Tatler Malaysia: 2020 marks Drinks Connexion’s second year anniversary. Congrats! How will you be celebrating? With drinks, no doubt?
Foo Ken Vin: It has been an incredible journey so far. I remember starting with just a few brands in our portfolio, which we have managed to grow by volumes. None of this would be possible without our shareholders, internal team members, and partners including wholesalers, trade members and consumers who believed in us. Together, we have pushed the boundaries to provide Malaysian consumers with more variety and enjoyment.
How will we be celebrating? As we always do since we started the company: by sharing good food and drinks with everyone we engage with.
How did working with Guinness Anchor Berhad and Moët Hennessy Diageo Malaysia equip you to build Drinks Connexion from the ground up?
My starting role as brand executive of Guinness Anchor Berhad made me decide that this was the industry for me. It was exciting for a fresh graduate to work on an international brand while creating campaigns to cater to the local consumer’s needs. It was the beginning of my working with wholesalers to understand their distribution and touch points, as well as liaising with trade partners to discover their different targets.
Meanwhile, Moët Hennessy Diageo Malaysia introduced me to the world of luxury spirits, champagne and wines. The role of brand person had a wider definition: it involved marketing, stocks forecasting, and reviewing profit and loss statements and advertising budgets to ensure we had hit our targets.
I was really fortunate to have such strong support from all my mentors, who gave me the required skill sets to start my own thing.
See also: How To Pronounce Moët & Chandon, Courvoisier' & Other Alcohol Brands