Bubbles O2 expands factory to meet growing demand

Bubbles O2 Sdn Bhd (Bubbles O2), a local natural mineral water company, is now prepared to meet the increasing demand, which has tripled since the end of 2023.

Its managing director Ain Azizah Arifin stated that the growth has driven the company’s strategic efforts to expand their production facility in Kampung Kanchong, Rantau, Negeri Sembilan.

“Our factory is now twice as large as before, equipped with state-of-the-art facilities to meet the demands of both local and international markets,” Ain Azizah said during the new factory launch event in Rantau last Thursday.

Ewon (fifth from the left), Arifin (fourth from the left), and Ain Azizah (on the right) cut the ribbon to officially open the new Bubbles O2 factory during the factory's grand opening ceremony in Rantau on Thursday.

The event was officiated by the Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives (KUSKOP), Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick.

“This factory is now 70 per cent automated, a significant achievement for a company that was only established in 2019.

“The production capacity at this new factory can be increased by up to 300 per cent from the previous capacity, in line with the growing market demand both domestically and internationally.

“With this expansion, the factory can now produce a minimum of 4,000 cartons or 100,000 bottles per day,” she said.

Ain added that Bubbles O2 is also committed to long-term development, including contributing to local workers and the economy.

“With the support of government agencies under KUSKOP, such as Perbadanan Nasional Berhad (Pernas), SME Corp, and SME Bank, the company has invested in facilities and machinery to increase production efficiency and speed.

“This factory is one of the major achievements, in addition to the innovation of the previous Bubbles O2 bottles,” she said.

She added that with this new factory, Bubbles O2 aims to reach a projected sales value of RM22 million next year.

Bubbles O2 is actively exploring new markets after successfully penetrating international markets such as Brunei, Indonesia, Dubai, and North America.

Recently, the company signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the markets in North Africa and the United States.

Support for Yayasan Al-Ammar

Part of Bubbles O2’s profits would be channelled to Yayasan Al-Ammar, which plays an important role in helping the community, particularly B40 families, said Ain.

“The foundation focuses on educational initiatives, with the main goal of helping children from underprivileged families gain better education opportunities and eventually contribute back to their families and society.

“Through the establishment of Ma'ahad Tahfiz Al Ammar, the foundation aims to produce professional huffaz who not only memorise the Quran but also excel in various professional fields such as engineering, finance, and accounting, as well as science,” she said.

She said that B40 category students are selected as early as 13 years old and are fully sponsored by the foundation up to the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) level.

“They study in a resort-like, conducive environment at the Yayasan Al Ammar Complex, located in Rantau, Negeri Sembilan. It is hoped that with this support, they can focus on their studies without worrying about financial barriers, thus building a strong foundation for long-term community development,” she added.

Bubbles O2 has become a symbol of success for local companies, now making its mark in international markets.

According to Ain, every year Bubbles O2 targets a sales increase of at least 30 per cent compared to the previous year’s sales.

“For the 2023/2024 Financial Year, we targeted RM10 million in sales, and by the time we closed the accounts in June 2024, our sales had exceeded the target, reaching RM15 million. This demonstrates the positive reception of the Bubbles O2 brand in the local market,” she added.

Since its establishment in 2019, Bubbles O2 is now available in over 5,000 local outlets such as Petronas Mesra, 7-Eleven, Aeon Big, Aeon, Xpress Point Caltex, Mydin, and others. Recently, Bubbles O2 has also become available in Giant and MyNews supermarkets.

Increased production and employment opportunities

Bubbles O2’s executive chairman, Arifin Marzuki, said that this success could not have been achieved without the support of agencies under KUSKOP, such as Pernas, SME Corp, and SME Bank.

“With the opening of this new factory, we are confident that Bubbles O2 will continue to grow and achieve greater success,” he said.

He also emphasised that Bubbles O2 is focused on local economic development by ensuring that the company’s workforce is made up entirely of Malaysian citizens.

“This is part of our effort to help the economy and provide job opportunities for local youth,” Arifin added.

Ain, who is only 26 years old, said over 50 per cent of the company’s management team consists of individuals aged between 25 and 40 years old.

“This reflects the company’s strong determination to trust in the dynamic young talent to take on the challenge of achieving continuous success,” she said.

Ewon gives a thumbs up to BubblesO2 oxygenated mineral water.

Meanwhile, Ewon praised Bubbles O2's remarkable achievements in such a short time, saying they could serve as an example for other small and medium-sized local companies.

He highlighted that the company’s impactful branding initiatives, particularly sponsorship of prestigious events such as Le Tour de Langkawi and being the Official Oxygenated Mineral Water Partner for the National Sports Council (MSN) and the Malaysian Football League (MFL), have successfully garnered attention and built a positive image for the company, comparable to other well-known product brands.

“The ministry is proud of the success of local SMEs like Bubbles O2 and is committed to continuing to support them through various forms of assistance and initiatives,” he added.