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KSK Land Sdn Bhd’s Platter Accelerator programme which aims to assist small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the food and beverage (F&B) sector has received over 50 applicants within a month.
KSK Land MD Joanne Kua said the applications are from both local and international F&B players.
“We are still in the middle of reviewing each F&B SMEs in terms of their eligibility for the programme and will be excited to announce the line-up of restaurateurs before the end of the year,” she told The Malaysian Reserve recently.
She said the F&B industry is one of the most affected industries by the Covid-19 pandemic, as such, KSK Land see an opportunity to help the F&B SMEs to accelerate their business with the programme.
Kua, who is also the KSK Group Bhd CEO, said venturing into tech start-ups such as co-founding Carmana Co Ltd and Sunday Ins Co Ltd and growing businesses like KSK Land into the size it is today, has made her realised that SME owners need not only the financial support but also mentorship and coaching as well.
“This has inspired us to launch the Platter Accelerator programme which aims to provide more than just financial support, but also mentorship, a coveted space in Platter and technical support to guide restaurateurs in developing a sustainable and profitable business in the long run.
“Aside from developing a strong value proposition, the internal and external mentors will be available to provide guidance and strategic direction to participants throughout the programme period to enhance and grow their business model to be flexible and agile to navigate through unforeseen business challenges or economic downturns,” she said.
The mentors comprise of KSK Land’s top management including Kua herself, ED Vincent Tan and CFO Steven Ang.
The developer will also be introducing seasoned F&B industry mentors for the programme.
To participate in the programme, applicants must have a minimum of two years in operation and should be able to demonstrate a financial break-even from their profit and loss statements as well as businesses growth potential.
Among the benefits of KSK Land’s Platter Accelerator programme are financial support of up to RM100,000 in the form of a loan, which will be utilised for operational needs of the F&B tenants and will be part of 8 Conlay’s Platter when completed in 2021.
The 21,336 sq ft Platter dining hall that can fit over 20 F&B businesses is located inside the retail space of KSK Land’s 8 Conlay development.
The RM5.4 billion project feaures a five-star Kempinski Hotel, lifestyle retail quarters and YOO8 branded residences serviced by Kempinski and designed by Steve Leung & YOO (Tower A) and Kelly Hoppen for YOO (Tower B).
Kua said as the current pandemic continues, flexibility and adaptability to change and the ability to win back the new and ever-changing customer is important.
“The speed of which a company can adapt to the ‘new normal’ is crucial. For example, when KSK Land deployed its ‘Agile’ work culture a year ago, it has now benefitted the company in many ways in sustaining its business continuity plans.
“Finding people with the right skill set, reskilling where necessary and discovering those who build and strengthen the organisation’s internal and external customer-centric culture is critical to thrive in these challenging times,” she added.
Kua said the company is confident the mentors for the programme will be able to lead the SMEs to greater heights and even thrive on an international level.
Source: https://themalaysianreserve.com/2020/09/28/ksk-lands-platter-accelerator-programme-receives-over-50-applicants/