What’s your go-to dessert spot in Kuala Lumpur?
This was the question posed in a recent video I came across on Instagram. And the number one answer was Aftermeal Desserts (Aftermeal).
In fact, even K-Pop superstar Jackson Wang recommended this spot in an interview with Grazia Malaysia, giving extensive praise to their shaved ice offerings.
As someone who has not patronised Aftermeal prior to this, it made me wonder, who exactly is behind Aftermeal, and how have they grown such a cult following?
Before Aftermeal
Interestingly, the person behind Aftermeal has no formal training in F&B. Rather, co-founder Pei actually has a background in engineering and technology, having obtained his Bachelor’s degree from Imperial College London and Master’s from University College London.
The reason he founded Aftermeal was quite simplistic—it was born out of a moment of craving.
“One day, I found myself simultaneously yearning for mochi and milk tea,” Pei told Vulcan Post. “As a devoted fan of shaved ice, I wondered if I could combine these flavours into one satisfying treat.”
After searching online and finding no options that met his expectations, he created it for himself. And that’s how Aftermeal Desserts began in March 2019.
Prior to Aftermeal, Pei had actually been involved in the F&B world through tech. He co-founded Mulah, a retail and restaurant loyalty programme, alongside his partner Nicholas, who is also a partner in Aftermeal.
Mulah introduced them to many restaurant and cafe owners, providing valuable insights and a headstart when launching Aftermeal.
“It was through Mulah that we connected with our other partner, Edmund from Inside Scoop,” Pei pointed out.
But the true boost of confidence came from creating their signature Iron Lady Milk Tea Fluffy Snow Ice, which remains Aftermeal’s bestseller to this day.
Milking the tea
But why the focus on milk tea? To Pei, it made sense due to the fact that milk tea has always been a staple in Malaysia. Plus, it’s something he has personally loved for a long time.
“Back in the good old days, Chatime was one of my favorites—I often bought it for my colleagues at Mulah during tea-time,” he reminisced. “That passion for milk tea naturally influenced the creation of our fluffy snow ice flavours.”
Although he had no training or any experience in making food and didn’t know any shaved-ice experts, Pei leveraged his background to innovate and perfect fluffy snow ice, burnt cheesecakes, and drinks.
This dedication to quality products is something he’s carried on today.
“We stay updated with the latest F&B trends to ensure our products and services remain relevant to our customers,” he added.
Pei shared that their R&D spirit is deeply influenced by the Japanese Takumi (Master Craftsman) philosophy, characterised by meticulous effort and unwavering dedication to perfection.
This is key in the competitive desserts industry that is bustling with both global and local brands. Pei said that due to the saturation of the industry, it’s common for competitors to closely mirror their offerings.
“On the bright side, this reflects the success of our products,” he said.
He shared that while many competitors may rely on low pricing as their edge, Aftermeal navigates the competitive landscape by staying focused on their customers and upholding their position as a premium dessert cafe.
“We are determined to serve premium fine and fluffy shaved ice while also prioritising in-store aesthetics and providing an exceptional dine-in experience,” he said. “Customers who value quality will continue to choose us.”
A go-to dessert spot
With their commitment to premium quality, Aftermeal has expanded to four outlets, which are all self-owned.
Aftermeal does not offer a franchising scheme currently, but Pei said they may consider it in the future.
“Looking ahead, we may consider expanding our footprint across Klang Valley and potentially to other states in the coming years,” he added.
On top of their dedication to quality, their expansion might be especially achievable thanks to the shoutout by Jackson Wang. Pei shared that the team is “extremely grateful and appreciative” of the singer’s strong recommendation.
“While he visited many places during his time in Malaysia, we were honoured to be the only dessert cafe he chose to highlight and recommend,” Pei said. “His endorsement means the world to us, and we’re proud fans of Jackson Wang!”
Just because they have achieved great recognition now doesn’t mean it’s been an easy journey for the team, though.
Pei shared about the difficult times they faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, which brought dine-in restrictions and bans.
“We were determined not to lay anyone off despite the severe downturn in business,” he said. “This commitment took a toll on our finances, and we incurred huge losses during that period, that we even considered shutting down (as a last resort).”
Surviving the pandemic and keeping Aftermeal open is an achievement Pei is proud to share.
“We strongly believe that what doesn’t kill us will make us stronger,” the co-founder said.
Having experienced that, Pei believes resilience is one of the key qualities entrepreneurs should embody.
“From the moment you wake up, you’ll encounter numerous obstacles as a business owner. Buckle up and be prepared to tackle problems head-on,” he said.
So, even though Aftermeal Desserts has gotten rave reviews as of late, Pei and the team will aim to continue working hard, and continue serving their tea-based shaved ice to the masses.
- Learn more about Aftermeal Desserts here.
- Read other articles we’ve written about F&B businesses here.
Featured Image Credit: Aftermeal Desserts