Yusuf Taiyoob: Here Are 8 Facts About The Man Behind The Iconic Ramadan Whisper
Did you know his best-selling dates are named after his children?
By May Vin Ang
Ramadan is just around the corner and, without fail, we shall hear whispers of the most delicious dates from the Middle East...
We know the brand. But who exactly is Yusuf Taiyoob?
Here are a few facts about the man who made a name for himself as the 'King of Dates' in Malaysia:
1. Datuk Seri Yusuf Taiyoob is a born and bred Malaysian
He was born in Tanjung Bungah, Penang on 23 December 1958.
According to The Edge, Yusuf is the eldest of four siblings and was raised in a traditional shophouse near George Town, where his current office is not far from.
2. He has no formal background in marketing or business
He furthered his studies in medicine in India, but decided to quit to run his own business back home.
3. The self-made entrepreneur's success did not come overnight
At the young age of 19, Yusuf started and failed his first business of selling perfumes at the Bayan Lepas International Airport in 1977.
He then tried selling cosmetics under a business called Yusuf Cosmetics in 1979, but that also failed within two years. His big break came years later.
4. In all his ventures, Yusuf said he believes in the quality of his products and good customer rapport
Yusuf told The Star that over the years, with minimal capital but steady persistence, he used whatever available resources he had to start another business.
The next time, he sold nuts and spices such as cashew nuts and saffron, and soon started getting loyal customers. Based on their feedback, he slowly added other specialty food products to his catalogue.
5. In 1988, he could finally set up a company. It was registered in his own name — Yusuf Taiyoob Sdn Bhd.
And it has only grown since. Yusuf Taiyoob is now well-known locally as well as internationally for importing dried fruits and nuts, dates, honey, bakery ingredients, spices, beans, herbal soaps, and many other foodstuffs.
The company's giant storage and distribution facility is located at Bukit Minyak in Seberang Prai, which can accommodate up to 7,000 metric tonnes of products.
6. His best-selling dates are named after his three children — Waseem, Safiya, and Safina
Besides these popular ones, the company distributes over 30 other varieties of dates to the whole of Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand.
The dates are imported from Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Dubai and Egypt, among others.
7. Yusuf really strategised for the whisper to become synonymous with dates and Ramadan
While he admitted he was lucky that the advertisement was so well-received, Yusuf told The Edge in an interview that when creating it, he wanted something different and catchy, not just another jingle.
The ingenious businessman added that he does not use the advertisement for any other purpose or product, so customers will only ever associate the whisper with dates and Ramadan.
8. Yusuf was conferred the title of Datuk by the Yang Dipertua Negeri of Penang, Tun Dr Abdul Rahman Abbas, in 2002
The successful businessman has also since been awarded the title of Datuk Seri in 2014.
Not forgetting his roots, the successful businessman never forgets to give back to the state every year during the fasting month.
Yusuf presenting RM84,000 in cash and 200 cartons of dates to be distributed to mosques and suraus in Penang in 2019.
Image via Ramdzan Masiam/New Straits Times