SINGAPORE — Speaking of products from Malaysia, Agrobazaar Malaysia’s main draw is its offering of some of our northern neighbour’s best produce. So it is no surprise that one of the things that has remained popular with Singapore consumers is its annual durian party. This year’s Durian Buffet (available this weekend) is an all-you-can-eat feast priced at S$66 per person (S$116 for two) featuring a mix of durian variants, tropical fruits and drinks. The famed Musang King variety, though, is only available at “a special price”.

Located at Sultan Gate, Agrobazaar was officially launched on Aug 27, 2014 by the Prime Ministers of Malaysia and Singapore, said sales and marketing executive Muhammad Redho, who affirmed that response has been overwhelming “especially for the durian party and other corporate events”, while take-up for its events services (for functions, seminars and weddings) has been increasing by 25 per cent annually.

Of course, all products and services offered are centred on Agrobazaar Malaysia @ Singapore’s focus as a hub for the promotion of “Malaysian grown and Malaysian produced goods”. It even houses a cafe serving espresso-based coffee drinks made with a brand of Malaysian grown and roasted coffee, KopieSatu.

That said, among a variety of frozen foods and dried goods sold, its best-selling items are the ready-to-cook pastes, said Redho, which include traditional mixes for making rendang, sambal and curry, as it is “easily prepared and suitable for daily use”. He added that the company is looking to add new items and categories, which would include a range of halal poultry items, such as frozen chicken and chicken meat. Demand for halal items is already trending, he continued, highlighting how its in-house restaurant, the Verandah, also helps promote halal products among non-Muslim consumers, as the kitchen uses items sold in-store.

In May, Agrobazaar Malaysia opened a second retail outlet, dubbed the Malaysia Halal Centre, located inside the Big Box hypermart in Jurong, which carries an extensive range, from fresh food and spices, to frozen foods such as seafood, to traditional cakes. While no launch dates have been confirmed, Redho did also say that the company is working on setting up its own e-commerce platform.