APAC Insider- South East Asia Business Awards 2024 | 21 May24767 Kenny Hills Hospitality Group is the leading multi-brand food and beverage operator in Malaysia, having displayed its commitment to ongoing expansion for a decade. The company is renowned for its exceptional products, legendary service, and warm hospitality at each of its 20 outlets across Kuala Lumpur. As Kenny Hills Hospitality Group receives its title in the South East Asia Business Awards 2024, we speak with Managing Director Kai Zen Au, below. Founded in 2014, Kenny Hills Hospitality Group was initially a single-brand operator with the name Kenny Hills Bakers. After ten years, the company has soared to great heights, evolving into a multi-brand operator that holds nine brands, 20 outlets, and over 1,000 employees. Not only that, Kenny Hills Hospitality Group functions as more than just a food operator – its manufacturing arm Kenny Hills Manufacturing supplies wholesale products to hotels, supermarkets, international chains, and independent food groups. The business covers many areas of the food and beverage sector, with its main services encompassing food and beverage operations, wholesale manufacturing, corporate and contract catering, event management, coffee equipment distribution and servicing, and occasional menu consultations. Having such a broad spectrum of specialties has allowed Kenny Hills Hospitality Group to dominate the market and solidify itself as an industry frontrunner. “We offer brands that are differentiated in the market by product, design, branding, real estate strategy, and more. This level of variety allows us to move into locations and markets with more flexibility as we can adjust and change our business offering based on the differing factors – rather than working on a fixed or standardised model and look that is too rigid,” Kai tells us. The company has succeeded in achieving such heights without ever compromising on quality or product excellence, something that Kenny Hills Hospitality Group prides itself on. Kai believes that this core value bleeds through the organisation, as it is often motivated by the growth of its brand image, identity, or position in the market rather than finances. This influences the way that Kenny Hills Hospitality Group works with clients, as the company is not willing to compromise on quality over costing, and in effect, the agreement of deals and partnerships. “We believe this attracts the right kind of clients who value bespoke, artisanally made products and craftsmanship,” Kai explains. “We believe our continual pursuit of product quality and excellence will help us achieve our mission as we will be able to build strong, lasting brands that can stand the test of time.” The organisation encourages a focus on quality within its team, and Kai describes the internal culture as driven by a sense of urgency, holding quality over everything, and leading with empathy. A team of dedicated, highly trained staff has been tremendously advantageous for Kenny Hills Hospitality Group, especially in navigating the uncertain landscape of the hospitality industry. Kai notes that while the South East Asia region is vibrant, ever evolving, and ready for growth, the group has encountered industry challenges. “The current challenges of operating a food and hospitality business in Malaysia now are similar to the challenges the industry faces as a whole globally – labour shortages, increased cost of raw materials, inflationary pressures on consumers, and increased competition,” he tells us. “Over the past 12 months, some trends have of course been revolving around the continued focus on digital evolution.” As a fundamentally brick and mortar business, Kenny Hills Hospitality Group has paid close attention to the digitisation trend, which it notes is particularly prevalent within artisanal baking and speciality coffee. Speed and convenience are increasingly important factors to consumers, with the company having noted a steady growth in the ready-to-drink market and cold brew coffee offerings. To combat this, the company is adopting new technology this year, across its production sites and the individual outlets. This move will increase efficiency and accuracy across the board, optimising the overall operational process. Looking ahead, this year promises further expansion for Kenny Hills Hospitality Group, with the organisation set to launch five new outlets this year and continue expanding their manufacturing business with the acquisition of new factories and continued investment in new technology. One of the outlets will be located in Penang, a vibrant northern state known for its incredible heritage and food culture. This move will be the organisation’s first foray outside of the Klang Valley, but is setting the sails for further expansion into other states and markets in 2025. The future looks bright for Kenny Hills Hospitality Group, and we look forward to witnessing further expansions from the organisation. This commitment to continual growth, without ever compromising on quality or service, is why Kenny Hills Hospitality Groups has been named the Best Multi-Brand F&B Group 2024 – Malaysia. Contact: Kai Au Company: Kenny Hills Hospitality Group Web Address: www.kennyhillshospitality.com Best Multi-Brand F&B Group 2024 – Malaysia
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