Latest news with #Yan
The Star
15-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
Malaysia to be focus of DayOne's plans
ISKANDAR PUTERI: Global data centre operator DayOne is deepening its long-term commitment to Malaysia by positioning the country as a key hub in the regional digital supply chain, with major investments centred on Johor. DayOne Data Centers Malaysia Sdn Bhd general manager Jimmy Yan said the company is currently developing two hyperscale campuses in Nusajaya Tech Park and Kempas Tech Park, each covering hundreds of acres and targeting a combined capacity of up to 500 megawatts. 'Our goal is not just to build data centres, but to embed ourselves in Malaysia's digital economy by localising our supply chain, developing skilled local talent, and building long-term partnerships with both federal and state governments,' Yan said. According to Yan, the project is already generating significant economic spillover, with an estimated RM400mil in supply-chain investments already. — Bernama
The Star
15-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
Elegant Fine Caviar is Malaysian-owned caviar from a sturgeon farm in China
Imagine this: you have a dream and you want to do something about it. But it just so happens that dream will take up to 15 years to materialise – something that cannot be altered or changed because nature has to take its course. Would you still press ahead knowing the returns are so far down the horizon? For Malaysian entrepreneurs Dr Rainey Yan and Aaron Tong, this was a no-brainer. The couple realised there was a gap in the Malaysian market for caviar and decided to do something about it. With the help of two investors, they invested RM50mil in a sturgeon farm in China, situated along the Amur River. 'Caviar has always symbolised status, but we wanted to reimagine it: not as a product for the privileged, but as a lifestyle for those who value moments. Moments of indulgence, celebration and connection. Tong (left) and Yan are the couple behind Elegant Fine Caviar, a Malaysian caviar brand that is cultivated on a farm in China. — ART CHEN/The Star 'To do that, we needed full control – from roe to refinement. Owning part of a boutique sturgeon farm allowed us to curate quality at the source and build a brand rooted in patience, craft, and long-term vision. 'This wasn't about fast business. It was about planting the seeds of something timeless – and giving Asia a voice in the global caviar conversation,' says Yan. Last December, seven years after investing in the sturgeon farm, Yan and Tong were finally able to harvest their first batch of Malaysian-owned caviar, now sold and marketed under the Elegant Fine Caviar range. History of caviar Sturgeon are one of the oldest fish in the world, dating back over 300 million years to prehistoric times when dinosaurs roamed the Earth. Female sturgeon take anywhere from seven to 15 years to produce caviar. — Elegant Fine True caviar is attained from the roe of sturgeon fish. While there are many roe from other fish – like lumpfish – labelled as caviar, the truth is these are all merely fish roe. The term 'caviar' in its pure sense refers only to the unfertilised salt-cured roe of sturgeon in the Acipenseridae family. The word 'caviar' traces its roots to the Turkish word 'khav-jar' meaning 'cake of strength' while the first mention of caviar dates back to 350 BC when Aristotle mentioned that the Greeks ate sturgeon roe at banquets. In the 1600s, the Russians discovered caviar and soon it was enjoyed among nobility and the elite and gained a reputation as a luxury food. The most popular – and incidentally the most expensive – caviar is the Beluga, Ossetra and Sevruga caviar. In the 20th century, massive overfishing decimated the sturgeon population – the American sturgeon, for instance, was fished to the point of extinction. Beluga sturgeon stocks, meanwhile, declined by about 90% in the 20th century alone. While there were once over 30 kinds of sturgeon, it is now believed that only about nine have survived. Before partnering with the farm in China, Tong (left) and Yan (right) visited many boutique farms. They now travel to their farm multiple times a year to check on their precious fish. — Elegant Fine In 2006, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) implemented worldwide restrictions on the trade of wild caviar. Now that there are quotas for wild-caught sturgeon and its roe, the domino effect has been the proliferation of aquaculture and farmed caviar, like the one Yan and Tong are so valiantly championing. Birth of Malaysian-owned caviar Yan is a culinary arts graduate, while her fiancé Tong is a businessman. Both are in hospitality and branding but were propelled to dive into the sturgeon business after discovering that there was a desire in the Malaysian market for luxury foods. Initially the two wanted to focus on sea urchin, but when they realised they would have more control, agency and ownership if they started a caviar farm, they decided to go down that route instead. 'We did a lot of research and visited a few boutique farms in China and the one that we decided to work with is the one where we believe the taste and the texture of the caviar is very suitable for the Malaysian palate,' explains Yan. When they invested in the farm in 2018, all the sturgeon were baby fish, which meant a long-haul waiting game. Because of the effects of climate change, water temperatures at the farm have to be kept below 18°C. — Elegant Fine Caviar is attained from the female sturgeon, which typically reaches sexual maturity and starts producing caviar only after seven to 15 years. Even after first producing eggs, some female sturgeon species only bear roe every three to four years. This means most caviar producers have zero yield for up to a decade and sometimes even longer! 