Malaysian-based food startup, Meals in Minutes, has successfully secured USD 1.5 million in a seed funding round led by the early-stage venture fund and seed accelerator, 500 Global, with participation from a private investor. The new capital infusion is intended to drive Meals in Minutes’s expansion across Malaysia and Singapore and establish a strong presence in the United Kingdom. The funding will also support research and development initiatives to diversify the startup’s food product offerings and enhance marketing efforts for broader market reach.
Launched in 2020 by Brandon Lim and Khiara Mia, Meals in Minutes introduced an innovative meal kit concept with its frozen vacuum-packed ready-to-cook meals, allowing consumers to prepare gourmet meals in just 15 minutes.
All meals are flash-frozen, individually portioned to minimise food wastage, and certified HALAL, HACCP, and ISO 22000. The funding round was joined by a private investor.
Meals in Minutes founder and CEO, Brandon Lim expressed the vision behind the startup, saying, “Meals In Minutes was founded with the vision of simplifying cooking for individuals leading busy lives, offering them the opportunity to enjoy high-quality, clean, and nutritious meals without the associated hassle and requisite culinary skills.”
Addressing F&B Manpower Dilemma with Creativity and Efficiency
The Malaysian food and beverage (F&B) industry is expected to witness annual growth of 6.85% from 2024 to 2028. However, F&B owners face challenges in recruiting skilled manpower due to low wages and industry uncertainties.
The delay in obtaining work permits for foreign workers exacerbates the issue, leading to a higher employee turnover rate of approximately 75%.
Meals in Minutes aims to address this manpower dilemma by providing a solution that optimises kitchen operations without the need for a fully equipped kitchen or a professional chef. The advanced meal kits enable businesses to efficiently produce gourmet meals consistently.
Co-founder Meals in Minutes, Khiara Mia emphasised the sustainability aspect, stating, “Our advanced meal kits not only offer sustainable solutions to F&B businesses but also tackle environmental concerns like food wastage and excessive packaging.”
Meals in Minutes collaborated with CleanHub to collect plastic waste for every product sold, contributing to environmental conservation.
Currently available in premium grocery stores across Malaysia and supplied to businesses like Loud Speaker, a Malaysian karaoke chain, Meals in Minutes continues to expand its presence.
The startup has successfully collaborated with celebrities, including Joe Flizzow, to create unique offerings like Joe’s Burger, featuring a 100% pure premium yellowfin tuna patty.
The latest funding round positions Meals in Minutes for accelerated growth and ongoing exploration of funding and partnership opportunities.
