Rokiah Mahmud
With the opening of Ya Nur Trading Company Sdn Bhd’s first supermarket branch in Tutong District, the sixth and largest outlet, the company hopes to provide more options for customers in the district.
This was said by Director of Ya Nur Trading Company Revi Bhaskaran during the grand opening of the company’s new supermarket at Kampong Petani yesterday.
Chairman and Managing Director of Serikandi Group of Companies Shaikh Haji Khalid bin Shaikh Haji Ahmad and spouse Hajah Latifah binti Ambran officiated the launch. Indonesian Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam Dr Sujatmiko and Indian High Commissioner to Brunei Darussalam Alok Amitabh Dimri were also in attendance.
The director said Ya-Nur Trading Company is a successful product of vertical integration in business.
“It was established as an enterprise in December 2001 to support our group’s catering division with a small shop in Lumut, Kuala Belait. Today, with over 20 years of service, Ya Nur Trading Company has emerged as a professionally-managed company with well-established trade links, both locally and at international levels.
“We also developed various business verticals in FMCG business segment. From retail to wholesale, agriculture farms, poultry farm, and the latest addition of aquaculture farm, which is expected to be operational by early 2023 at Pelumpong area of Brunei Bay.
“While we were expanding, Ya Nur also faced challenges, including skilled manpower shortage, supply chain issues and financing issues, which we overcame. Like other businesses, the COVID-19 pandemic made a huge impact and changed the way we conduct business. I applaud the Government of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam’s management of the pandemic, which helped retail businesses like supermarkets stay afloat.
“We strive to provide employment opportunities for the citizens and contributing to the food security of the nation by investing in sustainable farming and the food industry. Ya Nur supermarket is now present nationwide and is expected to inject an additional BND50 million to expand our farming and food processing capabilities by 2030,” the director said.
Meanwhile, on the workforce, Shaikh Haji Khalid said that 70 per cent of the supermarket’s employees are locals.
The event proceeded with a cake-cutting ceremony in conjunction with the 20th anniversary of the company followed by a ribbon-cutting to officiate the launch.
