Will Chew, founder of Mak Tok, began his business to recreate his mother's cooking. Photo: Mak Tok
Will Chew, founder of Mak Tok, began his business to recreate his mother's cooking. Photo: Mak Tok
Will Chew, founder of Mak Tok, began his business to recreate his mother's cooking. Photo: Mak Tok
Will Chew, founder of Mak Tok, began his business to recreate his mother's cooking. Photo: Mak Tok

Dragon's Den winner and Mak Tok creator Will Chew is coming to Dubai


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When Will Chew moved to the UK more than 10 years ago, sapid memories of his mother's cooking from their busy kitchen in Malaysia stuck with him. Harnessing everything he learnt from her, Chew lost no time in recreating her dishes at his home in Sheffield.

“When you move far away from your family, food is definitely one of the first things you miss,” he says. “I needed to make something that my mom used to make, as I couldn't really find it in shops at the time.”

What started as a way to relieve homesickness has now become a profitable business. In 2017, the Malaysian entrepreneur, 32, launched Mak Tok, which produces jars of chilli pastes and sauces to sell at local markets.

Mak Tok's 'signature' and 'hot sambal' pastes. Photo: Mak Tok
Mak Tok's 'signature' and 'hot sambal' pastes. Photo: Mak Tok

Glowing reviews from friends pushed him to audition for Dragon's Den in 2019, a BBC show similar to Shark Tank, where budding entrepreneurs pitch their ideas to investors. Chew successfully clinched an investment of £50,000, which he used to boost production and marketing.

As long as one day I can provide for my family, who should not worry about their future, I'm happy
Will Chew,
founder, Mak Tok

“I could only produce 50 jars per day from my own kitchen when I started,” he says. Mak Tok now has a facility that can produce 20,000 jars daily, many of which are stocked in British supermarkets and exported to the UAE, Hong Kong and New Zealand.

This taste of success also evolved Chew's vision. He says he only started making the pastes because he missed his mother. “But now, as long as one day I can provide for my family, for my nieces and nephews who should not worry about their future, I'm happy," he says.

Chew's love for his family was also highlighted as part of his pitch at Dragon's Den, with British entrepreneur Sara Davies, one of the “dragons”, particularly moved by Will's story and personality.

“There are loads of chilli pastes, but there's only one Will,” she said on the show. “I think you are great and I love you, and I really want to make this work with you.” The emotional episode ended with Davies offering the tearful entrepreneur the investment.

Chew says his journey has been relatively smooth following his Dragon's Den appearance. In the UAE, Mak Tok jars are currently sold in Jones the Grocer, but he says there are continuing conversations to distribute the product in other local supermarkets.

Until people taste Malaysian cuisine, they wouldn't really understand or appreciate its flavours
Will Chew

The brand produces 10 variations of pastes and sauces, of which four are available in the Emirates: Malaysian rendang paste, sambal paste, nyonya sweet chilli paste and spicy satay chilli paste. Prices for jars start at Dh44.

Chew, who studied music psychology, also reveals plans to set up his first restaurant in the UK to further pursue his passion for sharing Malaysian cuisine with the world. The restaurant will prominently feature Mak Tok products.

“Malaysian cuisine has a lot of potential to really become popular, similar to Thai cuisine, for example,” he says.

“Malaysia is such a melting pot of cultures, so every food we have is influenced by this diversity,” he explains, describing the local cuisine as one that takes inspiration from neighbouring countries such as China and Indonesia.

“Until people taste it, they wouldn't really understand or appreciate its flavours.”

On Sunday, Chew is hosting a 90-minute cooking class at Jones the Grocer, Al Manara, Dubai. He will use ingredients such as mint and coconut milk to create a Malaysian rendang and salad.

More information on the masterclass is available at www.jonesthegrocer.com

The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

What the law says

Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.

“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.

“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”

If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.

COMPANY PROFILE

Name: Xpanceo

Started: 2018

Founders: Roman Axelrod, Valentyn Volkov

Based: Dubai, UAE

Industry: Smart contact lenses, augmented/virtual reality

Funding: $40 million

Investor: Opportunity Venture (Asia)

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Uefa Champioons League semi-final, first leg:

Liverpool 5
Salah (35', 45 1'), Mane (56'), Firmino (61', 68')

Roma 2
Dzeko (81'), Perotti (85' pen)

Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Medicus AI

Started: 2016

Founder(s): Dr Baher Al Hakim, Dr Nadine Nehme and Makram Saleh

Based: Vienna, Austria; started in Dubai

Sector: Health Tech

Staff: 119

Funding: €7.7 million (Dh31m)

 

ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA

Starring: Nader Abd Alhay, Majd Eid, Ramzi Maqdisi

Directors: Tarzan and Arab Nasser

Rating: 4.5/5

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  • SMEs with revenue below Dh3 million per annum can opt for transitional relief until 2026, treating them as having no taxable income. 
  • Larger entities have specific provisions for asset and liability movements, business restructuring, and handling foreign permanent establishments.
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%3Cp%3EYears%3A%20October%202015%20-%20June%202024%3Cbr%3ETotal%20games%3A%20491%3Cbr%3EWin%20percentage%3A%2060.9%25%3Cbr%3EMajor%20trophies%3A%206%20(Premier%20League%20x%201%2C%20Champions%20League%20x%201%2C%20FA%20Cup%20x%201%2C%20League%20Cup%20x%202%2C%20Fifa%20Club%20World%20Cup%20x1)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor

Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm

Transmission: 10-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km

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AT4 Ultimate, as tested

Engine: 6.2-litre V8

Power: 420hp

Torque: 623Nm

Transmission: 10-speed automatic

Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)

On sale: Now

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RACE CARD

5pm: Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Racing Festival Purebred Arabian Cup Conditions (PA); Dh 200,000 (Turf) 1,600m
5.30pm: Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Cup Conditions (PA); Dh 200,000 (T) 1,600m
6pm: Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan National Day Cup Listed (TB); Dh 380,000 (T) 1,600m
6.30pm: Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan National Day Group 3 (PA); Dh 500,000 (T) 1,600m
7pm: Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan National Day Jewel Crown Group 1 (PA); Dh 5,000,000 (T) 2,200m
7.30pm: Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Racing Festival Handicap (PA); Dh 150,000 (T) 1,400m
8pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh 100,000 (T); 1,400m

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  2. Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
  3. Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
  4. Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
  5. Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
  6. The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
  7. Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269

*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year

Sri Lanka squad for tri-nation series

Angelo Mathews (c), Upul Tharanga, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Kusal Janith Perera, Thisara Perera, Asela Gunaratne, Niroshan Dickwella, Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep, Dushmantha Chameera, Shehan Madushanka, Akila Dananjaya, Lakshan Sandakan and Wanidu Hasaranga

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The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat 

While you're here
Updated: February 24, 2023, 4:05 AM`