Rising food prices are not only affecting the purchasing power and income of the M40 and struggling B40 communities in Malaysia, it is also aggravating a food security crisis, according to an article produced by Emir Research, an independent think tank focused on strategic policy recommendations based on rigorous research.  The think tank observed that while  we should be steadily recovering from the economic impact of pandemic lockdowns now as we enter the endemic phase,  food price inflation is still  negatively impacting household and private sector spending. Households and the private sector would need to increase savings to cope with unexpected circumstances as we live in a world rife with uncertainty and externally-driven interrelated factors. Emir Research researcher author of the article, Amanda Yeo, shares some factors that escalate food price inflation.  Factors that magnify food price inflation  One factor is the introduction of the RM1,500 monthly minimum wage rate. Producers that operate farms may be forced to reduce the number of local workers hired in order to cut operational costs.   Also, the current difficulty in employing foreign workers aggravates the labour shortage problem that companies are facing. The reduction in the number of workers could result in reduced production levels resulting in decreased supplies, which cause price increases.  Although pandemic movement controls and restrictions are no longer an issue, supply-chain disruptions still persist externally. Obstacles and blocks in certain major ports abroad and their domestic counterparts are still causing logistical congestion.   All of these factors add to the price hikes and intensify inflation pressures, which do not help Malaysia's already weak food security situation.    Malaysia’s Food Security Status At  Crisis Level  While our country is abundant in natural resources, such as agricultural land, our self-sufficiency ratio (SSR) has been declining and shrinking due to an over-reliance on imported food.   According to the Supply & Utilisation Accounts Selected Agricultural Commodities 2016-2020 report from the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM), the lockdown measures resulted in fewer food commodities recording SSRs at 100 percent in 2020.   In 2020, just 19 food items had an SSR of 100 percent, compared to 25 in 2019.  Mutton (9.6%), ginger (18.9%), mango (20.2%), beef (22.2%), chilli (30.9%), round cabbage (37.5%), fresh milk (65.0%), rice (63.0%), coconut (66.6%), sweet potato (75.6%), and sardine (75.6%) are among the foods with less than 100 percent SSR (80.7 percent ).  Malaysia imported RM55.5 billion in food items in 2020, compared to RM33.8 billion in exports, resulting in an RM21.7 billion deficit. This shows a disturbing trend which is not improving, as Malaysia's food imports have totaled RM482.8 billion over the last decade, while exports have totaled RM296 billion.  The severe floods in several states such as Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Perak, Negeri Sembilan, Melaka, Kuala Lumpur, and Selangor, a result of climate change further caused bigger losses in the agriculture and food industry.  Heavy and unexpected downpours, at the end of 2021 and early 2022 affected  around 5,000 animal breeders and farmers , resulting in agro-food losses of nearly RM67.72 million.  Malaysia was rated 39th on the Economist Intelligence Unit's latest Global Food Security Index (GFSI) 2021, very far behind the UK (3rd), Finland (4th), Netherlands (6th), Japan (8th), United States (9th), Singapore (15th), Qatar (24th), and Kuwait (30th).  Eventhough we improved from a score of 68 in 2020 to 70.1 in 2021, Malaysia still ranked poorly in the "availability" and "natural resources and resilience" aspects, with scores of 64.0 and 46.6, respectively. Malaysia received 85.6 and 76.3 points for the last two criteria, "affordability" and "quality and safety," respectively.  These indicators point to Malaysia's long-standing structural issues related to import dependency and food-related balance of payment (BOP) deficits.   With the ongoing Russia-Ukraine crisis and our declining currency, our BOP deficit is increasing by markups from cost-push inflation, which worsens the cost of doing business and living.  According to the United Nations' COMTRADE database on international commerce, Russia is Malaysia's third largest trading partner for "mineral or chemical fertilisers, phosphatic" imports, worth USD4.77 million and accounting for 16.2 percent of the total. Western sanctions on Russia have resulted in a global shortage of fertilisers, driving up the cost of animal feed and crops in Malaysia.  In order to compensate for the increased cost of feeding components such as corn, soybeans, and wheat, local animal breeders and farmers have to charge retailers/consumers higher selling prices, in addition to the minimum wage increase of RM300 per month per employee beginning 1 May 2022 onwards.   This blog post is based on the research and article  by Amanda Yeo of Emir Research.  Despite the rising cost of everything, you can look forward to huge savings with Gogopasar's exceptional promotions every month, known as our Hari-Hari Jimat and Payday Sales, with a different theme every month!  Buy from us online and stock up with unbeatable promotions at every payday and during the mid-month slump. Look out for these limited offers of fresh and quality groceries with FREE delivery, only at www.gogopasar.com.    

