THIS DEEPAVALI, TEN FRIENDS LIGHT THE WAY WITH A NEW COFFEE SHOP VENTURE

JOHOR BAHRU, Oct 12 (Bernama) --  This year, the Festival of Lights shines brighter for ten friends, who pooled their resources to open a coffee shop together in the city out of solidarity for a friend in need.  

Their venture was sparked by a shared mission to support one of their own, who was facing severe difficulties in the agricultural and logistics business she had tirelessly built since 2007.

R Magendran, 45, explained that the initiative was never about profit, but about helping their dear friend get back on her feet.

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“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 said today.

For D Diana Sabrin, 45, the friend in question, the gesture was deeply personal. She revealed that her friends had originally conceived the coffee shop to help her embark on a new business venture.

However, Diana insisted that she would only agree to the plan on the condition that they all ran it together as partners.

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"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 shared.

She now hopes the joint venture will not only thrive but also strengthen their remarkable bond that has endured for over 35 years since they first met at Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Tamil Jalan Yahya Awal.

Meanwhile, Magendran shared that their café, named Nellai Karupatti Coffee, located on Jalan Titiwangsa in Taman Tampoi Indah, has a unique signature. Their coffee and tea are sweetened with a special palm sugar known as karupatti, offering a distinct flavour.

The menu also features a variety of local and traditional treats, including Malay kuih, Indian sweets, and its own take on the classic Nasi Lemak.

Nellai Karupatti Coffee is an established Indian coffee chain with a global presence, boasting over 200 branches across five countries, including Australia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait. 

Buoyed by their early success, the friends are already planning to open their second branch in Lebuh Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, this November, with an ambitious plan to launch eight more outlets nationwide in the coming year.

-- BERNAMA