DAPUR DIGITAL TO EVOLVE INTO COMMUNITY ECONOMIC HUBS

By R. Vikneswaran

KUALA LUMPUR, March 25 (Bernama) -- What began as an initiative to help urban poor communities generate income by selling home-cooked meals online is steadily evolving into vibrant community economic hubs.

Launched in 2024, Dapur Digital is now set to expand nationwide while broadening its role beyond food-based businesses to become multi-purpose digital economy centres.

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Pepper Labs managing director R. Thanaselan said the transformation reflects how the centres have organically grown into spaces serving a variety of community needs.

“Since September 2024, a total of 15 Dapur Digital centres established in People’s Housing Project (PPR) areas around the capital have generated more than RM2.5 million in revenue, surpassing the initial target of RM1.2 million within 18 months.

“Beyond business activities, the centres have also become gathering spaces for residents. We have seen them host wedding ceremonies and receptions, Thanksgiving gatherings and even kindergarten graduations,” he told Bernama recently.

Thanaselan said Pepper Labs is now working to establish another 15 hubs, expected to be operational by the end of this year, with three planned in Kuala Lumpur, four in Selangor, and the rest likely in Kedah, Penang, Johor, Sabah and Labuan.

He said Dapur Digital focuses on providing shared, fully equipped kitchens and business facilities that allow low-income entrepreneurs to start businesses using digital platforms.

“Moving forward, we remain committed to economic empowerment and the digital element, but we want these hubs to benefit communities in more ways than just food and beverage businesses.

“All income generated belongs to the entrepreneurs - we do not take a single cent. Each centre manages its own accounts, pays its workers and retains its profits, while we monitor and provide guidance when needed,” he said.

Thanaselan said locations are selected based on areas with a high concentration of urban poor residents, the availability of suitable unused spaces and strong support from local stakeholders, adding that each centre is required to serve at least 500 users.

“Whether to run F&B activities, community activities, tuition classes or artificial-intelligence (AI) classes -- anything that contributes to the well-being of the community.

“This is easily achievable because in just over a year since the first Dapur Digital was launched, the indirect beneficiaries of this ecosystem have exceeded 150,000 people, those who have come and used the space,” he said.

Participants also undergo structured incubation programmes lasting up to a year, including food handling certification, standard operating procedures training, onboarding to food delivery platforms such as Grab and Foodpanda, as well as coaching in branding, packaging and digital marketing.

Thanaselan said the initiative is supported by government funding, with RM2.5 million allocated in 2024 for the first five centres and an additional RM5 million announced for 25 more, bringing the total allocation to RM7.5 million for the planned 30 Dapur Digitals by the end of 2026.

-- BERNAMA