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The "Temp Project" That Became a 14-Year Pastry Business

Xiao-Ly Koh, Chef & Founder, Xiao By Crustz

06-Oct-25 10:00

The "Temp Project" That Became a 14-Year Pastry Business

What started 14 years ago as a temporary home baking project has grown into Xiao by Crustz, a 7-figure patisserie. For founder Xiao-Ly Koh, the journey has been a constant balancing act between her identity as a chef and the demands of being an entrepreneur.

Chef and Founder Xiao-Ly Koh joins us to share her story. She discusses her mission to introduce modern French pastry to Malaysians, the strategic pivots she made along the way (from customised cakes to a rotating menu), and her journey from a home kitchen to a bustling 60-seater cafe with ambitions to hit RM10 million in revenue.

We discuss:

  • The 14-year journey from a home baker to a seven-figure business.

  • The balancing act: navigating the tension between being a chef and an entrepreneur.

  • The rotating menu strategy and the story behind her hero product, the "Kaya Toast."

  • The evolution from a home business to a full-scale retail store.

  • Her ambitious goal to reach RM10 million in revenue by expanding into new products.

For F&B founders and aspiring chefs, this is a deep dive into the realities of building a sustainable artisanal brand in a competitive market.

This episode of Open For Business is powered by PETRONAS SmartPay, the simpler and better solution for all your business needs.

Produced by: Roshan Kanesan

Presented by: Roshan Kanesan


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Categories:  Women in BusinessSMEentrepreneurssponsored content

Tags:  patisserieartisanal businessF&B Businessentrepreneurshipsme malaysiaPetronasSmartPay





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