Gardenia Bakeries (KL) Sdn. Bhd. is taking another step forward in supporting young talents through a strategic collaboration with Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Selangor Branch following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the closing ceremony of the Gardenia x UiTM Apprenticeship 2026.
The partnership highlights both organisations’ shared commitment to preparing students with practical skills and industry knowledge, especially in the food and bakery manufacturing sector. Through this initiative, students are given the opportunity to experience the realities of the industry while applying their creativity and ideas in a business-focused environment.
The Gardenia x UiTM Apprenticeship 2026 was introduced as a platform for students to explore product innovation, branding and marketing strategies through hands-on learning. Instead of focusing only on theory, participants were guided through the complete process of developing a product, starting from research and idea creation to planning strategies for market introduction.
Gardenia Senior Marketing Manager, Puan Ena Suhaila Abas, said the company has always believed in the potential of young Malaysians and their ability to contribute fresh perspectives to the industry.
She shared that the apprenticeship programme was created not only to introduce students to the workplace, but also to encourage them to develop a mindset similar to entrepreneurs, brand creators and innovators.
“Gardenia believes that Malaysia’s younger generation is one of the country’s most valuable assets. Through this programme, we want students to explore their creativity, build confidence and develop ideas that can create a positive impact for the industry,” she said.
Meanwhile, Prof. Dr. Ahmad Taufek Abdul Rahman, Acting Rector of UiTM Selangor Branch, said collaborations between universities and industry partners play an important role in preparing students for future careers.
According to him, exposure to real business environments allows students to strengthen their skills, gain confidence and understand the expectations of the professional world before graduating.
The closing ceremony was also attended by Mr. Derrick Khoo, Acting Chief Executive Officer of Gardenia Bakeries (KL) Sdn. Bhd., together with participating students, lecturer-mentors and representatives from both organisations.
The programme involved 22 UiTM campuses from across Peninsular Malaysia, with each campus represented by a team of five students. A total of 110 students took part in the challenge, guided by lecturer-mentors throughout the programme.
For the competition, participants were required to create innovative ideas based on Gardenia’s Ready-to-Eat (RTE) product range, including QuickBites, PUAZZ!, Toast’em Waffles, Squiggles and Twiggies.
The challenge encouraged students to think beyond product creation by considering factors such as branding, consumer appeal and commercial opportunities. Participants were also required to present their ideas and explain how their products could potentially enter the market.
During the first stage, teams developed three RTE product concepts and submitted short video presentations. The five strongest teams then progressed to the final round, where they prepared detailed brand strategy proposals and presented their ideas before a panel of judges.
The champion title was won by Munchz Grab & Bites Delight from UiTM Pahang Branch, Raub Campus, which received RM5,000 together with an industry training placement at Gardenia. Kaya Cakoi Bites from UiTM Negeri Sembilan Branch, Kuala Pilah Campus secured the first runner-up position, while Dip N Bite from UiTM Kelantan Branch, Kota Bharu Campus placed third.
Other winners included Mochi Roti Bites from UiTM Kelantan Branch, Machang Campus and GD Burger from UiTM Negeri Sembilan Branch, Seremban Campus, who received consolation prizes. The Best Presenter Award was awarded to the team from UiTM Pahang Branch, Raub Campus.
The winning team, Munchz Grab & Bites Delight, described the programme as a valuable experience that allowed them to understand the bakery industry from a different perspective. They shared that the initiative helped improve their skills in product development, branding and business planning while building their confidence as future entrepreneurs.
Beyond the apprenticeship challenge, UiTM also conducted a study on students’ dietary habits involving more than 2,200 respondents from the 22 participating campuses. The study aims to understand students’ food choices and explore how dietary habits may relate to academic performance and mental well-being.
The findings will be compiled into an official UiTM report and are expected to provide useful insights for Gardenia in understanding the lifestyle, preferences and needs of younger consumers.
As part of the collaboration, Gardenia also organised a University Roadshow at all participating campuses to engage directly with students. Through the roadshow, students had the chance to interact with the Gardenia team, discover its latest Ready-to-Eat products and participate in various activities.
More than 11,000 RTE product packs were distributed throughout the roadshow series, allowing students to experience Gardenia’s latest offerings while strengthening the connection between the brand and younger audiences.
Through this collaboration with UiTM, Gardenia continues to support education, innovation and talent development by providing students with meaningful industry exposure. The initiative reflects Gardenia’s ongoing commitment to nurturing future professionals who are ready to contribute to Malaysia’s growing food and bakery sector.
