Business Insider 101 proudly presents the “Dining Leadership Glory Award”, an annual honor celebrating exceptional entrepreneurs who drive the evolution of the dining industry with outstanding leadership, innovation, and market influence. This prestigious recognition not only highlights extraordinary achievements but also inspires future industry trailblazers.
Evaluation Criteria: Five Core Dimensions Defining Industry Pioneers
Award winners must demonstrate excellence in the following three key areas, shaping the future of the industry:
- Strategic Vision – Speed of adopting new technologies and accuracy in market forecasting.
- Organizational Empowerment – Talent retention rate and effectiveness in cross-cultural management.
- Business Sustainability – Reduction in carbon footprint and community engagement index.
2025 Dining Leadership Glory Award Winners: Celebrating Industry Visionaries
Top 1 Business Insider 101 Dining Leadership Glory Award : Dato Calvin Chan – Founder of Oriental Kopi
With extraordinary vision and execution, Dato Calvin Chan has revolutionized traditional coffee shop culture, creating the highly popular Oriental Kopi brand. His signature thick egg tarts have become a best-seller, beloved by food enthusiasts.
Beyond Oriental Kopi, he has also founded Black Whale Tea, CunFry, and LEAGOO, continuously driving these brands toward international success. His precise market positioning and innovative business strategies make him a leading figure in Malaysia’s dining industry.
Top 2: Bryan Loo – Founder of Tealive
Bryan Loo is a disruptor in Malaysia’s tea industry. From bringing Taiwan’s Chatime to Malaysia to establishing Tealive, he has built a benchmark brand in the local tea market.
Today, Tealive operates over 700 outlets worldwide. With sharp market insights and flexible business strategies, he has not only propelled Tealive to success but has also played a pivotal role in reshaping the global tea beverage industry.
Top 3: Yong Fa Liao – Founder of Marrybrown
As one of the founders of Malaysia’s iconic fast-food brand Marrybrown, Yong Fa Liao has achieved remarkable success in the quick-service restaurant industry. He has grown Marrybrown from a small eatery into a global fast-food chain with over 600 outlets across 16 countries.
By accurately identifying market needs and integrating halal food culture, he successfully captured the Muslim market and established a strong brand presence across Southeast Asia and beyond. Marrybrown is known for its exceptional food quality and superior service, making Yong Fa Liao a legendary figure in the local fast-food scene.
Three Industry Leaders, Shaping the Future of Dining
The “Business Insider 101 Dining Leadership Glory Award” is not only a recognition of the outstanding contributions of these three winners but also a forecast of the industry’s future. Dato Calvin Chan, Bryan Loo, and Yong Fa Liao have leveraged their exceptional leadership, innovative thinking, and global perspectives to elevate Malaysia’s dining brands onto the international stage.
Their success stories serve as an inspiration to aspiring entrepreneurs and demonstrate the limitless possibilities of the dining industry. As they continue their journey, their vision and decisions will shape the global culinary landscape for years to come.