1. The only end-to-end halal online grocer  As a subsidiary of FGV Integrated Farming Holdings, Gogopasar has been entrusted with carefully curated halal suppliers, farmers and livestock producers along the FGV and Felda supply chain, ensuring that at every level we maintain sertu-ensured processes. This means that products are prepared and cleaned within spaces which observe strict standards of hygiene following Islamic purification measures to ensure food safety and preservation.  Also, because we want the best for our customers, we also take time and effort to choose our external suppliers carefully, ensuring they align with our values and sustainability principles. Only the best from the best for our customers. Take for example, our latest addition, our range of organic chicken by Delima in various packs and choice pieces, ready-cut for your convenience.    2. Our promotions are epic  Did you know that Gogopasar has 2 monthly promotions called Hari-Hari Jimat and Payday Sales every month without fail. So far, we’ve had various editions of these two promotions which our loyal shoppers look forward to at every beginning and end of the month. These seasonal promos are very exciting because they feature products below the usual market price and we always end up being sold-out, which helps us to consistently maintain our fresh inventory and quality offerings.    3. Our company culture is awesome  Working at Gogopasar feels like you’re working with family; an empathetic, understanding yet strict family.  While they take adhering to KPIs very seriously, the management gives you enough support and space to grow into your role, especially if you are a fresh graduate with little work experience. In fact, everyone here readily steps up assist and support each other. It is this united team-focused culture that allows us to get the impossible done. To see us in action, check out our TikTok here. Yet, while we work hard to get our respective jobs done, we also know how to party hard and have a great time. That usually means the company does not spare any expense in training staff to upskill and most importantly, enjoy the fruits of our labour collectively by having great feasts together at every opportunity we can get.  Top management encourages us to take ownership of our roles and reward us with free food and close fellowship during celebrations and milestones.     4. We are a social enterprise  Gogopasar does not only exist to drive profits for its shareholders and investors, but to also help those in need. We created GOGOCARE, a CSR initiative for anyone who would like to ‘deliver’ a helping hand in times of need. Let us do all the leg-work while you fulfil your part in giving to society by simply clicking on the link provided in the Gogopasar website to donate.  The Gogocare initiative has prepared various Relief packages that corporations, organisations and even individuals can send to anyone or any group of people they know who might be needing access to staple food supplies and water. Flood Relief, Immunity Packages and MCO Relief food and care baskets are some of the items available to add to our community’s food bank efforts.  Under Gogocare , we offer a platform for the public to contribute together in the form of food basket packages to those in need. Every donation given will be channelled to recipients in collaboration with various agencies, ngos and participating bodies.     5. We turn 2 years old this month! This 15 June 2022, Gogopasar celebrates 2 years of operations. We thrived during the pandemic and are still going strong as we enter the endemic stage. In fact, only recently in April 2022 did we launch our second distribution center in the historical state of Malacca, being part of the initiative to drive digitalisation within school cooperatives. We attribute our expanding success to our faith, collective effort, the vision of our top management and also to our parent company FGV Integrated Farming Holdings Berhad and investors KOPENAS for believing in our potential and for helping make our dreams a reality. In conjunction with our 2nd year anniversary, we are rewarding our loyal and new customers with our craziest sale yet, the Hari-Hari Jimat RM1 Corner sales from 10 June to 16 June, only 5 days, our shortest promo period ever, as we have been getting overwhelming response and predict all goods to sell out soon.  Be sure to celebrate with us and get in on all these awesome  happenings and to take advantage of our appreciation for you as our customer!! Download the app and start shopping now before all these goodies run out.

The FEVER has started  The King of Fruits has arrived and durian fever has officially kicked off, signaling the beginning of 2022’s much-anticipated  season for Malaysians after the pandemic has restricted us for two years!  It's time to go crazy with revenge durian hunting! PHYSICALLY! The country’s durian season unfolds in stages each year according to state, typically starting with Penang in May.  Johor follows in June or July before it extends to Perak and Pahang in early July or in early August.  Kelantan, Terengganu and Sabah follow by the end of July or in August, and the season ends in Sarawak at the end of August or in September.  By now, many of us in the Klang Valley have already gotten our durian fix but we all know that in the early days of the season, prices are always more expensive.  Prices Below Market Price No worries, Gogopasar as usual is here to the rescue by always bringing you the best quality at the most affordable prices, straight from local and contract farmers!  Curious about how much we are selling our durians?  We invite you to our Gogopapsar KenDurian 2022 festival starting 16 June until 30 June 2022.  Come and see our choice of high quality Musang King,DIOI and D13 species on sale at the Gogopasar Warehouse in Selayang from 12-10pm daily starting tomorrow.  We assure you that with our lean supply chain process, we are able to maintain prices below the usual market price.   If you are near Selayang, do drop by the Gogopasar Warehouse situated in Taman Perindustrian Selayang. We will be open daily from weekdays to weekends offering you our mouth-watering durians for you and your family to enjoy.   

