On 8 April 2014 the Chief Minister of Penang, Mr. Lim Guang Eng, and Danish Ambassador in Malaysia, Nicolai Ruge, inaugurated the expansion of Barkath Co-Ro Manufacturing’s facility in Penang, enabling the company to meet the growing demand in Malaysia and the region for their popular Sunquick fruit drink.
Barkath Co-Ro Manufacturing Sdn. Bhd, which is a collaboration between Kumpulan Barkath and CO-RO Food, is one of the oldest Danish-Malaysian joint ventures. The succesful collaboration is going as far back as the early 1970’s. From the first shipment of just 2 pallets in 1972, the Sunquick brand has grown to be a comfortable market leader with more than 40% market share in Malaysia.
The Malaysian market is now the biggest Sunquick fruit drink market in the world among the 105 countries where Sunquick is marketed. Recently, Barkath Co-Ro Manufacturing Sdn. Bhd. has moved into the growing food service market in Malaysia by developing food and dessert recipes that uses Sunquick.
The expanded factory in Penang is becoming the production hub for Southeast Asia with export going to Singapore, Brunei, Vietnam, the Philippines, Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos.
As the first ever in Malaysia, Dato’ Seri Barkath Ali received in 1986 The Danish Export Association’s Diploma and His Royal Highness Prince Henrik’s Medal of Honour for excellence in trade promotion. The Diploma and Medal of Honour has only been awarded twice since in Malaysia.
Words and photos: Denmark in Malaysia
