Meet Mohamad Shafiq, Who Went From Selling Hotdogs Under a Staircase To Owning 3 Cafes

Opening and running a business in Malaysia is not easy. It takes hard work, perseverance, street smarts and an understanding of the market. Mohamad Shafiq Kamaruddin evidently has all these qualities as he is now the proud owner of 3 successful cafes in Penang, and at only 28-years-old.

He humbly began his journey into the food and beverage industry during his first year as a student at the University Sains Malaysia (USM) in Penang back in 2011.

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“I started my business on campus with RM250 as my capital at the time, that I took from my PTPTN (National Higher Education Fund) study loan. Me and my friend Syed Ikhmal (my business partner at the time) started selling fried ice cream and hotdogs beneath the stairs of our hostel building,” he told Bernama, in an exclusive interview.

Though, like most entrepreneurs, he had failed three times to get his cafe on the campus running before finally hitting the grand slam.

The Selangor-born entrepreneur, who graduated with a B.A Degree in Education, credits his roots for his love for food and his determination to keep up with the ever-evolving food and beverage field.

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“My love for culinary arts comes from my mother and grandfather’s kitchen, they had taught me everything about food and their motivation is what keeps me going in this industry.”

His struggles paid off in 2013, when he managed to turn an old computer lab at the USM campus hostel into his first cafe and officially launched his brand, ‘The Kapits’ – and he never looked back.

source: harian metro

Mohamad Shafiq now owns 2 cafes on the USM campus and also his breakthrough venture, Rumah Kacha by The Kapits, located at the Hua Hin Bus Depot on Jalan Gurdwara, George Town.

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Rumah Kacha by The Kapits, which opened in March of this year and got its name from the fact that the restaurant looks like a glass house from the outside, proved to be a winner in the eyes of tourists and locals alike, for not only is the outlet’s interior tasteful art that reflects Shafiq, but the food also delightfully satisfies their customers’ tastes.

Recognised for their localised twists on western foods, Rumah Kacha by The Kapits is well known for their home-cooked meals, especially their Masak Lemak Cili Api With Prawns pasta, while his campus cafes boast American styled burgers and homemade desserts that are easily delivered across campus.

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With all of that on his plate, he also runs a catering business and has about 34 people under his employment!

Shafiq was asked about what kids can learn from his endeavours as a successful restaurateur, in conjunction with International Youth Day 2019.

“Be bold, as the world is fair to those who are willing to succeed, and failing is just part of the road to success. Never despair because it’s the nature of the weak-hearted, and no weak-hearted are ever successful.” 

Also read: Meet Takalah Tan, The Man With Only Half a Brain But The Determination Of Two Men