'The main challenge of this business is the waiting time because it's all about waiting, waiting and waiting!' says Yan. The other challenge? Figuring out how to implement systems that work in tandem with the growing concerns of climate change. Many sturgeon farms around the world have discovered that as temperatures have gotten hotter over the past few years, sturgeon have simply started dropping dead. With higher heat levels, the quality of caviar has also been compromised, with some producers reporting mushier caviar that is simply not suitable for sale. To combat this, Yan and Tong have taken extra efforts to ensure the water temperature at their farm is consistent and never gets too hot. The sturgeon reared at the farm in China are grown in temperature-controlled tanks and are monitored closely at every growth stage. — Elegant Fine 'The water temperature cannot be higher than 18°C otherwise the fish will be affected. So we have a cooling system and workers at the farm 24 hours a day, working in shifts to check the water temperatures every hour. Summer time is when the weather gets hotter, so we don't really harvest the eggs much at this time,' says Yan. From fish to caviar The process of attaining caviar is a multi-year, multi-stage process that is no walk in the park. To begin with, the brood stock first has to be selected for breeding. Then the male and female sturgeon are paired together to produce fertilised eggs. When the eggs hatch, the larvae are sent to controlled-environment tanks and then divided into male and female fish. Many farms will have specific methods to try and ensure more female sturgeon are reared. When the female sturgeon starts producing caviar, the caviar is monitored through an ultrasound to determine when it is most viable for harvest. Then the eggs are extracted, often through a fine needle. To get Elegant Fine Caviar off the ground, Yan did extensive research, poring over YouTube videos and reading material to determine the means and methods of extracting the best quality caviar. Yan and Tong's farm now produces three different kinds of caviar for Malaysian consumers to enjoy. — ABIRAMI DURAI/The Star Which is why the fish at her farm go through a process of fasting before having their roe removed. 'Before we get the roe out of the sturgeon, the fish goes through a 40-day fast to clean out its system. 'So this way the caviar won't have a muddy, fishy taste or retain the flavour of its feed. What you get is cleaner caviar,' says Yan. This process isn't typically done at most caviar farms but it is an additional feature that Yan specifically requested. In actual fact, the fasting actually reduces the yield that is harvested from the sturgeon because the fish loses approximately 2% of its ratio when it undergoes the fasting process. For reference, caviar extracted from a single sturgeon is typically about 10% of its weight. So a sturgeon weighing 20kg will bear caviar that weighs in at 2kg, while Yan's caviar will have lost 2% of that ratio. Once the caviar is harvested (the rest of the fish is typically resold to the farm, which then sells it to wholesale markets), there are typically 15 to 16 steps that need to be completed before it can be consumed. These include rinsing the caviar, sieving out the membrane, selecting the best roe and discarding the ones that don't make the cut and brining the roe in a salt solution. The couple's restaurant Elegant Fine Food serves a range of curated dishes designed to complement their flagship caviar. — ART CHEN/The Star The brining solution is actually one of the most important steps in producing great-tasting caviar. Too much salt and all you can taste is well, salt. Too little and the impact is lost. Which is why Yan and Tong experimented until they discovered the perfect brining ratio. 'We experimented with a 3% to 4% brining solution and settled on a 3.3% salting percentage, which we believe is the perfect amount. We also found a salt from Germany that we feel really complements the caviar,' says Yan. The future Now that the wait is over and Yan and Tong's sturgeon are finally bearing roe (it only took seven years!), their proudly Malaysian brand produces three different kinds of caviar. Prestia is the caviar from their Kaluga hybrid sturgeon and is a firm beauty with a briny overcoat and distinctive, strong caviar pearls. It's a lovely, lighter introduction to caviar that is perfect for neophytes or newbies to the caviar game. Then there is Luxoria, which is the caviar from their Russian Ossetra sturgeon. This caviar has a rusticity to it that lends itself to a wondrously nutty, full-bodied gastronomic experience. The Imperial Astria is the caviar that has been extracted from the Amur sturgeon. This particular varietal is larger than its brethren, so each roe is plumper and more voluptuous. Flavour-wise, this is the creamiest and richest of all the three offerings in the brand's range. In the future, the couple plans to introduce another range of caviar as well as expand their reach throughout Malaysia and the region. Prices for Elegant Fine's caviar range from RM288 to RM688 for 30g tins. At the moment, Elegant Fine Caviar's yield isn't particularly high – Yan and Tong typically only get about 30kg to 50kg of caviar every four months. Yet, despite the challenges, the duo already has plans to introduce Bari, a Siberian sturgeon, by September this year to widen the range of their offerings. Moving forward, Yan and Tong's ultimate goal is to create more knowledge and appreciation for caviar in Malaysia and widen their presence in the country. 'The sturgeon may be raised in China – but the vision, philosophy, and voice of the brand are entirely Malaysian. In 2027, Yan and Tong hope to take their homegrown brand across the region once they have enough yield to sustain more growth. 'Our main focus will be the Malaysian market, but we also want to distribute across countries in Asia, like Thailand and Singapore once our caviar stock is stable,' enthuses Yan.
