Ancestral home: Hesham, Xiamen, Fujian.
In the late 19th century, during British rule,
his father, Chen Wen Tao, travelled between Xiamen and Malacca, making a living as a wholesale herbal medicine trader.
He later married a local woman, Madam Zheng,
and settled in Wang Li Shi Bei,
eventually bringing young Chen Jin Fu to live with him.
During WWII, life was difficult,
and young Chen Jin Fu became the family breadwinner, making a living producing coconut sugar.
This tells of the hardship he endured,
climbing coconut trees to collect nectar,
and making a living from what nature provided.
He boiled the nectar into quality coconut sugar,
which soon became popular.
Chen Jin Fu named it after its place of origin.
Before the Japanese occupation, sugar was scarce,
and coconut sugar was widely used in local households
—for coffee, desserts, and traditional cakes.
Chen Jin Fu traded coconut sugar for essential goods,
helping him survive the three years and eight months of Japanese occupation
and the return of British rule.
Passionate about food, Chen Jin Fu began making Malay rice cakes as festive gifts.
After refining the recipe, they quickly became a favourite,
with people travelling from afar to buy them.
Seeing the opportunity, Chen Jin Fu named the delicacy
“
” and began selling it commercially.
In 1957, following Malaya’s independence,
he began selling Malacca coconut sugar under the Coconut Tree brand, Dong Cheng Poh.
In 1967, he officially registered the Coconut Tree trademark
and established Dong Cheng Company to
produce Malacca coconut sugar and Dodol.
In 1970, he opened an office and sales outlet in front of Yuan Fang Garden Tea House in Bukit Rambai, welcoming tour groups led by Singaporean travel agency owner, Wong Kam Thong.
In the early days, at a small stall beside Sam Po Temple.
Office & Sales Outlet in front of Yuan Fang Garden Tea House, Bukit Rambai
No. 85, Xin Lu, Eastern Grand Hotel
1975 — Established Tan Kim Hock Dong Cheng Food Factory Sdn. Bhd.
1980 — Construction of the Tan Kim Hock Hotel & Commercial Building.
