Booming business: According to some operators, business has vastly improved since 2021 and is expected to get better next year with the Visit Perak Year 2024 campaign. — RONNIE CHIN/The Star
IPOH: The kacang putih industry at Kampung Kacang Puteh in Buntong here has been thriving after the reopening of all economic sectors about two years ago following the advent of the Covid-19 pandemic.
According to some operators, business has vastly improved since 2021 and is expected to get better next year with the Visit Perak Year 2024 campaign.
Kacang putih is a crunchy snack consisting of any combination of chickpeas, various nuts and lentils, among others.
CTS Kacang Puteh Sdn Bhd director S. Vellan, 31, said business at his shop is even better than before the pandemic struck.
“People started browsing the Internet more when they were stuck at home during the movement control order and they learned about us,” he said when met at his shop.
“We see a lot of people coming to our shop daily, especially during the weekends, as tourists from other states arrive by the busload.”
Vellan said they also started selling their products online, but this has not really kicked off.
“I think the people still prefer to buy directly from our shop.
“We are focusing more on walk-in customers,” he said, adding that he is expecting more customers next year due to the tourism campaign.
“Kacang putih is no longer just an Indian delicacy but something Malaysians of all races enjoy.”
DNS Kacang Puteh Ipoh Sdn Bhd sales manager SN Sathish Kumar, 33, also said sales have been improving every month, by between 40% and 60% since 2021.“We are really thankful to the people, including foreign tourists, for their continuous support,” he said.
Sathish Kumar, who is the fourth generation in the business, also said the kacang putih industry is growing.
“Every year, we see more shops selling kacang putih. Even with more competition, we are still doing well due to more customers,” he said.
He also said some products, like murukku, will see an increase in price starting next week.
This, he said, is due to the increase in the price of rice.
“Murukku is made using rice flour, and prices are expected to increase by about 35%,” he said.
