From chicken hotpot to data centre: Penang restaurant chain owner bags RM204m tech services deal

KUALA LUMPUR (July 9): This may come as one of the most unexpected corporate twists of the year: a Penang-based chicken hotpot restaurant operator has secured a US$50 million (RM203.85 million) deal to provide maintenance and support services for data centres in Malaysia.

Nasdaq-listed CCH Holdings Ltd (CCHH), which is mostly known for operating Chicken Claypot House and other restaurant franchises, announced on Tuesday that its wholly-owned subsidiary had signed a three-year sales and service agreement with several clients, whose identities it did not reveal due to non-disclosure agreements.

The deal marks the group's entry into the fast-growing technology infrastructure sector as part of its broader diversification strategy, it said.

Under the deal, CCHH will also provide technical and operational support services, including computing capacity allocation, deployment coordination, technical consultation and operational advisory services for data centre facilities, according to a statement on the company's website.

The scope of work may be expanded to additional markets in line with the clients' international capacity expansion plans, it added.

The company said the agreement would strengthen its position in pursuing opportunities in technology infrastructure across Malaysia, Southeast Asia and other overseas markets.

"We are pleased to enter into this three-year strategic agreement, which represents an important step in CCHH's evolution as a diversified Nasdaq-listed company. The US$50 million contract value provides a strong platform for our expansion into technology infrastructure services," said chief executive officer Goh Kok E.

He said the move would not affect the group's commitment to its Chicken Claypot and restaurant franchise business.

"Instead, it opens up another avenue for growth. We intend to continue strengthening our restaurant operations while leveraging this partnership to expand into data centre support services and broader AI infrastructure opportunities across Southeast Asia and beyond.

"We believe this dual-growth strategy will diversify our revenue streams, enhance long-term growth prospects and create sustainable value for shareholders," he added.

According to Bloomberg, CCHH is 44.28%-owned by Kok E's brother, Goh Kook Fong, the group's former chairman, director and CEO. Datuk Lim Soon Huat holds a 25.42% stake in the company. Lim is also the executive chairman and major shareholder of Asia File Corp Bhd (KL:ASIAFLE).

For the financial year ended Dec 31, 2025, CCHH posted a net loss of RM2.68 million, compared with a net profit of RM913,400 a year earlier, although revenue rose 7.5% to RM9.59 million from RM8.92 million.

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