Flipping Burgers and Warming Hearts – #KitaSapotKita

It took myBurgerLab just a few days to transform its old website into an ordering platform.

In fighting for survival during the movement control order (MCO), some businesses like gourmet burger joint myBurgerLab are fast adapting to find ways to not only ride out this period but also help those in need.

Established in 2012, myBurgerLab started life in a modest shop lot in Sea Park, Petaling Jaya, but has since expanded into six outlets across the Klang Valley.

Its co-founder Chin Ren Yi said, ‘Since the start of MCO, we have been really thankful for increased sales via our delivery partners.’

It took just a few days for myBurgerLab to transform its old website into an ordering platform, where customers could swing by to pick up their food 30 minutes after placing orders online.

While welcome, the additional sales meant extra effort on the part of the kitchen team, which had been split into two to work alternate days as a precautionary measure to ensure staff safety and business continuity.

It then introduced a breakeven-only policy with the aim of selling only enough burgers to meet overhead costs, and sought its customers’ understanding through an explanatory post on its Facebook page.

Although it faced teething issues, the brand’s consistent frankness in sharing its experiences on social media had won over customers.

‘Most of what we do is being a voice and a platform to encourage people to stay home, to remind them why it is important to commit to social distancing and also bring attention to those in need of help such as the hawkers and the frontliners. That has been our message,’ said Chin.

MyBurgerLab has also reached out to help those in need.

Two weeks before the MCO was enforced, it was already supporting doctors under Health Ministry as they took calls from people concerned about their cases, something it is continuing to do even today.

MyBurgerLab undertakes smaller projects including supporting food supply upon request for frontliners at hospitals.

It also works with two other companies to give out 10,000 care packages, consisting of three masks and one hand sanitiser, to customers.

As a gesture of thanks, it gives free bottled water and some food to delivery riders at its stores.

Offering delivery riders free bottled water and food is among the ways myBurgerLab gives back.

Chin said, ‘They are definitely one of the key assets to us.’

Another programme introduced during MCO sees myBurgerLab paying some of its part-timers to assist those in need, such as the elderly or the less mobile, to buy groceries and run errands. In less than two weeks, it has already completed at least six such requests.

‘They are just little things we do to make sure that we contribute in some way, even if it is small,’ said Chin.

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This article was originally published in The Star on 9 April 2020.

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