At Aqurate Ingredients, they believe in the power of nature to inspire innovation and create healthier solutions. Founded 13 years ago, the company has established itself as a formidable supplier of functional ingredients and innovative solutions across the food and beverage, nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, and cosmeceutical industries.
Their guiding principle is clear: a satisfied customer is a repeat customer.
“The inspiration behind our company's vision is rooted in the concept of accuracy, which is reflected in our name. We intentionally modified the spelling of "Accurate" to A-Q-U-R-A-T-E. This alteration maintains the same pronunciation while emphasising our commitment to producing supplements grounded in precision and reliability,” said Steven Ong, Founder of Aqurate Ingredients International (M) Sdn. Bhd.
Aqurate Ingredients focuses on accuracy, quality, and natural solutions that resonate with modern consumers seeking non-medicinal, science-backed health benefits. Their expertise lies in their ability to source raw materials globally while creating high-quality, tailored health supplements for their customers. As Ong expresses, "a satisfied customer is a repeat customer," underscoring the company's dedication to customer satisfaction through integrity and effectiveness.
“We have been focusing on the nutraceutical industry in Malaysia, traveling worldwide to identify manufacturers producing nutraceutical ingredients with proven health benefits. We prioritise ingredients backed by human clinical studies and patents. Our role is to supply these health ingredients to food and supplement manufacturers in Malaysia, enabling them to create high-quality food and health supplements. Additionally, we serve as formulators, collaborating with numerous brand owners in Malaysia to develop their health supplement lines,” said Ong.
“We primarily focus on private label products, serving a diverse range of customers. Our clients include retail pharmacies, pharmaceutical companies that supply supplements to doctors, direct selling companies, online businesses, and traditional medicine companies. In general, brand owners with their house brands of supplements make up the majority of our clientele,” he added.
Navigating Market Challenges: Aqurate's Commitment to Quality Amidst Increased Competition
The last two years have posed significant challenges for Aqurate, primarily due to an influx of health supplement manufacturers entering the Malaysian market. Many of these companies, which previously focused solely on exporting their products, found themselves unable to operate internationally during the pandemic. Consequently, they shifted their focus to the local market, intensifying competition for Aqurate.
To gain market share, these manufacturers began offering low-cost supplements to brand owners in Malaysia. Since they were not well-known domestically, their low prices initially appealed to some brand owners, leading them to switch suppliers. However, within a year, many of these brand owners returned to Aqurate after realising that the low-cost products were ineffective and detrimental to consumers.
Consumers expect health supplements to deliver results, and when they don’t, they quickly look for alternatives. Aqurate remains committed to maintaining high product quality, regardless of the competitive landscape. This unwavering dedication to quality has contributed to Aqurate's growth in the Malaysian market, reinforcing its reputation as a trusted brand.
Empowering Brands and Celebrating Achievements
“As a contract manufacturer specialising in OEM and ODM services, we have had the privilege of producing a wide range of health supplements for various brand owners. Witnessing our clients receive prestigious awards has been incredibly inspiring for us. We know that their success is built on the formulations and supplements we developed for them”.
“This realisation has driven us to seek recognition in similar award categories. In 2024, we proudly received the Distinguished Bull Award, following the Outstanding SME Golden Bull Award in 2021. These accolades reflect Aqurate’s consistent growth and commitment to excellence. 'We may often operate behind the scenes, but these awards acknowledge our vital role in supporting our clients’ successes,' Ong stated."
“At the heart of our company are three core values that drive everything we do”
Leadership: They strive to set the standard for quality in a competitive landscape and firmly believe that as leaders, they cannot compromise on product efficacy.
Ownership: “We remind ourselves that we are consumers too, which is why we only formulate health supplements that we would confidently use ourselves. If we wouldn’t consume it, we won’t produce it—this principle is vital to our mission”
Innovation: “We have invested in human clinical studies and trials focused on low glycemic index products for diabetics, recognising Malaysia's significant market potential in this area. Our commitment to innovation also includes developing immunity gummy candies, superfood cookies, and healthy soy desserts. Our latest innovation is yogurt cube snacks designed to support stress management. We believe that understanding consumer preferences and choices is our top priority, and these three values—leadership, ownership, and innovation—define who we are as a company,” said Ong.
Reflecting on the company’s journey, Ong is most proud of Aqurate’s ability to expand its facilities. Starting with a single rented space 13 years ago, the company now owns seven factories, underscoring its steady growth and investment in Malaysia’s health supplement industry. Each factory serves a specific purpose, from air-conditioned storage set at 20°C for delicate ingredients to frozen storage for probiotics and liquid supplements. This expansion has been crucial for Aqurate’s clients, who benefit from reliable access to properly stored ingredients that maintain their efficacy.Ong attributes Aqurate’s success to its dedicated team and offers advice to other aspiring entrepreneurs: “The team is your greatest asset. I am fortunate to have employees who believe in our vision and support the business as if it were their own.” He also encourages other businesses to pursue industry awards as a means of recognition, particularly for companies operating in the background. “Awards can shine a spotlight on the value we provide,” he concludes.
By staying true to its values and remaining resilient amid industry shifts, Aqurate exemplifies how a company can thrive through integrity, quality, and a deep-rooted commitment to both clients and the community. Visit https://www.aqurateintl.com/ for more information.
This series of Business Stories is in collaboration with Golden Bull Award.
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.
