AMPANG, 6 Dec 2021: Lotuss Stores Malaysia Sdn Bhd (Lotus’s Malaysia), previously known as Tesco Malaysia, had today embarked on its first-ever Buy Malaysia Product campaign with the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (MDTCA).
The retailer, who was recently awarded the Best Foreign Retailer and Fair Price Shop Awards at MDTCA’s recent Malam Anugerah Perdagangan Dalam Negeri 2020, is adamant in maintaining its reputation as a fair-priced shop going forward.
“We thank MDTCA for all the support provided to us in successfully operating our business for the wider benefit of the country. We aspire to continue investing in Malaysia by adding stores of various formats, bringing Harga Patut to the consumers and creating employment opportunities for our Keluarga Malaysia,” said Lotus’s Corporate Services Executive Director, Azliza Azmel.
“In fact, as of right now we are already employing 9,000 colleagues across our operations while our 62 stores and two distribution centres are 100 per cent operated by Malaysians,” she continued.
This year’s Buy Malaysia Products campaign is particularly important as Lotus’s focuses on small and medium enterprises (SMEs) who are rebuilding themselves after the effects of Covid-19. As a leading retailer in Malaysia, Lotus’s understand its responsibility in ensuring that local SMEs which are an important pillar of economic growth can grow and sustain.
Launched in Lotus’s Ampang, the event was officiated by MDTCA Secretary-General, YB Datuk Seri Haji Hasnol Zam Zam Haji Ahmad as well as Azliza and graced by various key MDTCA officers and the media. It will run from today till Sunday, 5 December 2021.
“As a company, we always believe in the capabilities and qualities of local SMEs. So much so that as many as 90 per cent of over 3,000 Lotus’s Own Brand items are locally sourced and manufactured in Malaysia. These range from our customers’ all-time favourite of nuggets, UHT milk and bagged chips,” said Azliza.
Forming part of the programme earlier today is the Produk Citarasa Keluarga Malaysia fair where 16 SMEs have been allocated space to not only sell but more importantly promote their products to consumers. Of the 16 participating SMEs today, 10 are Lotus’s existing suppliers while the remaining six SMEs are nominated by the Ministry.
To support the local economy, the Lotus’s SME Support Team is continuously on the lookout for potential collaboration with other government agencies such as the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industries (MAFI) and the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (FAMA).
Through MAFI, Lotus’s is able to bring in meat supplier Al-Quds Sdn Bhd, through its brand DuniaDaging into Lotus’s network of stores. To date, this SME is supplying 12 SKU to 20 of Lotus’s existing stores, with the potential to further expand to the remaining stores in the future.
In collaboration with FAMA, the retailer is currently providing space to fruits and vegetables SMEs to sell and promote their products to the high customer traffic in Lotus’s Cheras. This way, the sellers will be able to increase both their sales and exposure to the public. This collaboration is ongoing now till 5 December 2021.
