KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 13): Japanese food processing group NH Foods Ltd, and poultry and eggs firm Lay Hong Bhd, officialy opened their new food manufacturing plant today in Pulau Indah.

The plant is operated by NHF Manufacturing (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, owned 51% by NH Foods and 49% by Lay Hong. 

The joint-venture is optimistic about its long-term prospects due to the demand for its processed foods in the domestic and export markets, as well as the upcoming Tokyo 2020 Olympics, according to a statemenmt issued on behalf of NH Foods.

“With a production capacity of 1,200 tonnes per month for the first phase, this halal frozen food manufacturing facility was designed to cater not only to the local market, but to export markets such as Middle East countries, Singapore and Japan," said NH Foods' director and senior managing executive officer Hiroji Okoso.

"We target to start exporting the products in the second half of 2019, with a ratio of 60% export and 40% domestic,” Okoso said.

The plant covers a total area of 4.58 acres, with expansion to 2,000 tonnes per month in Phase 2.

Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) chief executive officer Dr Mohd Shahreen Zainooreen Madros said in the statement that Malaysia’s halal product exports to Japan were valued at RM2.67 billion in 2016, up 20.8% from the previous year. Moving towards 2020, the halal product exports are anticipated to continue growing at a similar momentum.

The products under the Pulau Indah plant will be branded as Nippon Premium NutriPLus, which consist of Chicken Karaage (boneless diced thigh meat), Chiki-Chiki Bone (cut middle wing), Amakaraage (boneless whole thigh meat), Tebamoto Amakaraage (chicken drumette) and Chicken Menchi Katsu (boneless chicken meat and vegetables).

These products are currently available in major hypermarkets such as Aeon, Jaya Grocer and Village Grocer.