If you think a dream needs money, connections, or a big city to start… meet the man who proved all of that wrong.
John Sim started John’s Pie in a tiny 60sqft kiosk.
No investors. No fancy ovens. No baking background.
Just raw passion… and a stubborn belief that Malaysia deserved real, handmade pies.
Today?
12 outlets from Kuching to Putrajaya. Zero layoffs during MCO. OKU staff proudly thriving.
And every single pie is still handmade with love in Kuching.
This is the kind of story Malaysians need right now real people, real grit, real heart.
Let’s dive in. 👇
🔥 The Moment That Sparked a Revolution
For nearly two decades, John travelled constantly for his seafood business. From Argentina to Chile, from big cities to small towns, everywhere he went, he tasted pastries, pies and café culture.
Everywhere he went, one thing followed him:
Coffee + pastry = happiness.
But when he returned to Kuching… that culture didn’t exist.
Then, one day, a simple bite of a friend’s humble local-style pie changed everything.
He turned to his wife and asked the question that started it all:
“Why don’t we have this here?”
So, in 2010, John rolled up his sleeves and opened a tiny kiosk outside a supermarket.
He created every recipe from scratch nostalgic flavors, global inspirations, pure handmade goodness.
💔 When Fried Chicken Almost Ended the Dream
The first few months? Brutal.
Pies weren’t selling.
But Taiwanese fried chicken? Flying off the counter.
John almost gave up.
His wife gave him one chance:
“Bring your pies to the Rainforest World Music Festival. If even the tourists don’t want them, then we stop.”
What happened next became legend:
Day 1: Slow.
Day 2: Queues before opening.
Day 3: John and one baker rushed back to Kuching at dawn, handmade 1,000 pies, stuffed them into a Honda City, raced back to the festival… and SOLD OUT EVERYTHING.
That weekend changed his life.
Malaysia was ready.
They just needed to taste the right pie.
🚀 Surviving MCO with Pure Heart
When MCO hit, John could have cut costs.
He didn’t.
He locked himself in his office for a week… and made a decision that shocked everyone:
“We will not retrench. We will bake anyway.”
Thousands of pies were donated to frontliners.
The team pivoted to online.
Government contracts came in.
Orders started flooding in, day and night.
John’s Pie didn’t just survive.
It became a symbol of Sarawak resilience.
💛 The People Behind the Pastry
One day, a deaf Grab rider walked in with a handwritten note:
“I want to work for you.”
John hired him on the spot.
Today, he’s still part of the family and he opened doors for more OKU hires.
John says softly:
“Actually… they gave me the chance.”
This is the heart of John’s Pie.
Not just food. Opportunities. Dignity. Purpose.
🌟 15 Years Later Still the Most Loved Handmade Pie in Malaysia
No big influencers.
No million-ringgit ads.
Just sincerity, consistency, and word-of-mouth stronger than any billboard.
From Kuching Airport to IOI City Mall… the aroma, the texture, the love, it’s all the same as Day 1.
John’s dream isn’t to be the biggest.
It’s to be the happiest.
“If the right people keep coming… we’ll keep growing. Slowly, happily, together.”
🥧 Taste the Story. Feel the Heart.
If you ever spot a John’s Pie outlet stop.
Order the signature pies – Chicken, Beef, Seafood or even Fruit Pies; All in-house recipes, handmade from scratch.
Take one bite.
You’re not just eating a pie.
You’re tasting:
❤️ 15 years of passion
💪 15 years of resilience
👨👩👧 Family support
💼 Jobs saved
🌟 Dreams kept alive
John’s Pie – Where every bite tells a story.
And every story tastes like hope.
Hungry? Curious? Inspired?
Go try it. Trust us your heart and your stomach will thank you. 🥧✨
