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Anyone who’s into K-Pop would likely have heard of an upcoming festival by the name of <a href="https://www.borneosonic.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Borneo Sonic Music Festival (BSMF)</a>.


Dubbed “Borneo’s biggest music event” by the organisers themselves, the inaugural festival happening October 6 and 7 will facilitate 20 performances.


Headliners include HYO (from Girl’s Generation), CL (from 2NE1), Taeyang (from Big Bang), and Suho (from EXO), amongst other famous acts.


It doesn’t take someone in the industry to know that booking these talents—especially for a first-time festival—is not easy at all.


That’s why it’s even more surprising to learn that the man behind it all is not actually an event organiser by trade.


<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Meet Steven Au</h2>


“I am a property developer (by day) and event organiser (by night), like Batman,” the founder shared with Vulcan Post. 


While he’s jesting about being a vigilante (we think), it’s true that Steven’s background is as a property developer.


He’s the managing director of a development company in Kuching by the name of <a href="https://bentamewah.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benta Mewah</a>, which makes up the first two initials of the event company BME International. The E stands for entertainment.


As for the addition of “International”, Steven says that indicates his ambition of bringing his projects abroad, namely Australia, in the near future.


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Borneo-Sonic-Music-Festival-Malaysia-BME-International-003.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="536" src="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Borneo-Sonic-Music-Festival-Malaysia-BME-International-003-1024x536.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-840829" srcset="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Borneo-Sonic-Music-Festival-Malaysia-BME-International-003-1024x536.jpg 1024w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Borneo-Sonic-Music-Festival-Malaysia-BME-International-003-300x157.jpg 300w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Borneo-Sonic-Music-Festival-Malaysia-BME-International-003-768x402.jpg 768w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Borneo-Sonic-Music-Festival-Malaysia-BME-International-003-150x79.jpg 150w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Borneo-Sonic-Music-Festival-Malaysia-BME-International-003.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image Credit: Borneo Sonic Music Festival</figcaption></figure>


Introducing himself, Steven shared, “I love meeting new people and love creating things that are enjoyed and appreciated by people. That’s why I’ve been in property development for over 13 years.”


The reason for starting BSMF is actually related to his property development career too.


Over the years, Steven has noticed a lack of entertainment activities in Kuching. This in turn results in less people investing in properties in the area.


“So, I hope I can do something about this and build the brand of BSMF to be an international event, attracting more people to fly in and stimulate the property industry and other sectors,” he proudly shared.


<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Take two</h2>


Technically, this isn’t the first such event that Steven has organised.


A few years ago, he had actually initiated the efforts for Borneo Music Festival, which featured a lineup that included Alan Walker and DJ Soda.


“I saw the opportunity in it when we have Rainforest Music Festival, which brings music lovers from around the world to Sarawak to enjoy music and drinks, which you don’t see it in other parts of Malaysia,” Steven explained.


Jumping on the opportunity, he decided to bring in a popular male DJ as well as a female DJ.


However, the COVID-19 lockdowns occurred. The team had no choice but to postpone the event that was slated to happen in April 2020. Six months turned into a year, and by mid-2021, Steven decided he had to sell it to investors.


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Borneo-Sonic-Music-Festival-Malaysia-BME-International-004.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="536" src="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Borneo-Sonic-Music-Festival-Malaysia-BME-International-004-1024x536.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-840830" srcset="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Borneo-Sonic-Music-Festival-Malaysia-BME-International-004-1024x536.jpg 1024w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Borneo-Sonic-Music-Festival-Malaysia-BME-International-004-300x157.jpg 300w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Borneo-Sonic-Music-Festival-Malaysia-BME-International-004-768x402.jpg 768w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Borneo-Sonic-Music-Festival-Malaysia-BME-International-004-150x79.jpg 150w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Borneo-Sonic-Music-Festival-Malaysia-BME-International-004.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image Credit: Borneo Sonic Music Festival</figcaption></figure>


The music festival was eventually carried out by October 2022, but Steven was no longer involved.


Seeing the announcement of Borneo Music Festival confirming their event date, Steven thought to himself, ‘That would’ve been me’.  


