BFM 89.9

HIGHLIGHTS 
Podcast  >  Enterprise  >  Open For Business  >  Vanilla Crepe: From Side Project to RM10M+ Biz

Vanilla Crepe: From Side Project to RM10M+ Biz

Nelson Liew, CEO and Co-Founder, Vanilla Crepe

20-Nov-25 10:00

Vanilla Crepe: From Side Project to RM10M+ Biz

What started in 2014 as a lifestyle investment to feed his wife's love for cakes has grown into 43 outlets, with more en route. Vanilla Crepe has expanded from a single cafe to 43 outlets and over 100 distribution points, recently breaking past 8-figure annual revenues.

CEO Nelson Liew joins us to share the story behind this growth. He discusses their unique mix of owned vs. franchised outlets, how they manage costs through strong supplier partnerships, and their ambitious vision to become Malaysia's largest integrated F&B platform.

We discuss:

  • The "accidental" start: from a lifestyle cafe to a scalable business.

  • How they pivoted from retail to owning the IP and central kitchen.

  • The strategy behind their owned-to-franchise model.

  • Their "pandemic-proof" growth: doubling store count during the MCO.

  • Future plans: international expansion to Indonesia and FMCG products.

Produced by: Roshan Kanesan

Presented by: Roshan Kanesan


This and more than 60,000 other podcasts in your hand. Download the all new BFM mobile app.

Categories:  foodCorporatesentrepreneursinvestmentsSME

Tags:  F&B Businessfranchisingsme malaysiaretail strategyentrepreneurship





Play / Pause

Listen now : Top 5 at 5

Today’s Shows



6:00 AM

The 6AM Stretch

Thought-provoking discussions on ideas, people and events shaping our lives.

7:00 AM

World Market Watch

Tony Nash, CEO, Complete Intelligence tells us where international markets are heading.

7:15 AM

Morning Brief

We recap global and local headlines from today's papers and portals.

7:30 AM

Morning Brief

Wong Kar Choon, Capital Markets Services Partner, Deloitte Malaysia tells us the trends in the IPO market in SEA this year, as well as the outlook for 2026.

7:45 AM

Morning Brief

Dr. Kathryn Robison, Lecturer in American Studies at the United States Studies Centre discusses Donald Trump’s shifting influence and the fallout from the release of the Epstein files dominating US politics.

8:00 AM

The Breakfast Grille

Saskia Blume, Chief of Child Protection at UNICEF Malaysia discusses the recent cases of crimes involving children and potential solutions to the issue.

8:30 AM

Morning Brief

CF Fong, CEO at LGMS Berhad, discusses the sudden Cloudflare outage that happen on Tuesday evening.

8:45 AM

Morning Brief

(REPEAT) We dive into the local and international news that matters to you.

9:00 AM

Opening Bell

(REPEAT) Tony Nash, CEO, Complete Intelligence tells us where international markets are heading.

9:15 AM

Opening Bell

(REPEAT) We take a look at the FBM KLCI as well as regional capital markets.

9:35 AM

Ringgit & Sense

Dr. Mohaini Ahmad Basri, licensed financial planner at Wealth Vantage Advisory tells us how we can better manage our finances to combat the rising cost of living.

10:05 AM

Open For Business

Nelson Liew, CEO & Co-Founder, Vanilla Mille Crepe

11:00 AM

Tech Talk

Suresh Sankaran Srinivasan, Group Head of Cyber Security, Axiata Group

12:00 PM

Enterprise Explores

Mathew Raju, Senior Customer Success Manager, Adjust

1:00 PM

The Breakfast Grille Repeat

Our flagship show, we feature both game-changers and groundbreakers in the hot seat.

2:05 PM

Discovery Hour

An eclectic selection of BBC shows, curated with variety in mind.

3:05 PM

Beyond the Ballot Box

Markela Penegyres, a grassroots activist from Australia joins us in conversation about how the Palestine solidarity movement can win.

4:05 PM

Health & Living

How do we know whether the medical devices used in healthcare are safe? We look at why health tech is an important component of patient safety.

5:00 PM

Top 5 at 5

6:00 PM

Talkback Thursday

What is the biggest challenge or pressure men face today, from your point of view?

8:00 PM

BBC World Service