ALOR SETAR: Leaving behind a comfortable corporate career in Kuala Lumpur was never part of her plan.
But when her mother decided to retire in 2020, Shazana Mahazir knew there was one thing she could not walk away from – the family business her late grandmother had built from the ground up four decades earlier.
Today, the 40-year-old is carrying on the legacy of Kuah Rojak Mak Bee, a sauce first produced by her grandmother, Bibi Abdullah – affectionately known as the eponymous Mak Bee – in 1980.
“My late grandmother raised me and I grew up watching how hard she worked. That’s why this business means so much to me,” she told Bernama.
What she inherited, however, was more than a well-known Kedah brand. Soon after taking over, Shazana found herself battling counterfeit products with packaging that closely resembled the original, sending sales tumbling by as much as 70%.
Rather than become embroiled in a lengthy legal fight, she chose a different approach. In 2024, she gave Mak Bee’s packaging a completely new look.
The gamble initially puzzled loyal customers, so instead of waiting for them to come to her, she took the sauce to them. Driving a van herself with just two employees, Shazana embarked on a nationwide roadshow to explain the rebranding.
“At times, all 200 cartons we brought sold out, forcing us to return to Alor Setar or arrange additional deliveries halfway through the journey,” she recalled.
Within three months, customer confidence had returned and sales began recovering.
One conversation with a customer also changed the business in unexpected ways. This customer told her Mak Bee’s rojak sauce was commonly used as the base for mamak-style fried noodles, rather than simply as a condiment.
“At first, I didn’t believe it, so I asked the customer to send me a video,” Shazana said.
She later submitted the recording to the customs department as evidence that the sauce had broader culinary uses, eventually leading to a review of its tax classification and zero-rated tax status.
Although the business has since expanded into other ventures and is eyeing overseas markets, the values passed down by her grandmother continue to guide every decision Shazana makes.
Rather than relying on an exclusive network of stockists, she welcomes anyone interested in selling Mak Bee products.
“My late grandmother always reminded us that whatever blessings we receive should be shared with the community. That’s why we welcome anyone who wants to do business with us and earn a living together.
“In business, what matters most is having the determination to overcome challenges and to never stop learning,” she concluded.
