Gardenia Bakeries (KL) Sdn. Bhd., one of Malaysia’s most recognised bread brands, has taken another step towards strengthening industry-academia collaboration through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Selangor Branch.
The MoU signing took place during the closing ceremony of the Gardenia x UiTM Apprenticeship 2026 programme, marking a significant milestone in both organisations’ efforts to prepare future graduates with stronger industry knowledge and practical skills, particularly in the food and bakery manufacturing sector.
Through this strategic partnership, Gardenia and UiTM aim to create more opportunities for students to gain real-world exposure while developing skills that can support their transition into the workforce. The collaboration also reflects the importance of closer ties between industry players and higher education institutions in shaping future talents.
The Gardenia x UiTM Apprenticeship 2026 programme was designed to provide students with hands-on experience in areas such as food innovation, product development, branding and marketing strategies for bread-based products. Throughout the programme, participants were introduced to the complete product development journey, starting from idea creation and research until the planning stage for market introduction.
“Gardenia has always believed that Malaysia’s younger generation is one of the country’s greatest assets. Through this Apprenticeship programme, we are not only giving students exposure to the industry, but also encouraging them to think beyond traditional roles by developing their creativity as entrepreneurs, brand builders and product innovators,” said Puan Ena Suhaila Abas, Senior Marketing Manager of Gardenia Bakeries (KL) Sdn. Bhd.
She added that Gardenia hopes the programme will inspire students to create fresh ideas that can contribute positively to both the industry and society while gaining valuable experience that prepares them for future career opportunities.
Prof. Dr. Ahmad Taufek Abdul Rahman, Acting Rector of UiTM Selangor Branch, said UiTM continues to focus on creating meaningful industry collaborations that allow students to experience real business environments.
According to him, partnerships such as this provide students with valuable opportunities to strengthen their confidence, practical knowledge and employability before entering the professional world.
The closing ceremony was also attended by Mr. Derrick Khoo, Acting Chief Executive Officer of Gardenia Bakeries (KL) Sdn. Bhd., together with programme participants, lecturers and representatives involved in the initiative.
The Gardenia x UiTM Apprenticeship 2026 involved 22 UiTM campuses across Peninsular Malaysia, with each campus represented by a team of five students guided by a lecturer-mentor. In total, the programme brought together 110 students who took part in the challenge of developing innovative ideas based on Gardenia’s Ready-to-Eat (RTE) product range.
Participants were tasked with creating new concepts using products such as QuickBites, PUAZZ!, Toast’em Waffles, Squiggles and Twiggies, with a focus on creativity, product innovation and commercial potential.
During the first phase of the programme, teams developed three RTE product concepts and presented their ideas through short videos. The top five teams then advanced to the final stage, where they prepared complete brand strategy proposals and presented their ideas to a panel of judges.
The champion title was awarded to Munchz Grab & Bites Delight from UiTM Pahang Branch, Raub Campus, who received RM5,000 along with an industry training placement with Gardenia. The first runner-up went to Kaya Cakoi Bites from UiTM Negeri Sembilan Branch, Kuala Pilah Campus, while Dip N Bite from UiTM Kelantan Branch, Kota Bharu Campus secured third place.
Additional recognition was given to Mochi Roti Bites from UiTM Kelantan Branch, Machang Campus and GD Burger from UiTM Negeri Sembilan Branch, Seremban Campus, who received consolation prizes. The Best Presenter Award was presented to the UiTM Pahang Branch, Raub Campus team.
Representing the winning team, Munchz Grab & Bites Delight shared that the programme provided more than just a competition experience, but also valuable insights into the bakery industry. The team highlighted that the initiative helped improve their understanding of product development, branding and entrepreneurship.
Apart from the apprenticeship programme, UiTM also conducted a study on students’ dietary habits involving more than 2,200 respondents from the participating campuses. The study aims to better understand students’ eating patterns and how they relate to academic performance and mental well-being.
The findings from the study will be compiled into an official UiTM report and are expected to provide valuable insights for Gardenia in understanding the lifestyle, preferences and needs of young consumers.
As part of its commitment to engaging with students, Gardenia also organised a University Roadshow across all participating campuses. The initiative allowed students to interact directly with the Gardenia team, explore the latest Ready-to-Eat product range and participate in various activities.
Throughout the roadshow, Gardenia distributed more than 11,000 RTE product packs to students, further strengthening the connection between the brand and the younger generation while supporting industry-based learning experiences.
Through this collaboration with UiTM, Gardenia continues to support talent development, innovation and knowledge-sharing initiatives that contribute towards building a stronger future workforce for Malaysia’s food and bakery industry.