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Sweet success: Zulkiflee goes from banker to baker

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The 59-year-old left his bank job in 2015 and has since been making cakes for famous people.

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Free Malaysia Today
Zulkiflee Mawan showing off some of his beauties. (Muhammad Rabbani Jamian @ FMT Lifestyle)

KUALA LUMPUR:
Zulkiflee Mawan was 51 when he left his banking job of 27 years to start a baking business from scratch.

You drop only one letter to turn “banker” to “baker”, but for Zulkiflee, now 59, the journey wasn’t so simple.

Earlier, he had relocated with his family to the United Kingdom for three years while his wife pursued her PhD there. When they returned to Malaysia, he realised had lost interest in corporate life.

He told FMT Lifestyle he somehow “found it really hard” to return to banking. So he decided to opt for early retirement.

 

It was 2015 and online businesses were booming. He felt he should get into the act and decided to collaborate with his niece in a baking venture. The niece, Julie Haslina Hasan, was also in the banking business. Hence it was quite natural to name their business Banker2baker.

Zulkiflee knew he had to equip himself with the skills necessary for his business. So he enrolled in several relevant courses, including baking and cake decorating.

The early days, he recalled, were “really tough” as the company was new and had to compete with more established businesses.

He knew that his business had to stand out in some way; so he decided to focus on wedding cakes with extravagant decorations using fondant and sugar flowers.

Free Malaysia Today
A wedding cake inspired by the landscape and sunsets of Santorini. (Banker2baker Facebook pic)

He travelled all over the world to learn. He went to Paris, where he enrolled at the prestigious Le Cordon Bleu, among other places. He also went to Tokyo and Singapore to learn the art of sugar flower making.

He remembers the journey to Singapore vividly. He had left his home at about 3am to drive down there. “During that journey, I asked myself whether it was worth it to pay RM4,000 and not know what you’re getting. Luckily enough, that was the turning point for me.”

The techniques he learned there became instrumental in making the exquisite cakes that the business has become popular for today.

At press time, Banker2baker has amassed more than 55,000 followers on social media. According to Zulkiflee, his bestsellers are wedding cakes although he also makes cakes for birthdays, corporate events and other occasions.

He has baked for former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s birthday. And on Dec 11 last year, he made a stunning birthday cake for the Sultan of Selangor’s 78th birthday.

“We have also received orders from the corporate and government sectors to make cakes for the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and Raja Permaisuri Agong,” he said, adding that he drew some inspiration from their ceremonial attire.

Free Malaysia Today
The Sultan of Selangor’s birthday cake. (Banker2baker pic)

But the icing on the cake – pun intended – was having his products featured in UK’s Cake Masters magazine in September 2019 and March 2022.

“We were really happy and surprised that an international magazine acknowledged our effort,” he said.

This made him see the potential of expanding to the UK. The London branch of Banker2baker was opened last April.

It’s truly a family business. Julie and her husband manage the London branch while Zulkiflee’s son, Muhammad Aiman, and sister, Hushnayati Mawan, help with the Malaysian outlet.

Zulkiflee said his career in cakes was one of constant learning. “I am constantly browsing the internet. I try to make sure that we stay relevant by coming up with new designs.”

For example, upon noticing that wafer paper flowers were becoming popular, he went for a course on it in London this year.

Free Malaysia Today
Zulkiflee (third left) with members of his team. (Muhammad Rabbani Jamian @ FMT Lifestyle)

“Never give up on your dreams,” he said. “Actually, opening in London was one of my dreams. When people used to ask me about my long-term plan, I said, ‘I want to have my cake boutiques in London, Paris and New York.’

“Deep inside, when I said that, I thought it was impossible. But with hard work and continuous learning, you will achieve your dream.”

Learn more about Banker2baker on its website, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.

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