Latest news with #supportlocal
Free Malaysia Today
3 days ago
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
‘Buy Malaysian' campaigns to boost local products, fruits
Armizan Mohd Ali, the minister for domestic trade, with a visitor to the ministry's cost of living carnival in Johor Bahru today. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : A government campaign to buy Malaysian goods, 'Jom Beli Lokal 2025' has been launched to support local businesses and reduce dependence on imports, while a campaign to buy local fruits will be launched next week. The 'Jom Beli Lokal' campaign, by the ministry of domestic trade and cost of living, is aimed at boosting sales of local products, strengthening the domestic economy, and supporting small enterprises. On July 5, the agriculture and food security ministry will launch its 'Eat Local Fruits' campaign in Tawau, Sabah, which will later be expanded nationwide. The Jom Beli Lokal initiative will help increase income for local entrepreneurs and showcases the quality of local products as competitive alternatives,' said domestic trade and cost of living minister Armizan Mohd Ali at the launch in Iskandar Puteri today, reported Bernama. The campaign will involve the government, private sector, and civil society, with promotions at shops and expanded efforts through online platforms such as TikTok, Shopee, and Lazada. Previous campaigns in 2023 and 2024 have generated RM347 million in sales from nearly 700,000 product listings online. Agriculture and food security minister Mohamad Sabu (left) with items made of pineapple fibre at a Pineapple Day exhibition in Johor Bahru today. (Bernama pic) In Johor Bahru, agriculture and food security minister Mohamad Sabu said the government will strengthen the Eat Local Fruits campaign to reduce reliance on imported fruits and boost farmers' income. He urged all federal and state agencies to serve local fruits at official events to show support for farmers. Local fruits such as pineapples, durians, jackfruit, and avocados have shown strong domestic and export market potential, he said. The campaign comes after Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim ordered government departments to stop using imported food at official events. Mohamad also praised the Malaysian Pineapple Industry Board for raising pineapple output beyond RM1 billion and commended Sarawak's development of the Sarawak Gold 1 variety, which matures faster and is disease-resistant.
BBC News
5 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Cheltenham restaurant to close as making money 'is impossible'
A restaurant owner says "it is impossible to make money in hospitality anymore" following the announcement of the closure of her restaurant Domaine 16, in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, survived the pandemic after opening on Regent Street in 2019, but will offer its last service to customers on news follows the recent closure of The Find coffee house on the same road, with the owners saying they were unsure if it would ever reopen."Sometimes you've got to say it's time to go, you've done everything you could, but it's game over," said Stephanie Ronssin, owner of Domaine 16. "I invested all my money and the reason for closing is I don't have any more money to invest," she Ronssin said the closure was tough to take as the restaurant had been successful, with "amazing" reviews and many customers. "Unfortunately, for the last two years, the margins have been reduced and reduced."The cost of utilities has gone through the roof, the cost of food has gone through the roof, so basically we're making enough just to be at zero."You don't want to put your prices too high because you still want customers in, so it's a vicious circle," she closure has led to other restaurant owners in Cheltenham urging people to support local independent Hung, who runs 288 Bar and Wok on the High Street, said the business had just experienced its worst three months in 20 years. "It's not sustainable mentally or financially. We may be the bosses but we still have our mortgages to pay and children to look after, all of those pressures," he Hung said he had started to wonder whether to keep running the restaurant, but he wanted to try and keep said: "You pay your landlord, pay your VAT, pay your staff and whatever's left you pay yourself. We're getting to the point where I'm earning less than the pot washer. "We choose it because we have a passion, but after a while that passion fades and becomes a burden. "But we're going to try, we have to do new things, we have to innovate, we're part of the community."HM Treasury has been contacted for comment.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Ontario woman expresses love for Canadians after they helped save her small business
