Kuala lumpur: Brahim’s Holdings Bhd is steadily rebuilding its inflight catering business while expanding its presence in the global halal food segment, said its executive chairman, Datuk Seri Ibrahim Ahmad. Speaking to reporters during the company’s 37th anniversary celebration here today, he said more clients have resumed services with the company, including new airlines.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, in February, Brahim’s had about half of their 37 airline clients back. Today, more have returned, and two new ones have joined, one of which is a Chinese airline, reflecting the increasing number of flights from China to Malaysia, especially to Penang. Brahim’s, known as Malaysia’s trusted inflight caterer and a pioneer in halal ready-to-eat meals, had served 38 airlines before the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted global aviation.
Top airlines such as Qatar Airways, Emirates, British Airways, Turkish Airlines, Japan Airlines, and All Nippon Airways have resumed services with the company. However, Brahim’s is still waiting for a few more to return. Despite the gradual recovery, Ibrahim stated that Brahim’s has already reached operational break-even.
He expressed that any new clients onboarded now would be considered bonuses and mentioned anticipation for new airlines and opportunities to grow. Brahim’s is also in talks to establish a new inflight catering facility overseas through a joint venture, with plans to make an announcement in October if discussions finalize successfully.
Beyond airline catering, Brahim’s has ventured into the Japanese market with four restaurants in Tokyo, two of which are wholly owned, while the other two are joint ventures with a Japanese hotel chain. The latest outlet opened two months ago in Tokyo, and there are plans to expand further in collaboration with Japanese partners.
Looking ahead, Brahim’s aims to tap into the growing halal tourism sector, particularly within ASEAN, which has the largest Muslim population in the world. Ibrahim emphasized the potential for halal business in ASEAN and the possibility of collaborating with countries like Indonesia and Singapore to expand the halal footprint on a global scale.
Brahim’s leading edge in food technology, including innovations in retort technology-a high-heat food preservation process-has gained traction in Japan. This technology is something the company plans to continue leveraging globally. Since its establishment, Brahim’s has evolved from a traditional caterer to a global player in halal food innovation, with ambitions aligned to the recovery of aviation and the rising demand for halal-certified food products.