“Then I thought again, ‘Why not I do it with a different genre and different market?’ So, I started brainstorming for BSMF.”


<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Good things don’t come easy</h2>


With support from family and friends, as well as from Datuk Sri Karim, the tourism minister of Sarawak, Steven set off to make the BSMF dream come true.


But of course, dreams are only dreams until the work is actually put in. And the work that went into BSMF is nothing to scoff at.


Booking talents that people will show up for is naturally one of the biggest concerns.


“There are language barriers and cultural differences, and these surely have been extra challenges,” Steven shared.


“It took us about five months to finalise the line up. With the plan of making this big and impactful, we have to look for an artist that is popular yet matured, as it’s very sensitive to perform in Malaysia after recent incidents.”


Of course, he’s referring to the incident with <a href="https://vulcanpost.com/835318/good-vibes-festival-future-sound-asia-alife-conference-the-1975/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The 1975 that happened during Good Vibes Festival</a>, which not only affected festgoers and <a href="https://vulcanpost.com/834827/good-vibes-festival-malaysia-cancelled-affected-local-food-vendors/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">vendors</a>, but also the industry at large.  


“We have to pick artists without issue in the past and tendency of doing ‘funny’ things to challenge the authorities,” Steven pointed out.


However, this was only one hurdle. In fact, getting artists on board is nothing compared to actually selling tickets.


For those curious, the two-day ticket prices start at RM488 for Cat-5, RM488 for Cat-4, RM688 for Cat-3, RM788 for Cat-2, and RM888 for Cat-1. VIP tickets are RM1,288.


As Steven said, “There are too many challenges, other than getting artist into land of Borneo, the bigger challenge is to get locals to buy tickets. No joke. It’s more stressful than getting Korean artists in.”


While BSMF was well received from oversea fans, Steven reported according to the sales data, things were different with the local market.


“Many of the locals are not well exposed to concert or music festivals, especially such a scale of events,” he said.


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Borneo-Sonic-Music-Festival-Malaysia-BME-International-002.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="536" src="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Borneo-Sonic-Music-Festival-Malaysia-BME-International-002-1024x536.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-840827" srcset="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Borneo-Sonic-Music-Festival-Malaysia-BME-International-002-1024x536.jpg 1024w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Borneo-Sonic-Music-Festival-Malaysia-BME-International-002-300x157.jpg 300w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Borneo-Sonic-Music-Festival-Malaysia-BME-International-002-768x402.jpg 768w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Borneo-Sonic-Music-Festival-Malaysia-BME-International-002-150x79.jpg 150w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Borneo-Sonic-Music-Festival-Malaysia-BME-International-002.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image Credit: Borneo Sonic Music Festival</figcaption></figure>


“There are also groups being sceptical as there are many cancellations of concerts, some are expecting our event will eventually cancel due to marketing gimmick to sell big names who never make it to Kuching.”


Working with authorities and getting permits are things to worry over, too, especially as BSMF would be one of the biggest music shows in Kuching.


According to Steven, Sarawak Stadium, which BSMF will be hosted in, has not housed any big events other than sports events.  


Perhaps this is one of the reasons why BSMF actually ran into some trouble on September 16 when they had to change the seating plan. This resulted in <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CxQbCLVP5bY/?img_index=1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">some negative feedback from commenters</a>.


However, the organisers took the feedback in stride and revised the seating plan once more. That said, there <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CxVegKmvm7q/?img_index=1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">are still negative comments</a>, but <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cxkr7Ykviht/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">inquiries about the event are also still pouring in</a>.


<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Putting Borneo on the music tourism map</h2>


Although the reception hasn’t been that great, Steven is still positive about the bigger picture and is working with long-term goals such as BSMF 2.0 and 3.0 in mind.


“Numbers of tickets sold aren’t as great as we expected but still at great potential side as many concertgoers are last-minute walk-ins,” he said.


“I believe people will act quickly and feeling [FOMO] after seeing artists arriving at the airport, flooded with fans. Then they will move their legs to buy tickets.” 


