KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 2): Tony Lim, the founder of popular Malaysian food and beverage (F&B) chains BananaBro and Boat Noodle, has died at the age of 47.

His death was announced through condolence messages posted on the official Facebook pages of both restaurant chains on Monday.

BananaBro remembered Lim as a visionary who aspired to bring Malaysia’s traditional banana leaf dining culture to the international stage.

“Tony had a vision — to bring Malaysia’s banana leaf culture to the world. With his passion, generosity and unwavering belief in that dream, he brought BananaBro to life.

“Though he is no longer with us, his dream lives on in every banana leaf we serve and every life he has touched,” the restaurant chain said.

Meanwhile, Boat Noodle paid tribute to Lim as a dreamer, fighter and mentor who believed in the potential of people and the importance of growing together.

The brand said its core ethos, “Together We Grow”, was more than just a slogan to Lim, but a principle he lived by.

“He built Boat Noodle with passion, determination and a belief that no matter how difficult the journey, we could always do better, even if it was just one per cent every day.

“He taught us to never give up, to believe in ourselves, and most importantly, to grow together,” the brand said.

Lim made his mark on Malaysia’s dining scene in 2014 when he launched Boat Noodle, introducing the Thai street-style small-bowl noodle dining concept to local consumers.

He subsequently founded BananaBro in 2018, bringing the traditional banana leaf rice experience into a fast-casual dining format.

Both brands have since established a presence in Malaysia’s F&B industry.

Uploaded by Magessan Varatharaja