Gogopasar has recently upgraded our e-commerce website structure to be at par with industry standards. Now, the speed at which pages load on the Gogopasar website is faster, smoother and more seamless for users to navigate easily. Additionally, security has also been enhanced to serve customer’s payment process. Transactions during check out are more secure with zero loopholes for external parties to intercept, says Mohd Rizal bin Abdul Rahman, VP of Information Technology at Gogopasar. Rizal, who is experienced and well-versed with the startup ecosystem says after 2 years of successful operations, Gogopasar’s website is now ready to serve even more customers with convenience and reliability after having migrated from their older system in April 2022. He says that Gogopasar would be his second startup and he looks forward to building and enhancing the current system to serve customers effectively. He added that the new Gogopasar App would also reflect similar improvements like the website such as smoother loading, faster response and seamless performance in terms of browsing capacity and checkout processes. However, Rizal adds that on-going improvement is still needed in terms of UX and UI (user experience and user interface). Several top-notch vendors in this area are being engaged currently to proceed with the next phases of user interface improvements and should be complete by end of July till early August. Rizal says that UX and UI are areas that require continuous improvement and analyses over the long term. Gogopasar is currently enhancing this particular area in stages while collecting valuable data on customer website satisfaction needs and behaviour to help our customers enjoy their shopping experience with more convenience and less issues. Looking forward, Rizal says there are plans in the pipeline to collaborate with MAIWP (Majlis Agama Islam Wilayah Persekutuan) and Boost, local  e-commerce payment gateway service. This project will see Gogopasar as the online platform for which the B40 community can purchase groceries easily and very affordably with the help of MAIWP and Boost. To experience Gogopasar’s new website for yourself, download the App on Google Playstore or Apple App Store or simply shop online at www.gogopasar.com. Take advantage of our current Hari Raya Pay Day Sale today until 7 May 2022.

The Gogopreneur Programme gives you the freedom to work from home. Build a thriving online business with on-going support! This entrepreneurship development programme aims to assist and develop people. If you are looking to earn a living through sales via an online business, read on further. As a participant, you will be trained in digital marketing and business acumen for free, in order to effectively promote products sold by Gogopasar. All you need to do is source for prospective customers and maintain your customer base. Then, encourage them to sell the products by Gogopasar consistently. In return, you will receive commissions for every purchase made by your prospects and contacts. Read on to learn how you can learn to be a savvy digital marketer and passively earn commissions as your prospects shop at Gogopasar. Background Gogopasar’s Gogopreneur Programme was launched in February 2020. There are already several batches of Gogopreneurs since then. Previously, earlier batches of Gogoprenuers had to pay a certain fee to enter the programme. Now, however, participation is free for all who are interested in building their own business with added personalised digital marketing support. Requirements Once you have registered, you have agreed to commit to a year of trainings in the form of coaching and mentoring by digital marketing specialists at Gogopasar. This will enable you to build your online business from scratch and watch it grow exponentially with the power of social media and digital technology. In this way, Gogopasar aims to upskill dedicated representatives of the company with a focus on sales. Anyone above the age of 18 years are encouraged to learn and pursue financial independence through their own hard work and committed determination. While anyone can apply to participate as a Gogopreneur, this programme is also intended to provide positive social impact on the community by especially helping the B40 community, unemployed and retrenched segment of society. Benefits Low Capital Setup– To become a Gogopreneur, one doesn’t need to invest any money into the business. The one main thing one needs to invest in are some hours of your day and an open and positive mind in learning new things. Easy-to-sell Products– The products a Gogopreneur markets and sells are essential food items or fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) products that consumers need daily such as fresh, frozen and dry groceries. Low Operational Costs– As an entrepreneur working online from home, managing your own business has never been easier due to the zero payments for shop rental, utilities, inventory and overheads which usually plague other conventional businesses. Attractive rewards and free gifts – If one performs excellently as a Gogopreneur by hitting the required sales targets set, then they are in the running to receive various levels of incentives in addition to the commissions they earn. Fully digital business– The only tools you need to run the business effectively are a smartphone and  stable internet connection. It would greatly help if you are also social media savvy. There is no need to travel to a workplace, or meet customers face-to-face. Everything is done online using digital marketing tools to connect easily and quickly to a larger network. Ready market for everyone– Each and everyone one of us has a wide variety of contact groups. All of these groups are a potential target market for the products offered by Gogopasar, thus making it a ready market for a large audience. All you need is your network of contacts and you’re ready to start in this business endeavour. Find out more about being a Gogopreneur by reading more here. Order from us anytime of the week and get it delivered the next day. Our Gogopasar riders are punctual and ready to serve you with reliable customer service. First timer? Use our voucher code: WELCOMEGIFT and get RM5 off your first purchase.  