Post-BSMF, BME International has other plans in the works. For one, the team aims to organise smaller-scale concerts and facilitate fan meet-and-greets.


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Borneo-Sonic-Music-Festival-Malaysia-BME-International-005.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="536" src="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Borneo-Sonic-Music-Festival-Malaysia-BME-International-005-1024x536.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-840831" srcset="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Borneo-Sonic-Music-Festival-Malaysia-BME-International-005-1024x536.jpg 1024w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Borneo-Sonic-Music-Festival-Malaysia-BME-International-005-300x157.jpg 300w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Borneo-Sonic-Music-Festival-Malaysia-BME-International-005-768x402.jpg 768w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Borneo-Sonic-Music-Festival-Malaysia-BME-International-005-150x79.jpg 150w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Borneo-Sonic-Music-Festival-Malaysia-BME-International-005.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image Credit: Borneo Sonic Music Festival</figcaption></figure>


For BSMF, Steven said he definitely aims to organise it as an annual event.


“As mentioned above, the concert culture here is not as great as West Malaysia,” Steven pointed out.  “We have festivals that are mainly organised by government agencies to celebrate National Day and festive events, but not a big music concert or music festival by private sectors.”


However, with time and efforts from the local industry, relevant infrastructure such as accommodations and transport systems have improved significantly, Steven said.


Coupled with the effort and passion from teams such as BME International, perhaps Sarawak will grow into a global destination for music events.  


<ul>
<li>Learn more about Borneo Sonic Music Festival <a href="https://www.borneosonic.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>. </li>


<li>Read other articles we’ve written about entertainment <a href="https://vulcanpost.com/category/entertainment/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>. </li>
</ul>


Also Read: <a href="https://vulcanpost.com/840310/time-digital-masterclass-webinar-hybrid-upscale-sme-business-malaysia/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">This free startup event lets founders learn through leaders from Dropee, Fave & Sellercraft</a>


Featured Image Credit: Borneo Sonic Music Festival

Why this property developer is hosting a music fest in Kuching with a lineup of K-Pop stars

Ride-hailing giant Grab is winding down its GrabInvest business in Singapore and has effectively discontinued its investment products, AutoInvest and Earn+. 


“This decision follows an extensive review which concluded that the business would not be commercially viable,” said Grab in an email to users. 


Starting from today (September 25), deposits will no longer be accepted into the investment products, and automatic transfers into AutoInvest have been paused. 


Users are allowed to withdraw their monies from these investment products until October 13. If users do not take out their money by then, their holdings will be automatically sold at the current market price and their monies will be returned to their GrabPay Wallet. 


<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">
We understand that the discontinuation of AutoInvest and Earn+ may result in an earlier than desired redemption of your units in the funds. Where your redemption takes place on and from 25 September 2023 and results in a negative dollar value return on your portfolio, we will credit that equivalent dollar to your GrabPay wallet as a gesture of goodwill.
<cite>– Grab</cite></blockquote>


From October 31, all AutoInvest and Earn+ accounts will be permanently closed, preventing users from holding funds in either accounts. However, users will still be able to view their account details and transaction history until November 13. 


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/trust-bank-10.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/trust-bank-10-1024x930.jpg" alt="Grab AutoInvest Earn+ discontinued" class="wp-image-840788" width="841" height="763" srcset="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/trust-bank-10-1024x930.jpg 1024w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/trust-bank-10-300x273.jpg 300w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/trust-bank-10-768x698.jpg 768w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/trust-bank-10-150x136.jpg 150w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/trust-bank-10.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 841px) 100vw, 841px" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">AutoInvest and Earn+ are discontinued/ Image Credit: Screengrab by Vulcan Post</figcaption></figure>


The GrabInvest business, which only served the Singapore market, was launched following <a href="https://vulcanpost.com/687994/grab-acquires-bento-grabinvest/">Grab’s acquisition</a> of Singapore-based robo-advisory startup Bento Invest Pte Ltd (Bento) back in 2020. 


