Local cookie sellers gear up for Hari Raya growing demand, evolving taste

KUCHING (March 10): As Hari Raya Aidilfitri approaches, local bakers and vendors are ramping up preparations to meet rising demand while adapting to changing customer preferences.

An 18 year-old sales assistant at Dib’s Patisserie, who wished to be known as Zaa, said premium pineapple tarts remain the top choice among customers preparing for the festive season.

“Our best-seller for the upcoming Hari Raya celebration is the premium pineapple tart.

“We use Lurpak butter, which gives it a richer taste.

“Another popular treat would be the cashew biscuits,” she told The Borneo Post.

Zaa noted that customers this year appear to be paying attention not only to taste but also to the appearance of the biscuits.

“Some customers choose based on colour.

“For example, if they already buy red-coloured biscuits, they will choose another colour such as orange.

“Others prefer certain patterns or flavours, while some look for sweeter or less sweet options,” she said.

Zaa added that most of their festive cookies and biscuits are handmade to ensure quality and consistency for customers.

Meanwhile, 27-year-old sales assistant Nursafwanah Malaya from Kukis Lebaran said competition has become one of the main challenges for vendors this year.

‘The growing number of vendours selling similar products has made the market more competitive.

“The biggest challenge this year is the number of competitors, as many sellers are offering similar products.

“What makes us special is that the products are also handmade,” she added.

Entrepreneur Fatin Nadhirah Rosli, 31, owner of Sweet Journey Confection, said cheese- and chocolate-based desserts remain the core of her offerings.

Among the desserts available are tiramisu, Callebaut Iceberg burnt cheesecake, cheese tarts, brownies and cream puffs.

She said the classic tiramisu has become the top favourite among customers during Ramadan and ahead of Hari Raya.

“We restock the classic tiramisu four times a week during Ramadan because it often sells out.

“Besides the classic version, we also offer several variations like matchamisu, tellamisu and biscoffmisu.

According to Fatin, the matcha version uses ceremonial-grade matcha from Niko Neko, while tellamisu and biscoffmisu are especially popular among children.

Another customers favourite is brookies―a dessert combining brownies and cookies made with dark chocolate and lower sugar content.

“It is suitable for all ages and is also popular as a door gift.

“With Hari Raya Aidilfirti approaching, our business is also accepting larger catering orders for desserts such as brownies, cheese tarts and cream puffs,” she said.

However, Fatin noted that that fulfilling large orders can be challenging, particularly for items like brookies which require careful preparation.

“If there is a mistake during the process, the brookies can be ruined.

“But so far, everything has been running smoothly.

“From what I see, many customers this year prefer cream or chocolate flavours, with tiramisu and chocolate-based treats gaining popularity this festive season,” Fatin added.