Push yourself out of your comfort zone for more growth, says Haslinda Alias, CEO of GOGOPASAR, online grocery platform and subsidiary of FGV Integrated Farming Holdings Sdn Bhd. “Challenge is an opportunity for progress, and an opportunity to discover something unique that is not easily accessible to anyone but the rare few who see potential in the challenge,” says the wise businesswoman who is mother to four young adults, having recently become a new grandmother. Haslinda, popular known as Lynn, has been running various businesses for 25 years now, with all the companies under her helm having a similar trait at its core – sustainability and social impact. Her previous endeavour before GOGOPASAR was as a shareholder for a biodegradable packaging company. “I am focused on ensuring that the businesses I run comply with ESG standards as these are central factors that measure ethical impact and sustainability of investments,” she adds. A true social entrepreneur at heart, Haslinda started GOGOPASAR bearing one main purpose – to give back to the community and help those in need. Beginning her venture together with her son Raphael in February 2020, their timing in starting GOGOPASAR was impeccable as it was just before the pandemic where the company would soon find itself providing online business opportunities to so many in need during movement controls and social restrictions. Later, in September 2020, competing with many established players for seed investment by FGV Holdings, the agro supply chain leader chose to invest in Lynn. A new unit called FGV Integrated Farming was created to begin the digital transformation and sustainability work within the FGV agro supply chain network towards sustainability. Social Entrepreneurship As the popular saying goes, give a man a fish and he eats for one day, teach a man how to fish and he eats every day of his life- which is the driving force behind GOGOPASAR. Currently helping members of the B40 segment and National Higher Education Fund Corp (PTPN) borrowers to pay back their loans, GOGOPASAR’s GOGOPRENEUR Programme enables this segment to manage their own online business by digitally marketing and selling products with training and capital fully subsidised by PTPN. “ I aim to make a social impact with GOGOPASAR by training those struggling to make a living and upskilling them with digital marketing capabilities and ‘technopreneur skills’, which is all in line with the government’s 12th Malaysian Plan to reach high-income nation status in the next few years,” she says. Providing food baskets for various organisations to support their ‘B2CSR’ initiatives as she loves to call it, GOGOPASAR is also currently in zakat projects with Majlis Agama Wilayah Persekutuan (MAIWP) to distribute food baskets to those in need in various communities around the Klang Valley every day. In January 2021, the team at GOGOPASAR set up a GOGOCARE team to join the Peace Malaysia Foundation in providing aid and food to Pahang flood victims through 3 phases of the Flood Relief Mission, of which GOGOPASAR donated 5 tonnes of fresh chicken (almost 5,000 chickens).  The movement control order which was then enforced did not prevent them from extending help to communities in need. These and many other CSR projects partnering with various NGOs and government agencies such as Baitulmal,  K2K Group, MAIS, MARA, MDEC and HRDF are some of the initiatives and partnerships have taken on by GOGOPASAR in their social entrepreneurship efforts. Affordable Organic Produce Having now moved to a new 30,000-sq ft (1,858 sqm) warehouse in Selayang, Selangor, GOGOPASAR is expanding rapidly with multiple revenue streams. “It is almost a whole ecosystem here. FGV Integrated Farming has joined us in sharing office space and there is a dry and wet area for a variety of agro-food products,” Lynn says. GOGOPASAR has more than 5,000 stock-keeping units (SKUs) including wet and dry items. A newly launched French Cafe called Maison D’être and a farmer’s market-style fresh produce store called Marche at this warehouse and distribution centre in Selayang is currently in the works. Lynn envisions customers relaxing with a coffee and croissant while doing their grocery shopping here. “Due to the high demand for our affordable and high-quality organic produce, people have come all the way to physically buy them from our warehouse, and so we decided to design and build an organic market for that segment of consumers,” she says. By 2nd Quarter 2022, Gogopasar would have expanded to Malacca in collaboration with KOPENAS (Koperasi Perkhidmatan Pendidikan Nasional), an organisation with supports local school cooperatives to drive digitalisation in Malacca. They will transform school cooperatives digitally towards a  platform called the STEP (School Transformation E-Platform) and transfer all school supply transactions and communications between parents, student, cooperatives and teachers online. Lynn hopes in future that by planting the seeds of growth in this company mostly driven by a young and technically savvy team nurtured and guided by herself, she can pave the way for the future generation to take over her legacy and values in providing for the needy and supporting the community ethically and sustainably.