AutoInvest was its first investment offering, which allowed Singaporeans to invest small sums of money while spending in Grab’s ecosystem. Meanwhile, Earn+ was <a href="https://www.techinasia.com/grab-launches-financial-services-brand">launched</a> in May 2022, allowing Grab users to put money into their GrabPay Wallets and earn interests of up to 2.5 per cent every year.


Featured Image Credit: Grab / Seedly


Also Read: <a href="https://vulcanpost.com/840433/grab-might-acquire-foodpandas-asian-operations-for-s1-5-billion/">Grab might acquire foodpanda’s Asian operations for S$1.5 billion, according to German report</a>

Grab winds down its GrabInvest business, citing non-viability in S’pore market

Food delivery platform foodpanda is laying off an undisclosed number of employees across Asia-Pacific while its parent company, Delivery Hero, is in <a href="https://vulcanpost.com/840433/grab-might-acquire-foodpandas-asian-operations-for-s1-5-billion/">preliminary discussions</a> with potential buyers to sell part of its Southeast Asian food delivery business. 


In a <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2023/09/22/foodpanda-confirms-talks-to-sell-part-of-its-asia-business-layoffs.html">memo seen by CNBC</a>, Jakob Sebastian Angele, APAC CEO of foodpanda, shared that the company’s main priority now is “to become leaner, more efficient and even more agile”. As such, the company aims to streamline its operations to “take on a more structured approach for the coming days”. 


This marks the company’s third round of layoffs across Southeast Asia, following a round job cuts in February, which mainly <a href="https://www.techinasia.com/foodpanda-layoff-feb23">affected its staff in Malaysia</a>. Prior to that, the company <a href="https://mothership.sg/2022/09/foodpanda-retrench-singapore/">reportedly retrenched</a> 60 employees in Singapore back in September last year — or about 5 per cent of its 1,200 workforce — amid economic headwinds. 


“While we already implemented some measures earlier this year, there is more we have to do to create the right set-up for our operations,” Jakob told CNBC. 


Since its inception in 2011, Delivery Hero has yet to become profitable. Although it achieved a notably <a href="https://www.marketscreener.com/quote/stock/DELIVERY-HERO-SE-36718506/news/Delivery-Hero-nearly-halves-loss-but-falls-short-of-expectations-44730340/">reduced loss of over €832 million</a> in the first half of the year compared to nearly €1.5 billion the previous year, analysts had anticipated a more modest deficit.


Featured Image Credit: foodpanda 


Also Read: <a href="https://vulcanpost.com/840433/grab-might-acquire-foodpandas-asian-operations-for-s1-5-billion/">Grab might acquire foodpanda’s Asian operations for S$1.5 billion, according to German report</a>

Delivery giant foodpanda trims APAC workforce to streamline operations amidst acquisition talks

Are the fees fair? Grab’s timestamp feature expose truth behind its delivery fee discrepancies

[Written in partnership with Samadhi Retreats, but the editorial team had full control over the content.]


<a href="https://www.samadhiretreats.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Samadhi Retreats’</a> annual Samadhi Carnival will be making its comeback on September 30, 2023, at <a href="https://www.tamarindrestaurants.com/tamarind-springs" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tamarind Springs</a> in Ampang.


Regarded as a scenic food destination serving Indochinese cuisine, Tamarind Springs is a part of Samadhi Retreats’ vast portfolio that encompasses dining and hospitality brands. 


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Samadhi-Carnival-malaysia-tamarind-Springs-food-festival-2023-003.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="536" src="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Samadhi-Carnival-malaysia-tamarind-Springs-food-festival-2023-003-1024x536.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-839894" srcset="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Samadhi-Carnival-malaysia-tamarind-Springs-food-festival-2023-003-1024x536.jpg 1024w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Samadhi-Carnival-malaysia-tamarind-Springs-food-festival-2023-003-300x157.jpg 300w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Samadhi-Carnival-malaysia-tamarind-Springs-food-festival-2023-003-768x402.jpg 768w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Samadhi-Carnival-malaysia-tamarind-Springs-food-festival-2023-003-150x79.jpg 150w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Samadhi-Carnival-malaysia-tamarind-Springs-food-festival-2023-003.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image Credit: Samadhi Retreats</figcaption></figure>


From 7PM to 11PM on the day of the carnival, guests can expect to embark on a unique culinary experience, featuring a variety of wines and spirits from around the globe.


