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PENAMPANG: Kembara Kitchen Sabah (KKS) has officially opened its first branch outside Selangor. 

Co-founder William Cheah said the expansion was driven by the urgent need to support rural communities, especially during disasters when food security becomes a critical concern.

Founded in 2015 by Cheah and his wife, Yilyn Chan, Kembara Kitchen began operations in Shah Alam following the devastating floods of 2014 in Kelantan and other parts of West Malaysia. 

Over the years, the social enterprise has grown into an important support system for vulnerable communities. The new Sabah branch is led by  Sabahan, Steavaynie Ginadus.

Cheah expressed his appreciation to CIMB Foundation as the main sponsor of the programme. 

He also acknowledged early supporters, including Datuk Jannie Lasimbang, who responded to their call in 2018, and IDS Chief Executive Officer Datuk Dr Ramzah Dambul, who later joined in supporting the initiative.

The new facility, located at Cyber Perdana Commercial Centre in Penampang, introduces retort food packaging, a preservation method that allows meals to be stored safely for up to two years without compromising taste or nutritional value. 

The concept was first discussed three years ago and has now been realised with the opening of the centre.

During the launch, visitors were given a tour of the kitchen facilities and had the opportunity to sample meals that had been preserved for a year, with the flavour and quality remaining intact.

Cheah also revealed plans to expand operations to SAIP Kimanis, where retort food production will continue under the brand “Santapan”.

Steavaynie said the tagline “Mantad Sabah, Montok Toinsanan” (From Sabah For Everyone) reflects the organisation’s mission, noting that many rural communities in the state still lack access to essential resources, particularly nutritious food.

“Kembara Kitchen Sabah is appropriate to be set up here because many rural communities are deprived of facilities, especially during disasters. This initiative ensures food security can be reached even in the most challenging times,” she said.

She added that even during the setup phase of KKS, requests for assistance had already begun. 

The team recently responded to emergency needs in Paitan following severe floods and also extended support to Beaufort during another flood incident.

“These experiences show how critical our presence is here in Sabah,” she said.

Currently, the Sabah team produces around 1,000 packets of retort food per week under the brand “Hero Meals”, while “Santapan” serves as their commercial product line.

Looking ahead, KKS is establishing a factory in SAIP Kimanis and is recruiting three additional staff members. Candidates with a background in food and beverage are preferred, although the main criteria are strong work attitude and discipline rather than formal education.