Lyna Mohamad
The signing of the distributorship agreement between Barramundi Group (B) Sdn Bhd and Ben Foods (B) Sdn Bhd is very significant. The brand is available in many parts of the world although Barramundi is still relatively new in Brunei, Barramundi Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) James Kwan said.
He made these comments following the signing of an agreement for the nationwide distribution of Barramundi Group’s Kühlbarra products at a ceremony at Anjung Saujana Restaurant, Brunei International Airport on Tuesday.
Kwan signed on behalf of Barramundi, while Ben Foods was represented by QAF Brunei Group CEO Albert Lau.
Kühlbarra is the brand name of the group’s sustainably and ocean-grown barramundi fish, now produced in Brunei. It has won its way to many celebrity and Michelin-star restaurants and home chefs over the last 15 years, including over 1,600 restaurants, hotels and retailers around the world. The appointment of Ben Foods as the distributor for Barramundi Group’s Kühlbarra products will further develop Kühlbarra’s presence in the growing market for quality seafood products. This is also in line with Ben Foods’ emphasis on premium seafood products.
“The signing of this distributorship agreement is indeed momentous and has been in the making for over three years. Before the very first barramundi could reach a Supa Save supermarket, or a Ben Foods customer, we have had to build our state of the art RAS (Recirculating Aquaculture System) nursery and sea farm in Brunei; and stock, nurture and grow the fish over 10 months,” Kwan said.
This, he added, is how they are certain of the quality and freshness of Kühlbarra products and confident that Bruneians will also love it.
“Having this partnership with Ben Foods is actually very strategic for us because Ben Foods is very well established in Brunei. It is also a premium brand and we find it very fitting with our premium Barramundi,” Kwan added.
He shared that both Ben Foods and Barramundi Group have a number of ambitions with the main aim being serving the Bruneian public with sustainable quality product.
“We are most proud of the fact that Kühlbarra in Brunei is offering a 100 per cent Bruneian-grown barramundi and more importantly, it is grown by a majority Bruneian team (over 80 per cent of our team are local),” Kwan said.
“This team grows the fish sustainably, to the highest international standards and thanks to this partnership is now available to every Bruneian home and chef,” he added.
“Apart from Kühlbarra, we are also working directly with Ben Foods for our FASSLER soups and smoked salmon products, which can already be found in Supa Save supermarkets. We intend to further expand and make available an even larger range of FASSLER products in Brunei,” he said.
Kwan added, “As one of the world’s leading barramundi producers in Singapore, Australia and Brunei, we are proud and privileged to be in partnership with a premium brand like Ben Foods. We look forward to deepening our relationship and introduce more of our other seafood brands and products in the near future.”
