DistantNews
Support us
From home baker to cafe owner: The Layers expands to three outlets in Kelantan
🇲🇾 Malaysia /Culture & Society

From home baker to cafe owner: The Layers expands to three outlets in Kelantan

From Utusan Malaysia · () Malay

Translated from Malay, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Outcome reported
  • The Malaysian brand The Layers, initially a home-baker in 2016, has expanded to operate three physical cafes in Kelantan.
  • Founder Ahmad Faris Ramli, a culinary arts graduate, was motivated by customer trust in his premium cake and pastry quality.
  • The brand emphasizes strict quality control through its own bakery, holds Halal certification, and has overcome challenges like the pandemic and rising ingredient costs.

What began as a home-based baking operation in 2016 has blossomed into a successful local brand with three physical cafes in Kelantan. The Layers, founded by 31-year-old Ahmad Faris Ramli, has become a favorite among locals for its premium cakes and pastries.

Ramli, who holds degrees in Culinary Arts and Business Administration Marketing from Universiti Teknologi MARA, cited growing customer confidence as the primary driver for opening the first physical cafe in 2021. He noted that as a male entrepreneur in the premium cake and pastry sector, he gained trust and recognition for his work. "After several years of making cakes from home, I saw customer trust increasing. Many were attracted because not many local male entrepreneurs are involved in the premium cake and pastry field, which gave confidence in our work," he told Utusan Malaysia.

After several years of making cakes from home, I saw customer trust increasing. Many were attracted because not many local male entrepreneurs are involved in the premium cake and pastry field, which gave confidence in our work.

— Ahmad Faris RamliAhmad Faris Ramli explained the customer trust that motivated him to open a physical cafe.

Ramli's journey involved building a reputation by supplying cakes to cafes in Kelantan starting in 2019 and actively sharing his business journey on social media. To ensure consistent quality across all branches, The Layers operates its own bakery, adhering to strict Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) from recipe preparation to baking techniques.

The brand has navigated significant challenges, including its first cafe facing the Movement Control Order (MCO) just two months after opening, kiosk closures, and sudden increases in raw material prices. Despite these hurdles, The Layers invested in obtaining Halal certification for its production house and cafes, registered its trademark, and received the 'Bersih, Selamat dan Sihat' (Clean, Safe, and Healthy) recognition from the Ministry of Health. "All of this required a significant investment of time, effort, and cost, but it has increased customer confidence and strengthened The Layers' credibility as a local brand that prioritizes quality and food safety," Ramli explained.

All of this required a significant investment of time, effort, and cost, but it has increased customer confidence and strengthened The Layers' credibility as a local brand that prioritizes quality and food safety.

— Ahmad Faris RamliAhmad Faris Ramli discussed the investments made to gain certifications and build brand credibility.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Utusan Malaysia in Malay. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog