This document analyzes and compares two businesses - Tong Hoe Seng and Wah Thai - located in different settings in Georgetown, Penang. Tong Hoe Seng is a small, 60-year old family-owned biscuit stall located on Lebuh Kimberley. Wah Thai is a larger, 40-year old company located on Jalan Gottlieb that employs dozens of workers and offers a wide range of local food products beyond just biscuits. While Tong Hoe Seng focuses on quality homemade biscuits, Wah Thai has greater popularity through advertising and awards. Both businesses face competition from other similar stalls and shops but employ different strategies to maintain their customer base.

1. ANALYSES OF BUSINESSES ON TWO
DIFFERENT SETTINGS
Group Members: Kimberley Ee Sze Ann,
Chia Sue Yi,
Cheong Siew Ying,
Yap Kar Juen,
Cheah Teck Wei
Chua Chang Yeong.
Research topic: Traditional Penang Biscuits
Module: Effective Public Communication (FCOM0102)
Session: September 2013

2. CHOSEN BUSINESSES AND THEIR SETTINGS
Tong Hoe Seng
Wah Thai
Location: Lebuh Kimberley, Georgetown, Penang
Jalan Gottlieb, Georgetown, Penang
Shop type: Small stall
Large shop

3. Background
Tong Hoe Seng
Wah Thai
Limwahthai.com, 2014
• 60 year old business.
• Started in 1954.
• Has existed since before World
War II.
• Family-owned, passed down from
father to daughter.
• Current owner has run the
business for 30 years now.
• 40 year old business.
• Started in 1977.
• 32 years of established
experience and reputation.
• Employs dozens of workers .

4. Competitors
Tong Hoe Seng
• Other stalls selling similar
products.
• Many of such stalls exist e.g.
Soon Seng.
• These similar stalls are all located
very close together.
Tong Hoe Seng
Lebuh
Kimberley
Pin Kuan Enterprise
Soon Seng

5. 1926heritagehotel.com, 2014
Competitors
Wah Thai
• Other stalls selling similar
products.
• Small stalls e.g. Tong Hoe Seng
and Soon Seng which may sell for
cheaper prices and are more
easily accessible (located at
tourist areas).
• Other large companies selling
Ggmu.blogspot.com, 20
similar products in Georgetown.
09
Him Heang
Limwahthai.com, 201
4
Wah Thai
Ghee Hiang

6. Price Comparison
Price
Quality
Wah Thai
Tong Hoe Seng
Pay for Quality Pay for
Quantity
RM7.60 per box
of 16 pcs
RM4.6 per box
of 16 pcs

7. Obstacles/Challenges
Tong Hoe Seng
• Many competitors exist in the form
of other stalls selling similar
products.
• Different stalls may be able to
offer cheaper prices.
• Different stalls sell larger ranges
of products and therefore can
attract more customers.
Wah Thai
• Many competitors exist in the form
of other stalls selling similar
products.
• Smaller stalls offer cheaper prices
due to cheaper packaging.
• Smaller stalls know their
customers on a personal level
therefore having the advantage of
customer loyalty.

8. Nature of Business
Tong Hoe Seng
• Small local business.
• Main products are home made
traditional biscuits.
• Family-owned business.
Wah Thai
• Large business.
• Main products are traditional
biscuits but also offers a large
range of other local food
products.

9. Strategies Used
Wah Thai
Tong Hoe Seng
• Produce original homemade
traditional biscuits.
• Maintain customer loyalty.
• Sell near tourist areas.
Gourmet Garden, 2014
Popular food street located close to many
hotels
• Large business.
• Main products are traditional
biscuits but also offers a large
range of other local food
products.
Kevin & Profile, 2009
Packeted Bah Kut Teh is another popular
Wah Thai Product

10. POPULARITY
Tong Hoe Seng
• Ordinary biscuit shop
• Attract customers among
neighborhood with enthusiasm
Wah Thai
• High popularity
• Advertising through newspaper
and magazine
• Winner of FOODSION's Magazine
Award
• Famous Tourist Place

11. SERVICES
Tong Hoe Seng
• Owner runs the business by self
• Enthusiasm and grateful
• Customers feel warm while
interact with the owner
Wah Thai
• Business executed by dozens of
employees
• High efficiency and systematic

12. THE END!!!

13. REFERENCES
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1926heritagehotel.com. (2014). Him heang – famous for their tambun biscuits | 1926 heritage hotel penang
malaysia. [online] Retrieved from: http://www.1926heritagehotel.com/him-heang-famous-for-their-tambunbiscuits/ [Accessed: 11 Jan 2014].
Dodol-mochi.blogspot.com. (2009). Dodol & mochi | where east meets west ...: "my sweet malaysia": tambun
biscuits or tau sar beng 淡汶豆沙餅. [online] Retrieved from: http://dodol-mochi.blogspot.com/2009/08/mysweet-malaysia-tambun-biscuits-or.html [Accessed: 11 Jan 2014].
Facebook. (2014). Lim wah thai local food products. [online] Retrieved from:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lim-Wah-Thai-Local-Food-Products/296988758761 [Accessed: 11 Jan 2014].
Ggmu.blogspot.com. (2009). Get a life!: ghee hiang,penang. [online] Retrieved from:
http://ggmu.blogspot.com/2009/03/ghee-hiangpenang.html [Accessed: 11 Jan 2014].
Gourmet Garden. (2014). Gourmet garden. [online] Retrieved from: http://www.gourmetgarden.com.my
[Accessed: 11 Jan 2014].
II, A. (2014). Going to penang? bring back some tambun biscuits!. [online] Retrieved from:
http://www.visitpenang.gov.my/portal3/where-to-eat/where-to-eat/1511-going-to-penang-bring-back-sometambun-biscuits.html [Accessed: 11 Jan 2014].
Kevin, C. & Profile, V. (2009). The podanys | welcome to our world: bak kut teh night!. [online] Retrieved from:
http://thepodanys.blogspot.com/2009/02/bak-kut-teh-night.html [Accessed: 11 Jan 2014].
Limwahthai.com. (2014). Welcome to lim wah thai local food marketing sdn bhd. [online] Retrieved from:
http://www.limwahthai.com/aboutus.asp [Accessed: 11 Jan 2014].
Penangstreetfood.com. (2014). Battle of the biscuit: ghee hiang v him heang | penang street food | penang
delicacies. [online] Retrieved from: http://penangstreetfood.com/2010/12/battle-of-the-biscuit/ [Accessed: 11
Jan 2014].
Penang-traveltips.com. (2014). Kimberley street (lebuh kimberley), george town, pulau pinang. [online]
Retrieved from: http://www.penang-traveltips.com/kimberley-street.htm [Accessed: 11 Jan 2014].