If there is one thing that unites every Malaysian regardless of age, gender, race, or creed, is the pride we all share for the panoply of our food. And that comes as no surprise, given the fact that our country boasts some of the most spectacular food scenes in the world, owing to the melting pot of different cultures and heritages that have intermingled with one another.
Leslie Gomez shares a glimpse of the F&B industry through his eyes
In conjunction with The Olive Tree group celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, we had the opportunity to sit down with Leslie Gomez, the Managing Director of the Olive Tree Group. Hailing from India, Leslie has been staying in Malaysia for 23 years under the Malaysia My Second Home programme or MM2H. Armed with a bachelor’s degree in Hotel Management and Catering Technology, he ventured into the F&B world with Northern Indian cuisine in 2003 and the success has prompted him to diversify into other cuisines such as European, Western, British & Irish.
Source: Provided to Wau Post
When asked about the industry charm that keeps Leslie in the line, he answered what he likes instead of how much he earned. The phrase “Love what you do and do what you love” has been repeated thrice throughout the conversation whereby the founder of The Olive Tree group emphasised that commitment and business acumen are two vital elements to prosper in the F&B industry.
“One needs to sacrifice in order to stay committed, that includes working on public holidays and even around the clock after getting off from work in order to manage a group of companies whose core is dishing out hot food from the kitchen and serving them right in front of the customers”, he said.
Despite a work-dominated daily schedule, Leslie’s arrangement on work-life balance is waking up at 7 in the morning, work starts, followed by working out for 45 minutes then continuing the hustle until it is bedtime. In his point of view, maintaining a healthy mind and physique allows him to exercise his responsibility as an employer. Leslie’s life which is actually 99% work in disguise includes adventure from the trips he makes to his restaurants and bars, where he rotates between being an owner and a waiter.
Challenges help us thrive better
The success of The Olive Tree group today is not without its challenges. The Movement Control Order ( MCO ) announced by the Malaysia government to curb the Covid-19 pandemic had affected the income of the group and they were forced to apply for a SME loan for the very first time.
The fund was required to sustain 18 outlets and the welfare of the foreign employees to ensure their needs were taken care of. Nonetheless, Leslie sees the blessings behind the challenges which he took the opportunity to restructure the existing business operations. With positivity and perseverance, Leslie has managed to open another 7 outlets in the last 2 years.
Source: Proivded to Wau Post
The rise of living costs and stagnant salary increment over the years have made a change in the consumer spending pattern. Many business owners struggle to secure a steady revenue stream. This has put off potential entrepreneurs who would rather wait for the right timing to enter the market. Speaking from 20 years of industry experience, Leslie vouched for originality when it comes to developing business strategies.
“Know the market of your offerings instead of following other businesses” is his mantra for developing 13 brand identities with multiple outlets across the country and we look forward to the next gastronomy journey which The Olive Tree Group set sail on.
