School of Architecture, Building and Design Foundation in Natural and Build Environments (FNBE) English 2 (ENGL0205) A Comparative Analysis of 2 Businesses of Similar Industry in Different Geographical Locations GROUP MEMBERS LECTURER Shirley Liew Qiao Li Miss Cassandra Wijesuria Johnson Chan Zhuang Sheng Peh Ker Nerng Jason Lee Yaue Shen Liu Wei Cheng SUBMISSION DATE
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School of Architecture, Building and Design
Foundation in Natural and Build Environments (FNBE)
English 2 (ENGL0205)
A Comparative Analysis of 2 Businesses of Similar Industry in Different Geographical Locations
GROUP MEMBERS LECTURERShirley Liew Qiao Li Miss Cassandra WijesuriaJohnson Chan Zhuang ShengPeh Ker NerngJason Lee Yaue ShenLiu Wei Cheng
SUBMISSION DATE10.2.2014 (WEEK 18)
Content Page
Key Summary 1
Research Essay
Trade: Chinese Restaurant
-Introduction of Yut Kee Kopitiam
-Introduction of Heng Heng Kopitiam
-Introduction of Kar Heong Restaurant
-Contrast and comparison of Yut Kee Kopitiam, Heng Heng
Kopitiam and Kar Heong Restaurant
2-6
Comparative Analysis of the Businesses’ Competitive Triats 7-8
Recommendation 9-10
Bibliography 11
Appendix
-Research questions with answers
-Meeting minutes
-Photos
12-20
INTRODUCTION
Nowadays, business plays an important role in the economic world.
Without a good economy, we are not able to have our education like what we do
now. Our English lecturer, Miss Cassandra did not forget about the contribution of
business, she provided us a chance to get to know more about the running system
in variety of business. A research assignment was provided to us. We are required
to do some researches on 3 businesses with similar industries. Based on the
requirements, we had chosen the businesses of Chinese restaurants as our research
topic. We will compare their business operating systems from past until now.
Chinese restaurant is an establishment that serves Chinese cuisine and it is
well-known in Malaysia. Styles and tastes of Chinese cuisine are also varied by
class, region and ethnic background. This led to an unparalleled range of
ingredients, techniques, dishes and eating styles in what could be called Chinese
food. The spirits of the old Chinese kept the true originalities of the Chinese
cuisine until now, Chinese people do not forget the tastes and cultures of Chinese
food. So, we are interested to get know more about the Chinese cuisine business.
Besides, we will get to know the background stories, sustainability,
business environment and etc. After having our information from our researches, a
presentation and report must be done by us in the selected date by our lecturer.
Through this project, we will get to know more about what kind of businesses are
running in Malaysia.
RESEARCH ESSAY
Yut Kee is one of the oldest coffee shops in Kuala Lumpur and this outstanding coffee shop was
established since the year of 1928. Yut Kee is located at Dang Wangi, Kuala Lumpur and this old coffee
shop had successfully operated for more than a half century. Yut Kee is well known of its Hainanese
cuisine, this brings in a huge crowd. Tai Fu is the founder of Yat Kee, he was the chef of a businessman.
This restaurant was passed down to Jack Lee, and eventually his son, Mervyn took over it. Today, this
restaurant is already run by the third generations.
Hainanese are known for whipping up Westernized Malaysian dishes during the pre-war era. The
founder is one of the great Hainanese cooks. Yut Kee is still practicing its long-standing Hainan’s
traditional cuisine until today. Due to the originality, this restaurant is still a famous stop for breakfast and
lunch by the locals and non-locals customer. Bonding is very important to sustain the restaurant, the
owner says that this restaurant is all about bonding. Because this is a family business, it bonding the
whole family together. The owner of Yut Kee remembers all the close customers’ names. He believes that
this little stuff might create trust between each other and it lets the customers feel warm.
Pontian is a district in Johor. It was formed from a fish village and slowly become a town that
famous with seafood. The name of Pontian comes from a Malay word ‘perhentian’ which also means
stop.For the cuisine in Pontian, the Pontian style wanton mee is a must try dishes. It is unique with it
chewy texture and also the homemade tomato sauce. This recipe is created by old Mr Loh who is the
founder of Heng Heng Kopitiam. Mr Loh comes from Guangzhou, China. His father decided migrated to
Malayisa to seek for a better life due to the civil war.
In early time, Mr Loh handmade their own noodle, and also all the other special ingredient such as
wan ton(dumpling), char siew and etc. As the technology becomes more advanced, they start to use
machines to replace hand making to increase the productivity. Even though they are using machines, but
they still strongly maintain the quality and taste.
The customers are mainly local, sometimes many of the Singaporeans will visit the restaurant too.
He believes that providing good quality of food can keep their loyalty to the food. Pontian Wan Tan Mee
had became the most important feature in Pontian. It is not just a meal, it also has the contribution for the
Pontian economy. It will attract the foreigner to come and enjoy the delicious noodles.
Tan Ang Ang, the founder of Kar Heong Restaurant is the descendent of ‘Hokkien’. When he was
young, his family is facing financial problem. He had been forced to give up on his studies and learnt to
make the Ipoh chicken rice. After that, he went oversea and worked there for a few years. He started
working as the supplier of fruit juice and soya bean when he came back Malaysia in 1980. Since he had
well culinary skill, his family encouraged him to start the chicken rice business. His wife is the local of
Ipoh, she helped a lot in advising him to the original taste of Ipoh chicken rice.