Shopping online for groceries is definitely a game-changer. We’ve all been there: Leaving the supermarket parking lot only to remember you forgot to pick up the one thing you needed most. The frustration of going outside to shop only to find the item you want is out of stock The dread of having to carry a heavy load of stuff like bags of rice and big bottles of oil for your big family and no one to help you with your bad back When your kids want to follow you to the store and buy everything there and throw a tantrum when you say ‘no’ social distance restrictions and Covid SOPs that slow down everything when you are in a rush to get dinner on the table The list of tiresome offline shopping issues are endless! Despite the fact that Gogopasar’s retail farmers market outlet, Marché, provides a more convenient and delightful shopping experience for our customers, we recognise that going to the grocery store on a weekly basis takes time away from doing the things you enjoy. This is why Gogopasar proudly provides the convenience of online grocery shopping with delivery to your door. But let me remind you, shopping with Gogopasar is not like other grocery delivery services out there. With our own drivers and end-to-end supply chain network, we are a step above when it comes to quality. Plus, we also stop and care for those around us who are not doing so good, to give a helping hand. Read on for 7 reasons why you should purchase online groceries with Gogopasar: 1-DISCOUNTS weekly Every week at Gogopasar, we will have exciting and various promos to promote new items we are selling. Take for example, the latest addition to our family- the Nanka Plant-Based burger patties. We ran a vegetarian promo week to feature this exciting product to get more Malaysians to eat healthy and choose more energising plant-based options in their meals. 2-FREE delivery What is better than weekly discounts? Free delivery of course. If you buy more than RM50 to cart, you are qualified for free delivery. Please make sure you click on the free delivery check box to claim your free delivery, if not the system will charge you automatically. 3-SECURE packaging When we deliver fresh and frozen items to your doorstep, we package them in secure, vacuum sealed packaging, to ensure freshness and quality. Take for example, when you receive prawns or fish, they come fresh from the supplier and we wash them clean for you and vacuum seal them up in high grade resilient packaging. No leaks, no tears, no mess! Tilapia is cleaned and vacuum sealed before delivery in good quality packaging. 4- RELIABLE service When we say we are delivering today, we deliver! As long as you are informed properly of our terms and conditions, you won’t be disappointed! So let us remind you here: Order before 10am, and get your items the same evening from between 3-6pm. Order AFTER 10am, and get your orders the next day same time, 3-6pm.   Let me give you an example. Let’s say you want to cook lunch tomorrow. The best time to order from Gogopasar to ensure you have items ready for lunch will be to order items BEFORE 10am, the day before aka today. If you order items AFTER 10am today, you will only get the items ready to cook for dinner tomorrow by 6pm at the latest. By being properly informed of these timings, you will save yourself a lot of anxiety and help us manage your expectations better. 5- SAFETY from large crowds These days, having close contact with someone who is positive is very common, due to the fast-spreading Omicron strain. Fortunately, however, according to a report by McKinsey and company, early evidence shows that this strain is less severe than Delta. Serious worst-case scenarios such as stage 4 infections are happening less and even have been avoided. Nevertheless, many of us are finding that we are back to staying home and working from home again these past few weeks due to the rising daily cases. It is time to start buying groceries online to avoid large crowds. Furthermore, buying from Gogopasar ensures that your grocery items come direct from suppliers, with minimal handling. Because our agro supply chain process is end-to-end, meaning we don’t engage with middle men aka the retail shops, our products come in pristine condition- safe from being held and touched by a crowd of shoppers. 6- QUALITY products We only deliver the freshest and cleanest products to your doorstep. Gogopasar ensures that fresh seafood, meat and poultry especially, are packaged in a ‘sertu’ environment. This means that they are prepared and cleaned within spaces which observe strict standards of hygiene following Islamic purification measures to ensure food safety and preservation. Also, because we want the best for our customers, we also take time and effort to choose our external suppliers carefully, ensuring they align with our values and sustainability principles. Only the best from the best for our customers. Take for example, our latest addition , our range of organic chicken by Delima in various packs and choice pieces, ready-cut for your convenience. Local organic chicken at Gogopasar is available now! Being a subsidiary of FGV Integrated Farmings Holdings Berhad (FGVIF), Gogopasar adheres to strict agro supply chain standards. Take, for instance, our high quality fruit products from Ladang ’57, a supplier under FGVIF. These high quality fruit produce go through careful procedures from farm to doorstep to ensure quality is maintained at every level. They use farming best practices that comply with guidelines from the Department of Agriculture to ensure a bountiful and pure harvest for all to enjoy. Ladang’57 fruits include Cavendish Bananas, MD2 Pineapple and Harumanis Mangoes, all fully farmed and owned by Malaysians for Malaysians. 7-We LISTEN to our customers Gogopasar cares. We persevere through all these various measures and safety standards for our customers’ safety for them to be able to provide safe and healthy food for their family. We understand that nobody is perfect, and that we constantly endeavour to serve you, our customer better.  This is why we are sharing our feedback form with every purchase for you to share your thoughts for us to serve you better in future. All this care and attention at such reasonable and affordable prices too! So what are you waiting for? Take advantage of our awesome deals today, as items are selling like hot cakes! Shop now before items run out at our Pay day SALES happening NOW until 7 March 2022. Enjoy discounts of up to 20% and SAVE on groceries and enjoy healthy quality meals. At the swipe of your fingertips, shop anywhere and anytime from our Gogopasar website or app for a seamless and money-saving online shopping experience! Order BEFORE 10am for same day delivery. Click here to learn more at https://bit.ly/3BQLNwI

