​​​​​​​Kakatoo F&B Expands Klang Valley Footprint, Eyes Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang

KUALA LUMPUR 23 Feb – Kakatoo F&B Group is stepping up its post-pandemic growth strategy with the official opening of its latest outlet at Quill City Mall in May 2025, while mapping out expansion beyond the Klang Valley into Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang.

Group CEO Joyce Chong said the company is prioritising sustainable, data-driven expansion rather than aggressive outlet growth.

“Our focus now is disciplined expansion — growing where footfall, tourism flows and long-term viability support the investment case,” she said. “We are not chasing numbers. We are building a brand with staying power.”

She outlined the strategy during an exclusive interview with DagangNews following a luncheon hosted to introduce Kakatoo’s Ramadan menu.

Also present were Chief Operating Officer Elaine Chong, Chairman Datuk Mohd Yusof Izahar, Chief Corporate Officer Sheon Soo Huan and former Berita Harian Group Editor-in-Chief Datuk Mior Kamarulbaid Mior Shahid.

The Quill City Mall outlet, located on the Ground Floor (Lots G-03, G-03A and G-05), operates daily from 10.00am to 10.00pm. Positioned as a lifestyle-driven Peranakan dining concept, it offers Nyonya kampung cuisine, traditional kuih and snacks, alongside curated cultural experiences including kebaya try-ons and workshops, targeting both domestic diners and tourists.

Established 12 years ago as a family-run venture, Kakatoo has since evolved into a multi-outlet F&B group with a footprint in major malls such as IOI City Mall, Sunway Pyramid, Berjaya Times Square, NU Sentral, NU Empire Subang, The Starling and IOI Mall Puchong.

“COVID forced us to recalibrate,” Chong said. “We returned to profitability in 2023. Today, our corporate-owned outlets generate approximately RM5 million in annual revenue with about RM1 million in profit. That recovery underpins our confidence to expand — but with stronger financial discipline.”

Beyond physical outlet growth, the group is introducing a micro-entrepreneurship programme requiring an entry cost of about RM15,000. The initiative targets small food operators and café owners as a capital-light channel to widen distribution and brand presence.

“We see structural shifts in employment preferences, especially among younger Malaysians,” she said. “Rather than expanding purely through headcount, we want to empower individuals to become business owners within our ecosystem.”

Franchising remains tightly controlled, with the group favouring corporate-owned and joint-venture models to preserve quality control and brand integrity.

Looking ahead, Chong said the East Coast presents measured growth opportunities aligned with Kakatoo’s community-focused positioning.

“Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang are firmly on our radar. We want to bring Nyonya cuisine closer to communities beyond major urban centres, but always with sustainability as the guiding principle,” she said. - DagangNews.com