Happy Family Restaurant(18): Connection entry...

Continued from "First Interview" entry...

OPERATION PART

Interviewee Background

For the operation part, we choose Soto Nor Cafe as our references. Soto Nor Café is owned by Mr. Salamat Bin Pigi. Mr. Salamat was born on 1967, it"s mean 47 years old and come from Sabah. He came to Sarawak on 1987 to work. He was married with Sarawak women and has 5 children. Cooking actually is not Mr. Salamat profession. He starts by opening retail stores at Sungai Asap on 2000. On that year, he still works as a plantation worker at there.

Restaurant's Background

He got the idea to open a restaurant because Sungai Asap is always visited by VIP or honourable Y.B who come to visit that place. So, those VIP who are muslim has no place to eat because most of restaurant on that place is owned by non-muslim. Therefore, the first branch of Soto Nor Cafe is at Sungai Asap was operated on 2006. Meanwhile, the second branch was operated on 2012 at Bintulu near the Balai Bomba, Bintulu. Name of Soto Nor Cafe has got inspired by soto which is the food from Banjar, Makasar and Java with the purpose of promoting that food. Average capital to open the retail shop at Sungai Asap is around RM200. From the income of that business, Mr. Salamat and his wife open the restaurant. The restaurant started on small scale only until it become more successful.

Operation of Soto Nor Cafe

Initially, Soto Nor at Sungai Asap have 2 workers as a chef who come from Sabah. Now, Soto Nor second branch have 25 workers which is 9 as a chef, 2 as a making the drink, 1 as a person who making Roti Canai and the rest to take the order. This restaurant operates under the buliding of Hotel Season Inn charge RM 4000.00 per month. Attire for every worker must be following the ethics of attire. For example covered their head with scarf in handling and the attire must be clean. Soto Nor ensure the cleanliness either restaurant, food or their workers. Worker’s of Soto Nor must attend the Course of Handling Food. Workers also must take the injection on every year. Function of this injection is to prevent the bacteria and diseases and ensure the worker in a good health while handling the food.

Soto Nor also have contract to operate their business with cantin of Sekolah Kebangsaan Bakun. Soto Nor also do the catering when have any event in Bintulu or Sungai Asap. Soto Nor operate started from 7 am until 12 a.m. and operate from 2 p.m until 12 a.m on Ramadhan. Soto Nor Cafe's concept is self-service which is only provide during lunch time and order. En. Salamat pay the salaries of his employees on a monthly basis at a cost RM 600.00 and above. For the chef, the salaries based on their experience in cooking, RM 2000.00 for experienced cooks and RM 1000.00 for unexperienced cooks. Soto Nor Cafe registered under Bintulu Development Authority (BDA). Procedure to register this restaurant will be update in the next entry.

The utilities expenses for the restaurant are RM 750.00 for water bill and RM 2, 300.00 for electric bill. Furthermore, En. Salamat obtain the supplies for the raw materials form his contact in a big scale for per day and per month and get at lower price rather than buy at market. This way is more efficient and profitable. He also informed us about the need for contingency cost for use during emergencies for example, replace the damaged chair and table.

Finally, En. Salamat Bin Pigi shared his advices and told us about honesty in business because it's includes as a worship. Besides, we need to run a business with efficient cost for example at low cost but same quality.