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Sisters' square pizza business a hit after pandemic pivot
🇲🇾 Malaysia /Health & Science

Sisters' square pizza business a hit after pandemic pivot

From Utusan Malaysia · () Malay

Translated from Malay, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Sources not specified Context piece
  • Two sisters started a small home-based business selling frozen donuts and buns during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • They expanded their offerings to include "Dopau Piza Talam," a unique square-shaped pizza, after completing culinary training.
  • The business has moved to a larger space and offers five pizza varieties, emphasizing homemade dough and umami-rich sauce.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, sisters Dalilah Izzati, 33, and Dalilah Izzatul Aqmal Nasoha, 26, began a modest home-based business selling frozen donuts and buns via cash-on-delivery. Operating from Felda Jengka 10 in Bandar Pusat Jengka, their venture initially aimed to assist customers during the emergency period.

I and Dalilah Izzatul prepare donuts and buns that are easy to cook and have a soft texture, and taste like bread, and are delicious eaten hot.

— Dalilah IzzatiDescribing the initial products of their business.

Their offerings, known for their soft texture and ease of preparation, gained popularity. Dalilah Izzati, who holds a Computer Science degree from Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah, later pursued a six-month vocational training (TVET) in confectionery and bakery at Pusat GiatMara Raub. This training inspired the sisters to launch "Dopau Piza Talam."

The business, whose trademark "Dopau" is a portmanteau of "donat" (donut) and "pau" (bun), has since relocated to a more spacious shop owned by Koperasi Felda Jengka 10. This move facilitates the production of their signature square-shaped pizza.

Actually, the use of 'Dopau' as a trademark is an abbreviation of the words 'donat' and 'pau', combined as our effort to build the Dopau Piza Talam business and other foods.

— Dalilah IzzatulExplaining the origin of the business's unique name.

The "Dopau Piza Talam" distinguishes itself with homemade pizza dough and a rich, umami tomato sauce. The sisters experimented extensively to achieve a soft crust that remains palatable even when cold, and a sauce with a balanced sweet and tangy flavor. They opted for a square shape to stand out in the market, and generously top their pizzas with ingredients like sausage, crab sticks, minced chicken, and mozzarella cheese.

The specialty of Dopau Piza Talam lies in the pizza dough and pizza sauce made from scratch.

— Dalilah IzzatiHighlighting the key features of their signature pizza.

Cooked in an industrial oven, a donation from MARA's entrepreneurship grant program, the pizzas are prepared in 20 minutes. They are available in five varieties, sized 8x8 inches, with prices ranging from RM12 to RM20, depending on the toppings.

We chose a square shape and not round like regular pizza to differentiate Dopau pizza in the market.

— Dalilah IzzatiExplaining the unique shape of their pizza.
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.

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