Nasi Impit Retort Adyanana Eyes Brunei, Indonesian Markets
By Kamarul Halim M Kamal
BATU PAHAT, April 30 (Bernama) -- Nasi impit (compressed rice cake) producer Nasi Impit Retort Adyanana, which has managed to penetrate the Singapore market in the last two years, now aims to spread its wing to Brunei and Indonesia by seeking business partners in these countries.
Its owner Ahmad Md Yaacob, 66, said the success so far was beyond his expectations, especially since the retort technology he uses was discovered accidentally while watching television during the Movement Control Order (MCO) period in 2020.
“I opened a food stall in 1995, selling dishes based on nasi impit such as lontong, soto, and bihun soto, as well as rice with side dishes. After about 10 years, I began receiving orders from close acquaintances,” he said when met by Bernama.
According to him, in the early stages, the nasi impit was produced on a small scale and wrapped in banana leaves, but it was only made when there was a request as it would not last long.
“At that time, the nasi impit could only last 24 to 36 hours before turning watery, spoiled, and foul-smelling. If stored in the refrigerator, the texture would harden and its original taste would be affected,” he said.
Ahmad said these limitations prevented him from fulfilling large orders, including during the early implementation of the MCO when demand increased while delivery was a challenge.
The turning point came when he discovered retort technology, which allows food to be processed and stored longer without compromising quality.
“During the MCO period, I learned this method in Melaka and began using it to produce nasi impit. As a result, the product could last up to a year,” he said.
The market covered initially were Johor and Melaka before it was expanded to include Kuala Lumpur and Selangor. In 2024, the company made its foray into the Singapore market through a local agent.
Today, Nasi Impit Retort Adyanana produces about 500 packs of nasi impit per day, with significant increases during festive seasons such as the Aidilfitri and Aidiladha celebrations.
Ahmad said that with the main issue he faced for more than a decade -- the product shelf life -- now resolved, it has opened up opportunities to penetrate international markets.
Nasi Impit Retort Adyanana’s products come in two sizes: 500 grammes and 1 kilogramme.
Meanwhile, the Batu Pahat district agriculture department has also supported the business’s growth by providing assistance in the form of a retort machine worth RM45,000.
-- BERNAMA