New subsidiary to benefit digitally-savvy consumers and empower home entrepreneurs in generating more income KUALA LUMPUR, 27 November 2020 – FGV Holdings Berhad (FGV) is making its move in completing an end-to-end agribusiness supply chain by introducing GOGOPASAR – an e-commerce grocery marketplace. GOGOPASAR is a subsidiary of FGV Integrated Farming Holdings Sdn Bhd, a newly setup sector with business components which include fresh produce, cash crops, paddy and rice, animal feed, livestock and dairy farming. This new partnership allows FGV to offer consumers, housewives, and people with busy lifestyles the benefit of receiving fresh products at their doorstep, with just a click of a button on the GOGOPASAR app. In addition to that, it also offers home entrepreneurs a one-stop e-commerce solution to facilitate in generating additional income, as well as assist local farmers in selling their fresh produce. Dato’ Haris Fadzilah Hassan, FGV’s Group Chief Executive Officer said FGV’s move into an integrated e-commerce platform is part of FGV’s long term plans to become one of the world’s leading integrated and sustainable agribusinesses focusing on consumer products. “This year we saw the tremendous change in supply chain dynamics and in consumers’ spending patterns due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Our partnership with GOGOPASAR will digitalise FGV’s route to market in line with the government’s National E-commerce Roadmap mission to future-proof existing businesses and to expand local market access,” said Haris Fadzilah. GOGOPASAR essentially brings together three core elements – technology, networks and social commerce, connecting both the business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) markets with no minimum quantity of order. Currently, GOGOPASAR is the sole end-to-end virtual retailer in the country to have an established system that integrates suppliers, warehouses and logistics, by providing a virtual retail business platform direct to consumers with an option for same-day delivery, best-price and quality assurance. To help overcome the recent high unemployment rate of the country and to provide business opportunities especially for the B40 group, GOGOPASAR has introduced a Home Agent programme known as ‘Gogopreneur’. With a profit-sharing scheme, Gogopreneurs have the opportunity to obtain a monthly average income of RM4,500 in these increasingly trying times. For 2020, a minimum of 100 Gogopreneurs will be recruited to serve their designated neighborhoods, where almost 80 percent of the recruited Gogopreneurs are already receiving orders from customers. Haslinda Alias, Chief Executive Officer of GOGOPASAR said transactions have significantly grown in the midst of the pandemic from 10 transactions per day to 600 transactions since April 2020. Currently, GOGOPASAR covers the Klang Valley area, with plans to expand the business nationwide by next year. “GOGOPASAR has access to the finest selection of imported and fresh goods direct from local suppliers such as vegetables, seafood, meat and chicken through our extensive suppliers’ network, which also includes FGV’s contract farmers. This is to ensure that only fresh produce is delivered to consumers. We target to increase to 300 stock keeping units and to have 50 merchants join on board by the end of 2020,” added Haslinda. GOGOPASAR’s website www.gogopasar.com is now live for consumers to shop for groceries online. To make the shopping experience easier, the GOGOPASAR mobile app for Android is available for download from Google Play Store. End Press release from: https://www.fgvholdings.com/press_release/fgv-ventures-into-end-to-end-e-commerce-ecosystem-with-gogopasar/

"Mari kita pergi ke zoo, bergembira di situ, makanannya sedap sehingga menjilat jari...." who else remembers this jingle?? I'm sure everyone has their own fond memories of our beloved national zoo, Zoo Negara, located in Taman Zooview, Ampang . When I was younger, I remember countless trips there such as school trips with friends, birthday parties (where we would have KFC to our hearts content!) and once, my mom's office even held a family day there where we would visit the animals, watch the shows and play games in the zoo compound! Oh, what fun! Even as I get older, the excitement of going to the zoo has not faded. I always feel like a little kid no matter how many times I've revisited the place and the animals there. I find it exhilarating when I can spot a tiger resting in between the shady trees, or hear a lion roar so powerfully, or watch the elephants drink with their trunks and admire the huge fishes swimming in the aquarium tank and imagining myself swimming with them (and later the thought freaked me out, because they were huge!!) Anyway, earlier this month, the Gogopasar team made an initiative to visit our beloved Zoo Negara after hearing that they are facing a shortage of funds to cover the expenses needed to run it properly due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Due to the lockdowns imposed because of the pandemic, the zoo was forced to close their doors from visitors and that gravely affected their funds which comes mainly from the entrance fees to the Zoo. In return, this affects the well-being of the animals as they require a lot of maintenance in terms of food and medication. The zoo's maintenance is not cheap as it involves  food necessities for the animals (RM350,000), salary of the workers (RM400,000), electricity bills (RM140,000) and water bills (RM40,000) which come up to almost a million ringgit monthly. Currently, their emergency funds are depleting and can only last up to probably three months. Mind you, these animals only eat the best grade of vegetables and fruits ya? The keepers said that if the vegetables or fruits are not fresh, the animals would reject it! So, Gogopasar with our tagline of 'So Fresh For Less" plans to provide and deliver good quality fruits and vegetables as requested by the Zoo management for the consumption of these animals and with your help, we can make this possible. As such, Gogopasar will launch the 'Tabung Bantuan Zoo Negara' as an initiative to help Zoo Negara especially in providing food necessities to the animals. It's a donation drive solely made with the animals well-being and survival in mind. Every little bit counts, so please donate freely. With the amount collected, we will send whatever is required by the Zoo such as meat, poultry, vegetables and fruits and we hope our caring Malaysians will support our effort. Together We Can! Our wish is to see our national zoo back to its previous glory with the  animals living happily and healthily so that our future generation can create their own fond memories of visiting Zoo Negara just like we did.

