Our Finance, Accounting and Management alumna, Clara Wan, is the co-founder and CEO of Graze Market and Graze Eatery, a surplus foods market and cafe respectively. They are the winner of the Star Golden Hearts Award, celebrated by The Star on Wednesday, 15 November 2023. 

Clara Wan Li Shan, an entrepreneur who once worked at a non-governmental organisation which helps low-income communities, has been taught by her mother since she was a little child not to throw out food because it can readily feed those in need. 

After many years, Clara was motivated by her mother's advice to create Graze Market and Graze Eatery, one of the nation's first surplus food markets and cafés.  

Putting an end to food waste, Clara’s nine-person team will reach out to farmers every day to find out what imperfect product needs to be thrown out so they may purchase it at a reduced price, return it to the market, and sell it to consumers at reasonable pricing. 

“Our mission is to reduce food waste and provide affordable, premium and healthy food for the people,” she said. 

According to Clara, Graze Market, which is affiliated with Saving Graze Sdn. Bhd. offers imperfect fruits and vegetables that are still delicious and fresh enough to prepare and share with loved ones. 

“Our fruits and veggies are imperfect for minor external reasons such as they might be too small or big, crooked in shape, have colour or scarring issues,” said Clara. “But they still taste fresh. We buy them from farmers because they would otherwise be disposed of which is a big waste. It is estimated that farmers use some 30% of their income to plant these crops in their farms.” 

When asked what her team at Saving Graze hopes to accomplish in the future, Clara stated that she wants to take the company global and establish herself as Malaysia's leading advocate of food surplus to eradicate food waste. 

“This is my mini solution to the bigger problem of food waste that requires support from many people and stakeholders,” said Clara. “And I do it because my mum taught me to never waste food on your plate.” 

Graze Market is one of the 10 recipients of the Star Golden Hearts Award 2023 for their achievements. 

You may read the full article in The Star here.