Local brands making waves at home, abroad

KUALA LUMPUR: Red earth, green products. F.A. Herbs Sdn Bhd is the rave
the world over for its 100 per cent vegetable-based Tanamera spa
products.


From the home of a humble beautician in Kuala
Selangor, the company’s products, marketed under the brandname Tanamera
(for tanah merah or red earth), are now highly sought in spas in
Germany, Spain, Denmark, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Norway, Sweden, the
United Kingdom, the United States and Singapore. Next stops: Australia,
New Zealand, the Pacific islands, Hong Kong and Macau.

F.A. Herbs managing director Mohamed Faisal Ahmad Fadzil said Tanamera
was a big name overseas and would soon be just as well known in
Malaysia.

Faisal said Tanamera products had been available in
the country since the start of the year at Central Market and several
departmental stores in the Klang Valley.

“We are also going to be the first Malaysian-made beauty product to be sold at Parkson’s departmental stores.”

Faisal and his sisters went abroad six years ago with the
products made at their home, and later set up a factory in Kuala
Selangor. The recipe for the beauty products comes from their mother, a
traditional beautician.

“We have products ranging from
postnatal to aromatherapy oils, scrubs and facial products. They are
100 per cent halal,” he said.

Faisal said they would also be opening three spas by year-end, two in the Klang Valley and one in Miri.

“The Tanamera Tropical Spas will offer a truly Malaysian concept where
the best of the three major races will be featured. There will be the
Malay way of massaging, Indian ayurveda and Chinese acupuncture.”

Another Bumiputera company that is making waves is Malay Tea House,
located at Central Market, which has established itself as a restaurant
that specialises in herbs and Malay teas.

Its chief executive,
Safinah Yaakob, said the idea of opening a tea house similar to the
Malay kampung concept came up by chance.

“My husband and I were
looking for a nice tea place to relax after work, but could not find
any. So, we decided to open one,” Safinah said.

Faisal and
Safinah’s companies recently won praise from Mara director-general
Datuk Nam Marthinin, who launched both their companies at Central
Market.

Nam urged more Bumiputera companies to follow in the
footsteps of Tanamera and Malay Tea House in creating local brands that
were truly halal. — By June Ramli