According to Natasya Falina, the head of marketing at Samadhi Retreats, the first such carnival happened nine years ago, and it started off as a Wine Fiesta event together with Straits Wine company in Singapore.


“But over the years it has evolved into something that’s more relevant with the current F&B scene with cocktail bar pop-ups and creative food presentations,” she said.


<h2 class="wp-block-heading">A gourmand’s heaven</h2>


Catering to the foodies, the carnival will have over 80 types of canapés from six different award-winning restaurants and retreats by Samadhi.


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Samadhi-Carnival-malaysia-tamarind-Springs-food-festival-2023-002.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="536" src="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Samadhi-Carnival-malaysia-tamarind-Springs-food-festival-2023-002-1024x536.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-839898" srcset="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Samadhi-Carnival-malaysia-tamarind-Springs-food-festival-2023-002-1024x536.jpg 1024w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Samadhi-Carnival-malaysia-tamarind-Springs-food-festival-2023-002-300x157.jpg 300w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Samadhi-Carnival-malaysia-tamarind-Springs-food-festival-2023-002-768x402.jpg 768w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Samadhi-Carnival-malaysia-tamarind-Springs-food-festival-2023-002-150x79.jpg 150w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Samadhi-Carnival-malaysia-tamarind-Springs-food-festival-2023-002.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image Credit: Samadhi Retreats</figcaption></figure>


To go with the hors d’oeuvre, Samadhi Carnival has prepared more than 50 types of wines from around the world. Moreover, there’ll be bottomless Carlsberg beer, Somersby Cider, and Kronenbourg.


Samadhi Carnival has also teamed up with bars such as SOMA and Sanctuary 38, to create cocktails. Additionally, the carnival has exclusive partnerships with other local businesses including ice cream shop <a href="https://www.instagram.com/minus4degree/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Minus 4 Degree</a>, tuak brewer <a href="https://www.instagram.com/sunborneo_ragi/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sunborneo</a>, and fermented tea brand <a href="https://www.alochakombucha.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Alocha Komcbucha</a>.


While the food will be the star of the show, there will also be a variety of entertainment offerings. You can enjoy the show of contemporary Apsara dancers, or dance to the DJ’s beats yourself, get your fortune told through tarot reading, visit henna artists, and experience other traditional ethnic entertainment.


<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What’s included in the ticket</h2>


At RM250 per person, the ticket covers unlimited food, as well as the free flow of beer. Tickets also include four wine tastings, two cocktail tastings, and a complimentary ice cream per person.


Those visiting in a party of nine or more or more can get a discount of RM 230 per person.


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Samadhi-Carnival-malaysia-tamarind-Springs-food-festival-2023-004.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="536" src="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Samadhi-Carnival-malaysia-tamarind-Springs-food-festival-2023-004-1024x536.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-839897" srcset="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Samadhi-Carnival-malaysia-tamarind-Springs-food-festival-2023-004-1024x536.jpg 1024w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Samadhi-Carnival-malaysia-tamarind-Springs-food-festival-2023-004-300x157.jpg 300w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Samadhi-Carnival-malaysia-tamarind-Springs-food-festival-2023-004-768x402.jpg 768w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Samadhi-Carnival-malaysia-tamarind-Springs-food-festival-2023-004-150x79.jpg 150w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Samadhi-Carnival-malaysia-tamarind-Springs-food-festival-2023-004.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image Credit: Samadhi Retreats</figcaption></figure>


Natasya shared that Samadhi Carnival welcomed 360 guests last year, and plans to up that to 400 guests this year.


“We’re back with more spirits to offer basically,” Natasya said in regard to how the carnival has changed this year.


