BMC gears up for export offensive with new deals

MEAT processor BMC Food Industries Sdn Bhd is set to penetrate the food market of Borneo as it signed yesterday three memoranda of understanding (MoU) to drive its export offensive.

BMC signed an MoU with Gardenia Marketing Sdn Bhd yesterday at The Empire Hotel & Country Club to appoint the latter as the exclusive distributor in charge of promoting, marketing and distributing BMC products in Sabah, Malaysia.

It also signed another deal appointing Borneo Nusantara Sdn Bhd as the exclusive distributor for Sarawak, Malaysia.

Tan Too Liang, managing director of BMC Food Industries Sdn Bhd, said the MoUs will not only allow BMC to distribute their products and tap into the food market of Sabah and Sarawak but also help showcase the Brunei Halal Brand.

Tan added that BMC is starting its exportation phase on a small scale by first focusing on the Borneo market due to the high cost of shipping.

"This cost is our biggest challenge.

"Once we have established the networks and received additional orders, we will export and send more of our products over," said the managing director.

The company also signed an MoU with Ben Foods Brunei Sdn Bhd for BMC to produce smoked chicken frankfurters and smoked chicken frankfurters with cheese under the "Golden Chick" brand, supplied by Ben Foods Brunei Sdn Bhd.

Signing the MoUs on behalf of BMC was Tan while Gardenia Marketing, Borneo Nusantara and Ben Foods Brunei were represented by executive director Paul Koh Lean Poh, general manager Dennis Chin Wei Ming and senior manager Paul Poh respectively.

In addition to signing MoUs, Minister of Industry and Primary Resources Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Utama Dato Seri Setia Hj Yahya Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Hj Bakar also presented BMC Food Industries Sdn Bhd with its ISO 22000:2005 certification from the International Organisation for Standardisation.

Tan said the certification is another milestone for the company and its goal to export.

"This certification which is the highest standard for international food safety is a gateway for exporting our products without restrictions," he said.

BMC first began operation in 1995 with the production of Burger Patties in Kg Salar Light Industrial Estate, Jalan Muara.

The meat processing company has since grown to produce a wide range of beef and chicken products and has consequently increased its Brunei market share to 65.82 per cent, according to a report released by the Livestock Food Products and Food Processing Industries, Department of Agriculture, in 2007. The Brunei Times