Kuantan, 20 Januari – GOGOPASAR menyumbang sebanyak 5 tan (hampir 5,000 ekor) ayam segar kepada mangsa-mangsa banjir Pahang melalui 3 fasa Misi Bantuan Banjir bermula Rabu lepas. Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif GOGOPASAR, Lynn Alias, berkata Perintah Kawalan Pergerakan (PKP) yang berkuatkuasa pada masa ini tidak menghalang GOGOPASAR untuk menubuhkan pasukan GogoCare bergabung dengan Yayasan Peace Malaysia bagi ketiga-tiga misi tersebut. Majlis penyerahan sumbangan GOGOPASAR hari ini berlangsung di Kompleks IPK Kuantan turut dihadiri Ketua Polis Pahang, Dato’ Abd. Jalil Hassan. “Alhamdullillah kami amat bertuah dan bersyukur sekali kerana bantuan banjir yang diberikan oleh Gogopasar kepada IPK Pahang ini dapat membantu meringankan serba sedikit beban yang ditanggung oleh anggota-anggota Polis yang menjadi mangsa banjir. Kami berharap agar kerjasama antara polis dan Gogopasar akan berterusan dari masa ke semasa,” kata Dato’ Sri Abd. Jalil Hassan.

I guess the new announcement on the Lockdown imposed by the government came with no surprise right? Numbers of COVID-19 cases in Malaysia has been rising rapidly and with the new variants that is deemed more dangerous than before, we can’t help but worry. However, we can’t possibly live as hermits. Somehow, we just need to embrace the ‘new norm’ and ‘soldier on’!  Aside from keeping a safe distance from others, avoiding big crowds, wearing your masks and sanitising your hands frequently, we should also aim to boost our immune system because let’s face it, there is no cure as yet to fight the COVID-19 disease except to improve your overall health and boost your immunity! There's no sure fire way of saying "If you eat this, you won't get coronavirus" because no supplement or food group will prevent or cure the disease, but choosing certain foods can definitely boost your immune system and make you less susceptible to illness. The building blocks of your immunity are helped by the micronutrients in your food, such as antioxidants and vitamins and minerals, and nothing delivers those better than fruits and vegetables, legumes and nuts and seeds. The flip side is also true, that studies show a diet high in red meat and processed foods can cause inflammation, and in the case of COVID-19, inflammation is the enemy. Patients who do the worst when confronted with this virus are those who are overweight, have chronic inflammation, high blood pressure or are otherwise immune-compromised. According to some research, a diet high in plant-based foods is the answer and to avoid foods like meat, processed food and dairy which can cause inflammation, especially to those in the higher risk groups. So if you’re looking for ways to prevent colds, the flu, and other infections, your first step should be a visit to your local grocery store. Plan your meals to include these powerful immune system boosters. Hey, prevention is better than cure don't you agree? 1. Add More Citrus Picture credit: thewholeu.uw.edu Most people turn straight to vitamin C after they’ve caught a cold. That’s because it helps build up your immune system. Vitamin C is thought to increase the production of white blood cells, which are key to fighting infections. If you're not a fan of supplements, just add citrus fruits in your diet! Almost all citrus fruits are high in vitamin C. With such a variety to choose from, it’s easy to add a squeeze of this vitamin to any meal. Popular citrus fruits includes grapefruit, oranges, tangerines, lemons and limes. But what's the amount needed as our daily vitamin C intake? It's 75g for women and 90 mg for men. However, bear in mind that there is no evidence yet as to how effective it is against the new variants of coronavirus. 2. Red Peppers! Twice The Amount Of Vitamin C! Picture credit: healthline.com Say what??! Peppers are also a great source of beta carotene, a precursor of vitamin A (retinol). Vitamin A is important for healthy skin, your mucous membranes and your immune system. Beta carotene helps keep your eyes and skin healthy, as well. One cooked pepper has 19 percent of your daily recommended amount of beta carotene. How much beta carotene do you need a day? You should try to get 75 to 180 micrograms a day which is the equivalent of one medium bell pepper a day. But a red pepper has more than two and a half times your RDA for vitamin C. Wow! 3. Broccoli Picture credit: Emoha.com This marvelous green vegetable is supercharged with vitamins and minerals. Packed with vitamins A, C, and E, as well as fiber and many antioxidants, broccoli is one of the healthiest vegetables you can put on your plate and easy to prepare too! The key to keeping its power intact is to cook it as little as possible — or better yet, not at all. However, if the idea of eating it raw sends shrivels down your spine, steaming is the best best as it keeps more nutrients in the food. Try our Stir Fry beef and broccoli recipe here! https://gogopasar.com/2020/10/23/stir-fry-beef-and-broccoli/ 4. Garlic Garlic is not just a great flavor-enhancer, it's essential for your health. Ancient humans valued garlic as an infection fighter, which is why so much of our traditional diets uses garlic as one of the main ingredients in dishes. Garlic’s immune-boosting properties are tied to its sulfur-containing compounds, such as allicin. Allicin is thought to improve your immune cells' ability to fight off colds and flu, and viruses of all kinds. Garlic also has anti-microbial and anti-viral properties thought to fight off infections.How much should you eat in a day: The optimal amount of garlic to eat is around two to three cloves a day. Too much I know..or you could opt to take garlic supplements instead as an alternative. 