“CGC was really interested in my business and genuinely wanted to help. After their swift assessment, the approval process and disbursement of funds were passed quickly.”

“What else can I offer my customers?” asks Yvonne Ngui, when she thinks about her expansion plans. Her very popular Butterscotch bread is her specialty, placing premium as her trademark. She ensures superior ingredients, too, so that quality and texture differentiate her products from those of her competitors.

Yvonne has always had a deep interest in baking and in managing her own business, so she quit her job in hospitality and initially began by selling sourced bakery items. As her business grew, she started making her own and now supplies to small cafes, shops and supermarkets.

She first found out about CGC about three years ago when her husband attended a talk organised by the Corporation. Due to growing demand for her bread and bakery items last year, she applied for a BizMula-i financing. With the capital received she expanded from one shop lot to two, upgraded her central kitchen with a 27-tray industrial oven and increased her stock and production. She has a small outlet at her premises as well, selling loose bakery goods to her regular customers.

Two CGC officers from Kuala Lumpur visited her place and tasted her products. “CGC was really interested in my business and genuinely wanted to help. After their swift assessment, the approval process and disbursement of funds were passed quickly.” Yvonne’s bakery is now one of the key bread and bun distributors to major supermarkets in Kuching, Serian and Bau.

“In business I have learned a lot of things,” Yvonne declares. “I have to be patient, constantly think about how to expand and deal with supermarket buyers. And mainly to manage my cash flow.” Although demand for her products is high, she will not be able to deal with all enquiries “until I’m able to manage my cash flow better.” She adds: “And the payment terms with large orders are not yet favourable.”

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