Due to most marshmallows in the country’s market being imported from overseas and of unproven Halal status, a Malaysian man is building an empire on the soft, sugary confection.
According to a report by BERNAMA, Nur Ikhmal Danial Zakaria, who is a graduate of Monash University in Australia, created Hello Marshmallow to ensure Muslims have a Halal-certified marshmallow option.
“I’ve always wanted to be an entrepreneur and looked for ideas to launch a product with low capital. At first, I tried selling popcorn, but I changed my mind after realising that Muslim consumers are struggling to find Halal marshmallow products, especially those made by Muslims themselves,”
“So, I decided to make my own marshmallows.”
He started Hello Marshmallow in April 2023, using just 3 ingredients – sugar, glucose syrup and gelatin.
He also took 3 to 4 months of research and development to ensure that his products satisfy the taste of his customers while adhering to Islamic laws.
“I sourced recipes from TikTok and YouTube, then refined and modified them to suit customer preferences. Every ingredient used is certified Halal and follows standard operating procedures to ensure high quality and safety,”
“For now, we don’t use any other ingredients in our products. However, one of our biggest challenges is our country’s hot weather, which makes marshmallows prone to melting. So, we had to tweak the recipe to improve its stability,” Nur Ikhmal Danial explained.
He has since set his eyes on taking the local market by storm before he considers expanding internationally.
“Many customers have expressed their gratitude to me for offering a Halal alternative, praising the taste and texture, which are comparable to that of existing (marshmallow) products in the market,” he said.
Hello Marshmallow offers 6 flavours, namely strawberry, chocolate, blueberry, mixed-nut butterscotch, green tea and cookies & cream.
You can check out Hello Marshmallow via their TikTok account.
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