In year 2007, he started with a small hawker stall. Surprisingly, his business grew up and became
more and more famous. Most of the customers suggested him to expand his business by opening in a shop
lot. Then, he opened a restaurant which named ‘Restaurant Kar Heong’ in Petaling Jaya. They face the
problem of not enough workers and also the foreign workers doesn’t have the knowledge on how to
solve the customer request. They also feel that it is hard to communicate with the workers due to language
barrier. He will try to do everything by himself even though they have a lot of workers helping them. He
determines to make everything homemade. This is to keep the food quality and make sure the customers
are satisfied with the foods.
03
When one is deciding where to go to have a meal, the type of foods is the first point to
consider. Yut Kee Kopitiam is a Hainan traditional cuisine with its Hainanese chicken or pork
chop. Yut Kee is well-known for its westernised Malaysian dishes as Malaysia had been
colonized by western country before. For example, the signature chicken chop is served with
glossy Worcestershire sauce-seasoned onion gravy, peas and potato wedges. This dish is just like
the western chicken chop which comes with mushroom sauce and French fries. Since their foods
is still stick to the original 1928 recipes, many of the customers visit here to get back their
childhood memories.
To those who really like to have noodles as breakfast or lunch, Heng Heng Kopitiam
where only sells Pontian Wan Tan Mee is the best choice for them. The Pontian mee is a unique
Johor dish with a tomato-based sauce which is a blend of ketchup, oyster sauce, soya sauce and
sesame oil. This Pontian mee taste like Chinese-style spaghetti because of the special concocted
sauce. Although Heng Heng Kopitiam runs their business just not like the Yut Kee Kopitiam by
selling variety of dishes, but the Pontian mee has spread to every corner of Johor and even
Singapore. They also originally supplied the mushrooming franchise’s egg noodles to the others.
Another Chinese restaurant we had interviewed is Kar Heong Restaurant. Just like Heng
Heng Kopitiam, Kar Heong Restaurant is selling Ipoh traditional chicken rice and sar hor fun.
Nga Choy Gai(Ipoh traditional chicken rice)and sar hor fun are totally Chinese foods as they
originally come from Ipoh and do not mix with westernised ingredients. Nga Choy Gai provides
different taste for those chicken lover .
A relaxed and clean environment attracts customers to come back again and again. Yut
Kee Kopitiam has survived for 86 years since 1928. Since this is a old kopitiam, they still remain
the same design of the restaurant. The black and white photos and hand-written menu hang on
the wall is creating a nostalgic environment.
This typical Chinese kopitiam is using dark wooden chairs and round marble table as part of the
decoration. Chinese had started using wood as the chief building materials since long time ago.
The crowd in the kopitiam is producing many noises as there are a lot of locals and tourists.
Improper air circulation affect by the poor airflow is just creating an uncomfortable environment.
Heng Heng Kopitiam is quiet different from the Yut Kee Kopitiam because of the
choosen furnitures. Heng Heng Kopitiam is using round wood tables, wooden chairs and blue
plastic chairs which more modern than Yut Kee Kopitiam. Another point is that Heng Heng
Kopitiam creates a clean and pleasant environment for the customers. Because the location is
outside the noise, customers can have their meals in a safe breathing environment. The hawker is
preparing the dishes in a opening small kitchen, so that they have enough space for other uses.
Kar Heong restaurant is using this method as well. Kar Heong’s kitchen is outside the air-
conditioned room while counter and costumers are doing inside.
Kar Heong is a restaurant mixing traditional and modern. Those newspaper clippings are
simple decorations for this restaurant. Other than that, light green painted walls are giving a fresh
feeling to the costumers. While walking in the restaurant, the coldness of environment is coming
towards. It is totally different with Yut Kee. Kar Heong is providing a modern environment by
decorating with old fashion floor tiles.
Location of a restaurant can be part of the costumer’s consideration. Yut Kee is located in
a corner old fashion shop lot which inherit from the past. Jalan Dang Wangi is a street located in
the middle of city. This old school restaurant normally visits by old customers because young
people more likely to visit shopping mall instead of walking around heritage. Although the
location is less traffic, many of the tourists or visitors are attracted to visit this remote place, just
because its culinary delicacies.
04
Heng Heng is opened at Pontian where is 62km away from Johor Bharu.At first, Pontian is
a village and then has developed become a small town. Same as Yut Kee, Heng Heng is located in
a remote street but visitors from neighbouring towns and Singapore regularly visit Pontian to have
a try at Pontian Wan Tan Mee.
Kar Heong is different from the two restaurant. Kar Heong has moved from SS9 to SS15
in 2007. SS15 is an area with high traffic.Kar Heong chooses a great location where surrounded
by three colleges, one high school and a few of residential areas. According to the owner, their
main customers are those students and families. The shop lots are not that outstanding but the
location covers the weakness. People always choose a convenient place to have meal. After they
have a try, they will bring the other friends or families here. Then this place is slowly visited by a
lot of people.
According to a famous saying, when a Chinese individual is honoured, his or her family
is also honoured. The family is a foundation of most Chinese organizations, including the
business. Three of the Chinese restaurants are running by family business. These typical Chinese
business is headed by a patriarchal, normally who is the founder. At the same time, the whole
family members will help up in the business. They have their key positions. Even when their
business become more aware, they basically will hire some workers but the decisions are made
by the family members together. Heng Heng Kopitiam is took over by his son and daughter by
running two outlets today.
The heads of Chinese family businesses usually are succeeded by family members who
carry the business tradition to the next generation. As an example, Yut Kee was found in 1928.
Today it’s being run by the third generation of the family. This restaurant is passed down to Jack
Lee and his son, Mervyn takes over. As the market becomes more global the traditional model is
changing.Business families are beginning to adopt business practices that are more consistent.
Despite these changes, the sense of the family remains strong and it is likely that the family first,
business second attitude will continue into the future.