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Samadhi-Carnival-malaysia-tamarind-Springs-food-festival-2023-006.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="536" src="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Samadhi-Carnival-malaysia-tamarind-Springs-food-festival-2023-006-1024x536.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-839895" srcset="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Samadhi-Carnival-malaysia-tamarind-Springs-food-festival-2023-006-1024x536.jpg 1024w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Samadhi-Carnival-malaysia-tamarind-Springs-food-festival-2023-006-300x157.jpg 300w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Samadhi-Carnival-malaysia-tamarind-Springs-food-festival-2023-006-768x402.jpg 768w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Samadhi-Carnival-malaysia-tamarind-Springs-food-festival-2023-006-150x79.jpg 150w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Samadhi-Carnival-malaysia-tamarind-Springs-food-festival-2023-006.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image Credit: Samadhi Retreats</figcaption></figure>


“In the previous years, we invited two cocktail bars but these were not included in the package. But this year guests will get to try two full-sized cocktails, four glasses of wines (versus three glasses last year) and some really creative ice cream creations from Minus 4 Degree.”


Tickets <a href="https://form.jotform.com/232052290583452" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">can be purchased online</a> from now until September 29, 2023.


<ul>
<li>Learn more about Samadhi Carnival <a href="https://www.samadhiretreats.com/offers/samadhi-carnival-2023" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>. </li>


<li>Read other articles we’ve written about F&B businesses <a href="https://vulcanpost.com/category/entrepreneur/fnb/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>.</li>
</ul>


Also Read: <a href="https://vulcanpost.com/839552/u-mobile-package-1tb-5g-data-msian-sme/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Here’s how M’sian SMEs can get 1,000GB of high-speed data at RM50/month to boost their biz</a>


Featured Image Credit: Samadhi Retreats

Samadhi Retreats’ carnival on Sept 30 will feature 80+ canape options & free-flow beer

Here are top performing sellers from each M’sian state, as highlighted in Shopee’s new book

Popular supermarket chain, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/jayagrocer/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jaya Grocer</a>, opened its new pop-up store at Sunway Pyramid on October 1, 2023 to give customers and mall-goers a taste of what to expect when its new flagship store opens next year.


In a press release, Jaya Grocer’s CEO, Adelene Foo, stated that the pop-up store is to “mark their space” in the mall while renovations and fit-out works are underway.


“This is very much part of the Jaya Grocer service promise where we seek new and innovative ways to delight our customers,” she said. 


“We know our massive fit-out work is going to take months, so we’d rather give our loyal customers an immediate option to continue shopping with us in the meantime. This is the least we can do to serve our customers while, at the same time, excite the Sunway community and regular shoppers at Pyramid.”


Jason Chin, the Senior General Manager of Sunway Pyramid, expressed that the brand was thrilled at Jaya Grocer joining the Sunway Pyramid retail scene as the brand is one of the top choices for imported goods and high-quality fresh ingredients. 


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/IMG-1.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="682" src="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/IMG-1-1024x682.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-841352" srcset="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/IMG-1-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/IMG-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/IMG-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/IMG-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/IMG-1-150x100.jpg 150w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/IMG-1.jpg 2003w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image Credit: Jaya Grocer</figcaption></figure>


“We’re so excited to welcome Jaya Grocer on board and especially when they have taken the initiative to set up a ‘pop-up’ store to serve customers in the interim,” he said. 


<h2 class="wp-block-heading">New flagship store in the works</h2>


Established in 2007, Jaya Grocer is a local retail chain that focuses on providing a wide range of imported goods and high-quality fresh ingredients to Malaysian households. 


The brand currently has over 45 outlets across Malaysia, including specialty stores such as Korean Grocer, the press release stated. According to its <a href="https://klec.jayagrocer.com/pages/about-us-3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">website</a>, the brand’s one and only flagship store is located in Empire Shopping Gallery in Subang.


As for its upcoming flagship store at Sunway Pyramid, it is expected to be fully open by the fourth quarter of 2024.


This flagship store will be located in the space that <a href="https://vulcanpost.com/835821/aeon-history-malaysia-major-retail-store-supermarket-chain/">AEON</a> previously occupied for 16 years before closing its doors in Sunway Pyramid a few months ago in July 2023. 


