Melco helps local SMEs improve performance

Mr. Walter Yau, Head of Department, Conventions and Exhibitions and Economic Activities Development, Macao Economic Services (fourth from left) attended Melco’s Vendor Experience Tour recently.

Melco Resorts & Entertainment Limited (Melco) organized a Vendor Experience Tour at Studio City for 40 representatives of local SMEs in Food & Beverage followed by a business matching session.

Melco’s food and beverages department managers started by introducing Melco’s operations, hygiene and safety requirements within the catering process to the SME representatives.

Mr Walter Yau, Head of Department, Conventions and Exhibitions and Economic Activities Development, Macao Economic Services, attended the event and spoke about Government policy on developing local SMEs. Mr Yau said that “more than 90% of local enterprises consist of small and medium ones.” In his words, these SMEs play an important role in promoting a diversified and sustainable economy for Macau. “We believe that close cooperation will bring more business opportunities for SMEs, as well as help Macau move towards a moderately diversified economy,” he added.

SME representatives participated in a business matching session. Suitable SMEs were approved on site to allow them to bid on the Company’s upcoming projects.

Mr Ng Kam Soi

In conversation with the Times, Mr Theo Cheng, General Manager of Cheng Chong Kei Frozen Food Company Ltd, revealed that his company has been working with Melco for ten years, since 2007. Mr Cheng’s company mainly provides Melco with frozen goods and seafood. “When working with the gaming operator, the operation process is more stringent,” said Mr Cheng, who then explained to the Times what happens when Melco calls for tenders. The whole process was said to be more formalized, involving more electronic transactions. Being a food supplier for Melco, Mr Cheng’s company has also expanded its own horizons in terms of product variety in part due to Melco requiring the company to search for new products. Collaborating with the gaming operator also helped the supplier improve its business performance in terms of revenue. According to Mr Cheng, each of Melco’s properties, which were opened in different years, have contributed towards significant growth in CCK’s income. “Business has increased a lot,” revealed Mr Cheng, adding that “probably close to three-fold.”

Mr Theo Cheng

After working with Melco, CCK’s food hygiene processes have greatly improved as the gaming operator sends staff to CCK to undertake regular food safety inspections.

Besides the above advantages, the SME has also seen an expansion in its facilities and staff. “Our hardware facilities grew by 50 percent, mainly warehouses, machines, and vehicles,” enumerated Mr Cheng.

Such SMEs support over 50 dining outlets Melco Resorts & Entertainment Limited has in Macau, supplying more than 11,000 average daily food covers.

The General Manager of Fábrica de Farinha Kam Kei, Mr. Ng Kam  Soi told the Times his story of working with Melco. “In the beginning, our food hygiene systems did not meet their requirements because we were more based around family production. Then they taught us precisely how to fulfill the hygiene requirements so that our business could continuously grow, and they kept fueling our business,” said Mr Ng, who noted that after Melco’s unfailing help teaching them how to improve food safety, his company has gradually built up a completely automated manufacturing line. “As production kept increasing, our factory expanded from 5,000 square foot to 30,000 square foot,” said Mr Ng. When talking about his company’s history before working with Melco, Mr Ng said that the company used to be mainly driven by human capital back then.

The business growth of Mr Ng’s company is particularly inspiring. “At the very least, our business has increased ten-fold,” exclaimed Ng, adding “Our business now is really doing well.” Recalling the time when he started working with Melco, Ng pointed out that it was not easy meeting Melco’s hygiene standards, but that Melco encouraged Ng’s company not to give up on improving.The Vendor Experience Tour is an innovative concept created by Melco to provide local SMEs with procurement process information in their particular category. This is one of the many initiatives by Melco that enable more business opportunities and collaborations between Melco and the SMEs.

Yesterday’s customized tour, held at Studio City, explained how products and services are received, stored and their final usage. Sponsored Feature