When Shenul Williams woke up one morning to an overwhelming flood of online orders, she had no idea what had happened overnight. The owner of Aki's Fine Foods, a family-run small business based in Ontario, was worried how tariffs announced by U.S. President Donald Trump would affect her. Then her daughter Aliza Welch posted about the business on a 'BuyCanadian' Reddit thread—and everything changed. The post went viral among Canadians eager to support local businesses and orders skyrocketed by almost 4,000%. Williams credited the resurgence of her business to Canadians and talked about her love for Canada and Canadian values in an interview for Yahoo News Canada. Yahoo News Canada presents 'My Canada," a series spotlighting Canadians —born-and-raised to brand new — sharing their views on the Canadian dream, national identity, and the triumphs and tribulations that come with life inside and outside these borders. Canada is a beautiful land. \n It's got beautiful. \n And very, very good people who are compassionate, who care for each other. \n And Who are patriotic, that's the main thing. \n And who love Canada. \n It's all I can say. \n And I, and I get emotional because I'm, I love Canada. \n No matter what happens. \n Nobody can take our land away from us. \n
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Georgia May Foote's beauty business burns down
Georgia May Foote's beauty business has gone up in smoke after she lost all her stock and equipment in a fire. The former Coronation Street star, 34, has been working as a nail technician for the last four years and she's revealed her business has been devastated by a blaze at a storage unit in Middleton, Greater Manchester and she's appealing for help on behalf of others who have lost their livelihoods. In a post on Instagram, she explained: "Now as some of you may know I've been a nail technician now for the past four years alongside my acting. "Unfortunately my beautiful little studio was affected by a huge fire within the storage world unit in Middleton last night. "Not only has my business burnt down, but so has many other peoples. Along with peoples most loved possessions. My heart goes out to them all." She added: "Even though as beauticians we can move into a new space, our stock and tools, which we spend years collecting have all gone. We can no longer work. "My friends and fellow beauticians have to literally start again. With no way of even making the money to buy these tools. Some of them have children. "I am asking if you could please help us all by just giving a little towards helping my friends rebuild their businesses. We would be eternally grateful. "Fire is the most devastating thing. Thousands of pounds of stock has gone in seconds." Georgia added a link to a crowdfunder campaign which is raising money to help those affected by the fire. A statement posted on the page reads: "We're a group of 11 small business owners who have lost everything in the devastating fire at Storage World. "Overnight, our livelihoods, tools, stock, and years of hard work were reduced to ashes. What we had built up over time is now completely gone - and for many of us, starting again from scratch feels overwhelming without support. "We are now fundraising to raise £10,000 to help us begin the long journey of rebuilding our businesses. Every penny will go directly towards replacing essential equipment, materials, and supplies that we urgently need to get back on our feet. "This has been a heartbreaking time, but we are determined not to give up. Your support - whether through donations or simply by sharing this page - means the world to us. Together, we can recover, rebuild, and return stronger. "Thank you so much for your kindness and help." On Friday (20.06.25), the page had raised more than half of its £10,000 goal.
Free Malaysia Today
20-06-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
No more imported food at official events, Anwar tells civil service
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim urged civil servants and officials to be more mindful of the need to support homegrown produce. PUTRAJAYA : Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has directed all government departments to cease using imported goods, particularly food, at official events, in a bid to promote local products. Speaking at the finance ministry's monthly assembly, Anwar said that using local produce would not only bolster the local economy but would also open wider opportunities for local farmers to market their goods. 'If every government department follows this directive, it will create more opportunities for our farmers to supply local food ingredients,' he said. The prime minister also cited the example of neighbouring countries whom he said were committed to using local food products at all official functions. 'In Laos, Vietnam, and Thailand, I've never been served imported food at any government-hosted official event. It's automatic for them to ensure that only local food is served,' he said. Anwar also criticised the preference by some parties for imported food products despite the government's clear stance. Calling the practice inconsistent with efforts to empower the local economy, he urged civil servants and officials to be more mindful of the need to support homegrown produce.
