🌱 Making Sustainability Practical at Hexa Food
At Hexa Food, sustainability isn’t just a buzzword—it’s the foundation of our business strategy. Inspired by our founder Gary Gan, we’ve embedded practical, purpose-driven sustainability into everything we do, making it crucial for resilience and growth. monash.edu.my+4malaysiasme.com.my+4malaysiasme.com.my+4
1. A Foundation of Tenacity
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From Survival to Strategy: In 2004, Gary stepped in to save a failing family venture. After navigating financial distress and operational challenges, he launched Hexa Food in 2007 with a simple yet powerful goal—to survive. That survival mindset shaped a resilient, purpose-driven foundation. malaysiasme.com.my
2. A Three-Stage Sustainability Roadmap
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Short-Term:
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Prioritized financial well‑being for staff and suppliers. Initiatives include zero‑interest employee loans and pre‑payments to farmers, boosting loyalty and financial stability. malaysiasme.com.my
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Mid-Term:
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Introduced resealable spice packaging in 2011 to combat waste and preserve quality.
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Developed Hexa‑IoT, a spin-off tech arm that tracks inventory, minimizes errors, and ensures traceability from farm to factory. malaysiasme.com.my
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Long-Term:
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Pioneered contract farming for specialty crops (e.g., Bentong ginger, habanero chilli, bunga kantan), offering stability through monthly payments instead of harvest-based payouts.
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Aiming to replace imports with high-quality local produce—boosting farmer livelihoods, reducing carbon footprint, and enhancing supply chain resilience. malaysiasme.com.my
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3. Compliance as a Competitive Edge
Instead of viewing certifications and ESG audits as obligations, Hexa Food sees them as keys to unlock new markets. Meeting strict criteria for wages, safety, and environmental impact has helped secure high-value retail contracts and grow export potential. malaysiasme.com.my
4. Culture, Innovation & Identity
Gary emphasizes that Hexa Food isn’t just supplying spices—it’s shaping culture and identity. From introducing zip-lock packs to anticipating global food trends (influenced by K-dramas or halal-certified international flavours), Hexa Food helps consumers explore culinary identities, and helps Malaysia’s terroir reach the world. malaysiasme.com.my
5. Sustainability as a Journey
At Hexa Food, we don’t slap on ESG badges. Instead, we ask: “What problem are we solving, and can we sustain it?” Thanks to our pragmatic, phased approach, our entire ecosystem—employees, farmers, customers—moves forward together. That’s the real value. malaysiasme.com.my
🗝️ Hexa Food’s Key Takeaways:
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Resilience from Adversity → Our survival mindset fostered discipline and purpose.
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Practical ESG → Implemented in stages: financial support, tech innovation, sustainable sourcing.
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Technology-Driven Efficiency → IoT systems and traceability reduce waste and boost supply reliability.
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Community-Centric Farming → Partnerships and shared risk empower local growers.
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Certified Readiness → ESG compliance opens doors to larger markets and export success.
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Cultural Connection → We deliver not just products, but meaningful food experiences and identities.
What’s Ahead for Hexa Food
We’re committed to scaling our approach by:
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Expanding contract farming and local sourcing models.
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Enhancing traceability systems through Hexa-IoT.
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Strengthening ESG compliance to support further export and retail partnerships.
Final Thought
Sustainability at Hexa Food isn’t a checkbox—it’s a gradual journey rooted in practicality, discipline, and community. As Gary puts it: “When staff, farmers, and customers move forward together—that’s where the real value is.” We invite you to join us in building a future where purpose, people, and profits thrive in harmony.
About Hexa Food
Hexa Food Sdn Bhd produces halal-certified spices, herbs, and seasoning blends. Based in Shah Alam, Malaysia, we serve both B2B and retail clients across Southeast Asia and the Gulf region.
Have questions or want to collaborate on our sustainability journey? Reach out—we’re always eager to partner with purpose-driven changemakers.
For more information: https://www.malaysiasme.com.my/making-sustainability-practical-how-gary-gan-is-building-a-future-proof-business-through-purpose-and-performance/