Focus acquires 19.37 pct stake in Saudee
21 Jun 2021
Focus Dynamics Group Bhd acquires a substantial stake of 19.37 per cent in Saudee Group Bhd after taking a subscription of the latter’s 138.05 million rights issue share.
In a statement today, Focus said the investment is under the previous memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed in October 2020 between the companies to roll out a robotics-based manufacturing facility and develop robotic burger kiosks.
The funds will be deployed into research and development (R&D), streamlining Saudee’s current operations to include more robotics processes in their current manufacturing operations and additional automated and robotic burger kiosks.
Both companies have begun a working committee to jointly develop the technology to allow the launch of the robotic kiosks within 12 months, tapping into the food processing industry valued at RM21.76 billion industry by the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA).
With the Covid-19 pandemic being a global issue, the social distancing and minimising contact aspect of the pandemic have brought robotics adoption in the food and beverage (F&B) industry several years forward.
The robotic burger kiosks will feature seamless and automated functions to provide accurate measurements of sauces, perfectly grilled meat patties and toasted buns in the form of automated kiosks and food trucks.
It will also be available as a franchisee model under Focus’ own bespoke brand or owner operator modes to empower the community with a new way to operate burger stalls.
Automation, digitisation and artificial intelligence have been Focus’ primary direction with its F&B concepts.
With the launch of the Mixobot in its flagship premise Lavo in April 2021, Focus intends to bring the whole technological push into the F&B space in the years to come.
Saudee is the nation’s foremost manufacturer of packaged food, with its premium brand Saudee Gold supplying nationwide high-quality frankfurters, burger patties and nuggets, all certified halal.
Source: NST