5. Ginger, Good For Digestion & Immune System Ginger is another ingredient that has super properties when it comes to fighting off illness. It has been shown to decrease inflammation, which can help if you get swollen glands or a sore throat or any inflammatory ailment. Gingerol, the main bioactive compound in ginger, is a relative of capsaicin, can be used in sweet or spicy dishes. It has been found to alleviate pain and fight nausea. It also has powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits. How much ginger should you consume? Most recommendations land on 3–4 grams of ginger extract a day, or up to four cups of ginger tea, but no more than 1 gram a day if you are pregnant. Some studies have linked high dosages to an increased risk of miscarriage. 6. Spinach, Kale and Any Dark Leafy Greens Picture credit: Inspiredtaste.net Spinach is not only packed with vitamin C but also antioxidants and beta carotene, both of which give your immune system the healthy boost it needs to fight off invaders. Don't overcook your spinach, since the more it's cooked the less active the antioxidants will be. If you eat it raw or lightly steamed you'll keep more of the nutrients intact. How much should you eat a day: Aim for 1 cup fresh spinach or 1/2 cup cooked per day, but this is the right moment to try the raw or slightly wilted approach. Order warm or wilted spinach salad when you go out, or make it yourself with olive oil, pine nuts, and vegan parm. Red spinach is a great option too! 7.  Almonds For Snacking Picture credit: lifehacked.org Vitamin E in almonds will help ward off colds and flu and is key to your immune system. Therefore, nuts are the perfect package for you to get your dosage of vitamin E into your system. 8. Turmeric Rich With Anti-Inflammatory Properties If you ever feel healthier for eating curry, it is probably because of the Tumeric, which is an ingredient that gives it its burnt orange color. But this highly pigmented spice is known for its anti-inflammatory qualities. The ingredient curcumin has been found to decrease muscle soreness after a hard workout. How it helps immunity? Turmeric decreases exercise-induced muscle damage. Tumeric bolsters the immune system by stimulating antibody formation and people with auto-immune diseases are told by their doctors to take 500 mg of curcumin daily to reduce inflammation and stave off soreness. 9. Green Tea by the Gallon Whether you prefer green tea or black tea, you will benefit from the compounds called flavonoids, powerful antioxidants. Green tea has high levels of EGCG, (epigallocatechin gallate) another hard-working antioxidant. EGCG is known to boost immune function, and originally all tea leaves contain this anti-oxidant, but when black tea is fermented it deactivates most of the EGCG. Green tea is steamed so the EGCG is still active when you drink it. Green tea also contains L-theanine, an anti-oxidant which appears to help in the production of T-cells in your body. This may aid in the production of germ-fighting compounds in your T-cells. The optimal amount is three to five cups in a day, but people rarely drink that much. However, swapping your usual coffee or black tea with green tea is better than nothing and can improve your health. 10. Papaya, The Tropical Healer Papaya delivers over twice your recommended daily amount of vitamin C in one fruit -- though you're likely to eat a few slices on a salad or in a smoothie. It also contains an enzyme called papain that has anti-inflammatory effects -- and inflammation is one factor in most illnesses, so avoiding it can help your body fight off bacterial infections like sinusitis. Papayas contains potassium, vitamin B, and folate, which is a powerful cell rebuilder. Exactly how folic acid works to build immunity is linked to its role in protein synthesis, and researchers think that any mechanism in which cells proliferate can be affected (which is why it's critical for pregnant women). People who are folate-deficient have compromised immune systems.How much folate should you eat a day: Whether you are pregnant or not, folate (vitamin B9) is a great vitamin to keep your cells healthy and strong. The recommendation is 400 micrograms a day, or get it from legumes, spinach, papayas, and avocados. 11. Kiwis, a Vitamin Powerhouse Picture credit: medicalnewstoday.com When you think of anti-oxidants, you should think of fruits that grow in the sun, since their vitamin pack comes from having to fight off the oxidation of the strong rays that beat down on them in the tropics. Kiwis are a great example. They are full of folate, vitamin K, vitamin C, and potassium. These vitamins in combination work in the body to build healthy cells, fight infection and keep your immune system humming along. Vitamin K deficiency is rare but when people don't have enough they suffer from weak bones and compromised immune systems. The inflammation system in the body is also dependent on vitamin K, especially your killer T cells that mobilize and fight cancer and other diseases. How much should you eat in a day: Vitamin K is one of the unsung heroes of the body. Women should get 90 micrograms a day, and men should have 120 micrograms. So there! Add these fruits and vegetables into your diet and boost your immune system so that if coronavirus hits you, your body is able to counter back! Get what you need to give your immune system a boost at www.gogopasar.com today and live a healthier life!