A Johor entrepreneur’s recipe for bergedil tofu success

In 2017, Johor entrepreneur Nur Khalisah Ismail ventured into the food business with RM100, initially making bergedil tofu at her mother’s shop after graduation. When she first started, customers found the filling unsatisfactory and complained, but Khalisah kept refining her recipe, listening to feedback for nearly a year until customers declared the product delicious.

The business grew slowly, with Khalisah working on the spicy soy sauce dip for a further six to seven months. In 2020, after perfecting both the tofu and the dip, Khalisah opened her own outlet. However, the process of building the shop was challenging; she had almost no funds left when renovation began, and her bank account contained barely RM1,000.

Despite the difficulties, she persevered. The signature dish, bergedil tofu, consists of a tofu puff filled with generous portions of chicken or beef and served with a spicy soy sauce chilli dip. As demand increased, the company expanded its offerings to include chicken and beef spring rolls, as well as chicken and beef bergedil tofu.

Production varied daily, with about 50 sacks of potatoes used on regular days, doubling during weekends and public holidays. The business now employs 18 people, all of whom follow Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to maintain consistent quality. Khalisah also established the TahuXTahu marketplace, where around 100 vendors sell their products, ranging from elderly entrepreneurs selling cream puffs to younger food makers facing marketing challenges.

To accommodate large orders, Khalisah connects vendors directly without taking a commission. To combat rising ingredient costs, Khalisah increased the filling amount from 30g to 40g and improved packaging. Additionally, she invested in a second outlet, significantly boosting sales after its 2024 opening. As TahuXTahu grows, Khalisah aims to strengthen the brand within Malaysia before exploring international expansion, considering the short shelf life and logistics required for the products.