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KEEPING traditional Asian flavours relevant to changing dining habits is the idea behind Empat Sekawan, a café business founded by entrepreneur Annie Tan Poh Ai in Penang.
Rather than confining heritage dishes to traditional eateries, the business seeks to bring familiar Malaysian and Asian flavours into a contemporary café setting, catering to customers across different generations.
For Tan, the intention is to ensure that traditional food remains part of everyday life, even as dining preferences change.
“We want to preserve the traditional flavours that people grew up with and introduce them to younger generations.”
“Food is part of our culture and identity, and we hope to create a place where people from different backgrounds and generations can come together,” she said.
Tan is the founder and chief executive officer of Temu Empat Sekawan Sdn Bhd, which developed the café concept around the idea of a “Home for Everyone”.
The business offers more than 230 food and beverage selections, covering Malaysian favourites, Asian dishes and fusion offerings.
Its approach centres on retaining the familiarity of traditional flavours while presenting them in a setting that reflects modern dining preferences.
The aim is to introduce younger customers to dishes associated with earlier generations while giving families a wider choice under one roof.
Alongside its menu, Empat Sekawan says it places emphasis on food preparation, ingredient handling and hygiene.
Its central kitchen is Halal-certified, while selected outlets have obtained official Halal certification.
The company is working towards extending certification across its outlet network.
Tan’s work in developing the business was recognised at the ShangHai Honourable Women Entrepreneur Business Award (SHE) 2026, where she received the Women in Modern Asian Culinary Excellence Award under the Women in F&B Excellence Award category.
Organised by ShangHai Business Media, the awards recognise women’s achievements and contributions across various industries.
For Empat Sekawan, the broader ambition is to preserve culinary traditions while making them accessible to a wider audience through a business model suited to contemporary dining.
The company maintains that food carries significance beyond the dining table, reflecting cultural practices, family traditions and memories passed between generations.
More information about Empat Sekawan is available at www.empatsekawan.com. - November 15, 2026
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