South China Morning Post
14-07-2025
- General
- South China Morning Post
Chinese women, both ex-domestic abuse victims, live as platonic partners amid rising trend
Two Chinese women in their fifties who suffered from domestic abuse have been living together for 13 years as friends in a new form of partnership. Advertisement The women's living arrangement is increasingly becoming the dream of many women in China. Ju Ma, 59, lives with her best friend, Yan, 51, in southern China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region. They are business partners in the construction industry. The pair bought a flat together, travelled together, and were honest with each other about their income and savings. Childless Yan treats Ju Ma's 28-year-old daughter, Ju, as her own daughter. The two women are living the best life and say they are happier than they have ever been. Photo: They are not lovers, but both said their relationship is better than most couples.
Fashion Network
11-07-2025
- Business
- Fashion Network
Jewelry giant Pandora eyes China revamp after 80% revenue drop
Danish jewelry maker Pandora is exploring ways to restructure its business in China, according to two people familiar with the matter, following years of declining sales both online and in stores. The world's largest jeweler by volume is in talks with China-based funds and e-commerce partners to potentially license its brand and assets — including inventory — for a five-year term, one of the sources said. Like many multinational consumer brands operating in the world's second-largest economy after the United States, Pandora has been hit hard by post-pandemic consumer malaise, compounded by an ongoing property crisis affecting broader economic sentiment. The brand is also facing fierce competition from local, digitally savvy brands in China's crowded e-commerce space, along with shifting consumer preferences toward gold and higher-value jewelry. In a statement to Reuters, Pandora acknowledged the need to reposition its brand in China and confirmed that a turnaround is in progress, noting that "it will take time." The company did not comment on specific restructuring discussions. 'China is the biggest jewelry market in the world, and we remain fully committed to the business there,' Pandora said. According to exchange filings, Pandora's China revenue dropped nearly 80% to 416 million Danish crowns ($65.10 million) in 2024, down from 1.97 billion crowns in 2019. Over the same period, China's contribution to the company's global revenue fell from 11% to about 1%. Since 2022, Pandora's China unit has had three managing directors. The current managing director, Thomas Knudsen, took over in January. Shortly afterward, the company announced plans to close 50 stores in China this year. Finding a licensee or stakeholder may be "difficult" given Pandora's declining performance in China and broader consumer headwinds, said Jonathan Yan, a principal at consulting firm Roland Berger in Shanghai. 'I don't think financial investors are going to be interested in this asset,' Yan said. However, e-commerce firms seeking higher-margin brand ownership 'may be interested.' A precedent for such a deal could be Baozun's acquisition of Gap 's China business in 2022. The Chinese e-commerce service provider bought the U.S. apparel retailer's operations for $40 million to $50 million. Reuters was unable to determine the current valuation for Pandora's potential China deal. Sales from Pandora's e-commerce business in China have declined more sharply than its physical retail operations, according to a person with knowledge of the matter who was not authorized to speak publicly. Yan added that a takeover by an operator with strong e-commerce expertise could be a step in the right direction, but any turnaround would require significant investment. 'They will need to burn money and have a very innovative approach — and even then, it won't be easy,' he said.
Fashion Network
11-07-2025
- Business
- Fashion Network
Jewellery giant Pandora eyes China revamp after 80% revenue drop
The brand is also facing fierce competition from local, digitally savvy brands in China's crowded e-commerce space, along with shifting consumer preferences towards gold and higher-value jewellery. In a statement to Reuters, Pandora acknowledged the need to reposition its brand in China and confirmed that a turnaround is in progress, noting that "it will take time." The company did not comment on specific restructuring discussions. 'China is the biggest jewellery market in the world, and we remain fully committed to the business there,' Pandora said. According to exchange filings, Pandora's China revenue dropped nearly 80% to 416 million Danish crowns (£48.15 million) in 2024, down from 1.97 billion crowns (£228.36 million) in 2019. Over the same period, China's contribution to the company's global revenue fell from 11% to about 1%. Since 2022, Pandora's China unit has had three managing directors. The current managing director, Thomas Knudsen, took over in January. Shortly afterwards, the company announced plans to close 50 stores in China this year. Finding a licensee or stakeholder may be "difficult" given Pandora's declining performance in China and broader consumer headwinds, said Jonathan Yan, a principal at consulting firm Roland Berger in Shanghai. 'I don't think financial investors are going to be interested in this asset,' Yan said. However, e-commerce firms seeking higher-margin brand ownership 'may be interested.' A precedent for such a deal could be Baozun's acquisition of Gap 's China business in 2022. The Chinese e-commerce service provider bought the U.S. apparel retailer's operations for the equivalent of £4.63 million to £5.79 million. Reuters was unable to determine the current valuation for Pandora's potential China deal. Sales from Pandora's e-commerce business in China have declined more sharply than its physical retail operations, according to a person with knowledge of the matter who was not authorised to speak publicly. Yan added that a takeover by an operator with strong e-commerce expertise could be a step in the right direction, but any turnaround would require significant investment. 'They will need to burn money and have a very innovative approach — and even then, it won't be easy,' he said. (£1 = 8.64 Danish crowns)
