An artist impression of AVC in Batu Kawan, Penang
PENANG: Ikano Centres, part of Ikea Southeast Asia, is launching a new drive-through concept next to Ikea Batu Kawan following its first phase opening in December last year.
Expected to be operational by mid-2021, the drive-through component will complement the current dine-in Ikea restaurant and food and beverage tenants. The latest addition will see more food options across the 200,744 sq ft gross leasable area.
"Malaysians have a great love for food and appreciate convenience," said Ikea Southeast Asia and Mexico managing director Christian Roejkjaer.
"For many, drive-throughs have become a quintessential part of their lifestyle and may play a crucial role in our new normal. Building our first drive-through concept in Batu Kawan is one way for us to create a safe and positive space for the community to come out and enjoy their favourite food."
Ikea Southeast Asia shopping centre and mixed-use director Christian Olofsson added: "We look forward to welcoming more partners that share the same community-spirit, to build a retail destination further that Malaysians and tourists will want to visit."
Ikano Centres is also pleased to welcome its first partner to complement the on-the-go concept of McDonald's Malaysia.
Taking up approximately 35,000 sq ft space, the quick-service restaurant at Batu Kawan will be Penang's 16th free-standing McDonald's Malaysia outlet.
According to McDonald's Malaysia managing director and local operating partner Azmir Jaafar, the outlet will reflect the iconic fun, bright and comfortable atmosphere that most Malaysians have come to love.
"At McDonald's Malaysia, we continue to cater to changing trends among customers who are increasingly seeking convenience, as well as fast and friendly service to complement their on-the-go lifestyles.
"We are excited to expand our drive-thru footprint to Batu Kawan, where customers can now enjoy feel-good-moments just by conveniently driving by and ordering their favourite meals from a McDonald's restaurant window," said Azmir.
Also, Ikano Centres is in dialogue with petrol station operators to meet the high demand within the growing township of Aspen Vision City in Batu Kawan.
The latest anchored-by-Ikea commercial development is a joint venture between Ikea Southeast Asia and Malaysia's Aspen Group to develop Aspen Vision City, transforming Batu Kawan into an iconic hub in the Northern region of Malaysia.
"Batu Kawan's development has been tremendously progressing towards becoming the third satellite city of Penang. We are elated to welcome another well-known international brand, McDonald's to Aspen Vision City's neighbourhood.
"As a globally famous quick-service restaurant chain, their presence in AVC will surely be a crowd-puller, which also caters to a workforce of approximately 16,000 at the Batu Kawan Industrial Park.
"Earlier this year, we also saw students joining the newly launched The Ship Campus as well as the University of Wollongong KDU Batu Kawan Campus. Other projects to be completed are Vertu Resort, Vivo Executive Apartment and Viluxe with 3,132 units of residential units which will add traction to AVC," said Aspen Group president and group CEO Datuk Murly Manokharan.
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