Johor bahru: This year, the Festival of Lights shines brighter for ten friends who have joined forces to open a coffee shop, driven by a mission to support a friend facing severe business challenges. Their collective efforts have culminated in the establishment of a new coffee shop in the city.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the initiative was born out of a desire to help a friend recover from difficulties in the agricultural and logistics business she had been building since 2007. R Magendran, 45, emphasized that their aim was not profit, but rather to assist their friend in regaining her footing. “It’s simple proof that the value of true friendship far outweighs any financial gain. We had been planning the idea for over a year. It finally became a reality, and we opened it just in time for Deepavali,” he stated.
For D Diana Sabrin, 45, the friend being supported, the venture holds deep personal significance. She revealed that the coffee shop idea was initially conceived by her friends as a means to help her start anew in business. However, Diana agreed to the plan only on the condition that they would all manage it together as partners. “I agreed because of the incredible loyalty they showed. When you face hard times in business and your friends come to your aid like this, how could you say no?” she expressed.
The group hopes that the venture will not only succeed but also fortify the friendship that has lasted for over 35 years since they first met at Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Tamil Jalan Yahya Awal. Magendran also noted that their caf©, Nellai Karupatti Coffee, located on Jalan Titiwangsa in Taman Tampoi Indah, offers a unique menu featuring coffee and tea sweetened with karupatti, a special palm sugar, alongside local dishes like Malay kuih, Indian sweets, and a unique version of Nasi Lemak.
Nellai Karupatti Coffee is part of an established Indian coffee chain with a global footprint, encompassing over 200 branches in countries such as Australia, the United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait. Encouraged by their initial success, the friends are planning to open a second branch in Lebuh Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, this November, with aspirations to launch eight more outlets nationwide next year.