Partners in life and business awarded

MORE than 10 companies from various industry sectors were awarded the BrandLaureate SMEs Best Brands 2015-2016 award. The recent award presentation ceremony held at Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur saw Datuk Vincent Choo and his wife Datin Cynthia Cheong as recipients of BrandLaureate’s inaugural SMEs Business Couple of the Year award. They were honoured with the prize for their stewardship of the American Subway franchise in Malaysia. No doubt the power couple were honoured and humbled to receive the award. However, they credited their team at Urban Idea Sdn Bhd for the achievement, along with the franchisees who have helped build the Subway brand together with them.
SOW AND REAP
At the awards ceremony, Choo shared about the important criteria in growing one’s brand. He cited hard work and good planning as two essential requisites. “To date we have 205 outlets across the peninsula. We hope to have 250 by 2017,” he expressed.
“With the current market condition, we just have to be a little more prudent and careful with our expansion plan this year,” Choo shared, informing of his intention to open some 25 outlets this year.
In the same vein, Cheong echoed her husband’s sentiments but added that the company will also strive to provide their customers with value for money products during this challenging period. “We are looking to ensure we offer promotions that can ease our consumers’ spending,” she said.
AWARDS APLENTY
Handpicked for their strong leadership skills and their steadfast commitment in advocating their brand vision and mission, the dynamic duo and their dedicated team are no greenhorns where awards and accolades are concerned. Past achievements include:
► The BrandLaureate – SMEs Best Brand Awards for the Best Brand in Food & Beverages category in 2011;
► The BrandLaureate – SMEs Signature Award in Food & Beverages – Sandwiches in 2012;
► 1Malaysia iAward 2012 in the iTaste category;
► The Golden Eagle Awards for Malaysia’s 100 Excellent Enterprises 2013;
► The Sin Chew Business Excellent Awards 2013;
► A bronze award in the fast food category at the Putra Brand Awards 2014 – The People’s Choice;
► The Food & Beverage Man of the Year 2014 – The BrandLaureate SMEs BrandLeadership Award;
► The BrandLaureate Star Brand Award – Food & Sandwiches 2014;
► The McMillan Woods Global Awards 2015 – Master Class Awards; and
► The MRCA Awards 2015 – Outstanding National Growth.