Home bakery targets the health-conscious

MAHARA Enterprise, a bakery owned by 41-year-old Serinah Hj Tarang, may seem like any ordinary home-based business.

With the number of home-based bakeries on the rise, the Kg Sungai Bunga resident seeks to stand out from the crowd with a desire to change the perception that traditional cakes in Brunei are anything but healthy.

The high-calorie content of a majority of local foods sold in the market, a result of excessive use of oil and sugar, inspired her to set up her own bakery that allows her to make healthier preparations, utilising low-calorie ingredients and premium cooking oil in all her 50 recipes of local cakes and snacks.

"I was very concerned with how sugary and oily most traditional cakes and snacks are sold to the public that it became an obligation for me to make healthier ones," said Serinah, who started her home-based enterprise five years ago.

Despite being small-scale, the entrepreneur and housewife believes that giving and maintaining the best quality in her products is a priority.

Among her popular products sought by her customers include doughnuts, karipap (curry puffs), popia (spring rolls), tarts and red bean buns.

Her enterprise also offers catering services for small functions, where she also ensures a healthy preparation.

"I am very particular when it comes to how much sugar or oil is being used in my food, so that has essentially become my philosophy in running my bakery business. I also want my customers to get the best and make healthier choices," she said.

A mother of 10, Serinah hopes to turn her little enterprise into a family inheritance in the future. She encourages her children to help her run the business, hoping to instil the entrepreneural spirit in them at a young age.

"I don't stop my children from studying and making their own career path, but I believe that it's good to train them the hardships of running the business and the joy of making some money from their own efforts while they are still young. It's good discipline," she said.

Currently, Serinah is supported by her son, 22 year old Mohd Qatadah Zaini, who helps her in the day-to-day running of the business.

Serinah was one of the latest recipients of a micro-grant scheme under the Youth Development Resources (YDR) programme, an initiative of the Brunei Economic Development Board (BEDB).

Through the micro-grant which was awarded to her last year, she received several cooking equipment to aid her in her day to day operations in the kitchen, such as an oven and a mixer.

Mahara Enterprise has been identified by the BEDB as one of the small businesses under the YDR programme that have shown positive growth. With the new equipment, she was able to increase her production and as a result, her monthly profits skyrocketed from a mere $400 to $1,000.

"Business has never been better, thanks to BEDB's support," said Serinah.

Serina is now gearing up for the upcoming Hari Raya festivities, as she will be expecting a larger number of orders than usual.

Like many other entrepreneurs that starts from home, Serina dreams of expanding her business in the near future with her own bakery selling cakes under her own brand.The Brunei Times