also durian-flavoured coffee, said these had been a hit with visitors to the fair. Many who flocked the stall housed at the Malaysian Pavilion in the Gansu International Convention and Exhibition Centre were impressed with the awesome taste of the ice cream, which was in high demand, he told Bernama. “Lanzhou, the capital city of Gansu Province, has over one million Muslim population, and there is a huge potential for Malaysian halal products that are certified by Jakim (Department of Islamic Development Malaysia),” he said. "We are selling the ice cream of six sticks per box at 50 yuan (US$7.35). I expect that we can generate 60,000 yuan (US$8,823.66) in sales throughout the event," he said, adding that the company had ventured into the Chinese market since 2007. Meanwhile, Taluwang Sdn Bhd managing director, Vincent Lau said he was surprised with the impressive response from the visitors, as they were not familiar with the durian, but which had been proven to be among the most favourable Malaysian agriculture products in several parts of China. "I felt relieved seeing most of the visitors who dropped by the stall left beaming after they tasted our durian ice cream which is sold at 10 yuan (US$1.47) per stick,” he said. He said the company had targeted to sell 20,000 yuan (US$2,941.22) worth of ice cream at the fair, adding that besides durian-flavoured ice cream, the company also brought in ice cream in other tropical fruit flavours such as cempedak, mango and avocado, as well as yam. The Kota Kinabalu-based (east Malaysia) company which has eight years of experience in the Malaysian market and two years in the Chinese market is still gauging the demand for its products in the local market and plans to come up with new products. -- BERNAMA