Recently, while shopping in Bukit Bintang, I came across the Heian Market event taking place in front of Star Hill. The afternoon heat made me want something light and refreshing. That’s when I came across a booth called “Avosome” that sold all kinds of avocados.
The people at the booth that day were the founders, Mr. Huang and Mr. Isabelle.
“We are a couple, partners in crime and soulmates who share the same passions, values and beliefs,” they later told The Balkan Post.
Image credit: Avosome
Juan holds a Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management and Isabel holds a Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management from the UK.
As hospitality practitioners, they created bespoke events, travel, lifestyle and culinary experiences for corporate clients and luxury travelers.
But then they decided to take the plunge and quit their jobs to embark on an entrepreneurial journey. They now run Avosome full-time.
It’s not my first rodeo.
However, this is not the couple’s first encounter with avocados. Originally from Sabah, they have been familiar with fruit since they were young, eating homemade avocados with condensed milk.
“I didn’t like avocados back then until I was an adult,” they revealed.
But as adults, they discovered the variety and nuances that avocados offer. Since then, they have been exploring the endless possibilities of avocado.
“We tried avocado varieties from around the world and home-grown avocados, visited local avocado farms, and connected with local farmers,” they said. “We lived on avocados, toast, baking, smoothies, and homemade avocado masks that we applied to our faces for self-care.”
Image credit: Avosome
Their entrepreneurial journey began with Avocatier, an avocado-focused cafe. The project, established before the pandemic with some business partners, has given Huang and Isabel valuable insight into running a cafe.
“People around us struggle with choosing the perfect (ripe) avocado or determining whether an avocado is ripe or not,” they explained. “They excitedly cut into avocados, only to find the insides hard, brown and mushy. We feel everyone’s pain.”
To address this pain point, Fung and Isabelle decided to launch Avosome in November 2020.
work together to make a difference
Initially, Avosome primarily offered avocado-based drinks like the one I purchased. There was an overwhelming response during the pop-up and many avocado by-products were left behind.
“We observed a beautiful mess of avocado skins and seeds piled up. These avocado pieces weren’t even scraps,” he said. “We found beauty in the avocado skin and pit. If we left the avocado skin and pit on the balcony, it would stain the fabric.”
Image credit: Avosome
They were struck by the idea that something meaningful could be made from waste.
Inspired by that, they are now reusing every part of the avocado and breathing new life into it. One example is the use of avocado skin and seeds to create natural dyes in collaboration with local artists and communities.
“We are delighted to be part of the journey of natural dye artists like Toink from Penang as they explore the art of avocado dyes,” they said.
Abosome collaborates with local NGO Persatuan Seni Jahitan Kritif Malaysia (PSJKM) to empower underprivileged communities by providing avocado natural dye workshops and help them dye T-shirts with avocados. It allows me to make a living.
Avosome also collaborated with Soapan Santun, a local handmade soap maker, to turn avocados into natural handmade soaps.
The other partners are local jewelery makers, all from Penang. Create unique handmade jewelry, earrings, and keychains using avocado skin and seeds.
“Even when you don’t see us at pop-up events, we hand-pick avocados for chefs, restaurants, cafes, and customers,” they added. “Our partners, chefs and partner restaurants are also joining us in our efforts. They collect avocado skins and seeds for us every day.”
In the future, we hope to work with more restaurants and cafes to incorporate the versatile avocado into new culinary experiences.
Add leftover avocado
To further close the loop, Avosome also utilizes “unstable” or leftover avocados. As delicious as avocados with beautiful skin are, these avocados are often ignored because they don’t fit the criteria.
Specifically, these avocados are used to make brownies instead of the butter normally used.
“We’re working with a local surplus market, Glaze Market, to transform unappealing avocados into avocado brownies that tell a story,” they said. “Since then, some fruit wholesalers have asked us to help them avoid wasting their surplus avocados.”
Image credit: Avosome
At one point, they received 20 kg of strange fruit from their supplier. By sharing this with the community, we sparked support from customers and friends who were actually happy to purchase perfectly imperfect avocados.
When it comes to sourcing, Abosome’s avocados are primarily Australian-grown, as Australian avocados are available all year round. As a result, Australia’s avocado industry consistently produces high quality fruit. Depending on seasonal availability, we also source avocados from Mexico, New Zealand, and the United States.
But why not shop local? In response, the two said they would like to support local farmers and are exploring the possibility of doing so.
“However, there are challenges when transporting avocados from Sabah to West Malaysia, including logistical issues, higher airfares, and dealing with the perishability of the fruit,” they explained. “High logistics costs can impact final consumer prices.”
Image credit: Avosome
They also shared that local avocados are still in short supply and the yield of high-quality fruit remains variable.
But by visiting these farms, Abbotsam’s founders learned that local farmers put their heart and soul into growing local avocados, and they hope to support them even more in the future.
In addition to sourcing avocados from local farmers, we also have bold ambitions to get involved in agrotourism.
avocado supporter
Avocados seem to have become very popular over the past few years, and avocado shakes are now more common. Other brands such as Bo the Avocado and Avocadian have been around for a few years now.
But Avosome’s founders don’t see other players as competitors. In fact, I’m glad that avocados have found their way into local eateries. Having said that, we believe their brand stands out because their concept goes beyond selling avocado F&B products.
Image credit: Avosome
The brand has been generating steady revenue of nearly RM10,000 per month for the past two months. “While the business is currently profitable, it is still in the early stages of growth and margins are modest,” they said.
Therefore, the focus now remains on expanding our reach and building our foundation, with a long-term vision to scale up and have a greater impact. To make these goals a reality, they plan to participate in more meaningful pop-ups and events.
“It was fulfilling to pursue our passion and watch our story unfold,” they said.
And as a customer myself, it’s just as exciting to follow that journey and see how Juan and Isabel push the boundaries of the avocado market.
Click here to learn more about Abbotsam. Read other articles we have written about Malaysian startups here.
Featured image credit: Avosome