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/jaya-grocer-pop-up-store-sunway-pyramid-malaysia-004.png"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="536" src="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/jaya-grocer-pop-up-store-sunway-pyramid-malaysia-004-1024x536.png" alt="" class="wp-image-841358" srcset="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/jaya-grocer-pop-up-store-sunway-pyramid-malaysia-004-1024x536.png 1024w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/jaya-grocer-pop-up-store-sunway-pyramid-malaysia-004-300x157.png 300w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/jaya-grocer-pop-up-store-sunway-pyramid-malaysia-004-768x402.png 768w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/jaya-grocer-pop-up-store-sunway-pyramid-malaysia-004-150x79.png 150w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/jaya-grocer-pop-up-store-sunway-pyramid-malaysia-004.png 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>


In <a href="https://www.facebook.com/sunwaypyramid/posts/pfbid02fXWq9yMEW8jgmoDdTj3PtbGm2buoYYeRzxBr7GjDrKbKuEpfxGhvktL1oSzHBSUVl" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">AEON’s Facebook post</a> announcing its closure, the company didn’t disclose the reason behind its departure from the Subang Jaya-based mall. 


However, the mall’s official website link included in the post does explain that this is part of the <a href="https://www.sunwaypyramid.com/enhancement-progress?fbclid=IwAR3CHtkHzdYHntJKLrHcGQtNBPL4trwSJmY5ejyW0oMzAnavva1e0G2V_gA" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sunway Pyramid Enhancement Progress</a>. In other words, the mall is undergoing improvements to introduce a fresh and trendy atmosphere to its spaces.


This is corroborated by a <a href="https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/business/2023/05/05/sunway-reits-strong-q1-performance-gets-nod-from-research-houses/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Free Malaysia Today</a> report from May 2023, where it was shared that the Sunway Real Estate Investment Trust (Sunway REIT) had no intentions of extending its lease with Sunway Pyramid’s AEON, as the corporation planned to convert the space into smaller specialty stores that carry higher rental rates.


<h2 class="wp-block-heading">More new stores to look out for</h2>


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/IMG-3.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1024" height="683" src="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/IMG-3-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-841353" srcset="https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/IMG-3-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/IMG-3-300x200.jpg 300w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/IMG-3-768x512.jpg 768w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/IMG-3-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/IMG-3-150x100.jpg 150w, https://vulcanpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/IMG-3.jpg 1752w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image Credit: Jaya Grocer</figcaption></figure>


To reward Sunway Pyramid customers, Jaya Grocer is currently offering special opening promotions from October 1 to October 15 for products from every category. 


There will be two parts to its Sunway Pyramid pop-up stores, with the main one offering groceries located at the mall’s Blue Concourse area. It’s already open to the public since October 1, 2023.


The second pop-up store will feature products from Jaya Grocer’s own bakery called The Baker’s Son, and also imported goods like those from Coles originating from Australia. This pop-up can be found at the Orange Concourse and is set to be open next week.


From what was shared on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jayagrocer/?hl=en&img_index=4" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jaya Grocer’s Instagram post</a>, customers can purchase fresh produce, cooking condiments, and also daily necessities like instant coffee and tissues at its pop-up store.


Foo also added that there will be more special opening promotions coming soon.


Aside from Jaya Grocer, Chin <a href="https://www.thesundaily.my/local/sunway-pyramid-welcomes-jaya-grocer-as-new-anchor-tenant-EK11280598" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">previously stated in July</a> that the mall will also be bringing in other flagship stores and specialty brands to add even more style and flair to the enhanced portion of the mall.


<ul>
<li>Learn more about Jaya Grocer <a href="https://www.facebook.com/jayagrocer/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>. </li>


<li>Read articles we’ve written about Malaysian startups <a href="https://vulcanpost.com/tag/malaysian-startup/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>.</li>
</ul>


Also Read: <a href="https://vulcanpost.com/839552/u-mobile-package-1tb-5g-data-msian-sme/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Here’s how M’sian SMEs can get 1,000GB of high-speed data at RM50/month to boost their biz</a>


Featured Image Credit: Jaya Grocer

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