Tag: BreadTalk

  • Differentiation can make or break Singapore brands as competition heats up

    Differentiation can make or break Singapore brands as competition heats up

    Consumers are hungry for novelty, innovation.

    Tight competition online and a tough operating environment have pushed many offline retailers—especially in the footwear and apparel sub-sectors—to downsize or flee Singapore.

    However, RHB noted in a report that brands that are able to spin unique selling point will weather the sector headwinds well, as consumers continue to be attracted to novelty and differentiated experience.

    “H&M, for instance, has numerous sub-collections each year to refresh its inventories. It also rolls out special collections each year, which are tie-ups with famous brands’ designers or style icons… Uniqlo, on the other hand, is known for its product innovation including HeatTech and AIRism technologies catered specially for cold and warm weather, respectively,” RHB stated.

    Meanwhile, BreadTalk comes out on top in terms of product innovation and willingness to experiment.

    “BreadTalk launched a new bakery concept every four years to maintain a fresh brand image. It also rolled out 50 new products along with its latest concept launch,” RHB noted.

    “Furthermore, the group is also up to date in using technology to engage customers. It is planning to build a new integrated system that allows the public to view its kitchen baking processes on external screens. The new system will also allow consumers to get alerts when new buns are up on the shelves,” it added.

  • BreadTalk Myanmar franchise deal sealed

    BreadTalk Myanmar franchise deal sealed

    Singapore bakery giant BreadTalk is moving into Myanmar, signing a master franchise agreement with Myanmar Bakery.

    The first BreadTalk Myanmar outlet is expected to open in Yangon early next year in a shopping centre owned by the Shwe Taung Group. Myanmar Bakery is part of the conglomerate, which has an extensive real estate interests. BreadTalk is the group’s first F&B venture.

    “With a growing middle class and rising retail consumption, there are immense growth opportunities in Myanmar,” says BreadTalk bakery division CEO Tan Aik Peng. “The Singapore team is working closely with the Shwe Taung Group to understand the market.”

    He says the company is confident it will introduce a “new lifestyle of bread appreciation” to Myanmar.

    BreadTalk has nearly 800 outlets across Singapore, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Vietnam and Thailand.

    The Shwe Taung group of companies is involved in real estate, construction and engineering, infrastructure, hotels, entertainment, trading and investment. It also runs the Junction Centre group of shopping centres, which includes malls in Yangon and Naypyitaw.

    The group is also behind the upcoming Junction City, an integrated development in downtown Yangon to comprise a lifestyle shopping mall, an office tower and a five-star hotel, scheduled to open early next year.

  • BreadTalk to open in Myanmar next year

    BreadTalk to open in Myanmar next year

    Myanmar’s growing group of middle-class consumers can now look forward to Singapore bakery giant BreadTalk’s pastries and baked goods as the home-grown bakery brand will soon be available in Myanmar.

    It signed a franchise agreement with Myanmar Bakery on Tuesday (May 3), which will allow Myanmar Bakery to hold the master franchise to operate BreadTalk outlets in Myanmar.

    The first outlet is expected to open in Yangon by early 2017 in one of the shopping centres owned by the Shwe Taung Group. Myanmar Bakery is part of Myanmar conglomerate Shwe Taung Group, which owns an extensive network of real estate businesses in Myanmar.

    The deal marks the first food and beverage venture in Myanmar for the Shwe Taung Group and is also BreadTalk’s maiden foray into Myanmar.

    “With a growing middle class and rising retail consumption, there are immense growth opportunities for BreadTalk in Myanmar,” said Mr Tan Aik Peng, chief executive officer of BreadTalk’s Bakery division.

    “The Singapore team is working closely with the Shwe Taung Group to understand the Myanmar market and we promise an exciting line up with BreadTalk’s first boutique bakery in Yangon.”

    He added that BreadTalk was confident that they will “introduce a new lifestyle of bread appreciation” to Myanmar’s burgeoning middle class.

    BreadTalk operates close to 800 outlets across Singapore, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia and Thailand.

    The Shwe Taung group of companies is a conglomerate involved in real estate, construction and engineering, infrastructure, hotels, entertainment, trading and investment. It also operates the Junction Centre group of shopping centres, which include malls in Yangon and in Naypyitaw, the country’s administrative capital.

    The group is also behind the upcoming Junction City, which is an integrated development in downtown Yangon which will comprise a lifestyle shopping mall, an office tower and a five-star luxury hotel scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2017.

  • CapitaLand China growth outpaces economy

    CapitaLand China growth outpaces economy

    Singapore-based shopping mall investment company CapitaLand Retail China Trust (CRCT) grew its income last year by 10.3 per cent to S$89.2 million ($63 million) from S$80.9 million.

    With China’s economy growing 6.9 per cent last year, the company’s retail sales drew 10.7 per cent of RMB30.1 trillion ($4.58 trillion), reports CRCTML chairman Victor Liew (CRCTML manages CRCT).

    “China’s slower growth is reflective of an economy undergoing transition, but it is expanding from a much larger base now and its growth is still considerably faster than those of most other economies,” says Liew. “CRCT’s family-oriented shopping malls are well-placed to benefit from China’s growing urban population and rising retail sales as domestic consumption becomes the country’s new growth engine.”

    It was the first time CapitaLand China’s gross revenue had crossed the RMB1-billion mark, says CRCTML CEO Tony Tan. “Portfolio occupancy remained high at 95.1 per cent  as at December 31, while rental reversion for the full year was 8.1 per cent.

    “Annual tenants’ sales increased 11.6 per cent and shopper traffic rose 1.8 per cent year-on-year.

    “We continually refresh our mall offerings to stay relevant to our shoppers’ evolving preferences and needs. For example, CapitaMall Xizhimen (pictured) brought in the popular Jing Ge Steamboat to increase the variety of its F&B offerings, while CapitaMall Qibao introduced a water park.

    “To improve sustainability and the shopping experience, CapitaMall Grand Canyon installed energy-saving LED lights in common areas and upgraded its car park with new flooring.

    “CapitaMall Wangjing is carrying out renovation work to rejuvenate its façade, and is on track to unveil its new look by June.

    “We will continue to strengthen our malls’ tenant mix and uplift the shopping experience through continual asset enhancement initiatives.”

    Gross revenue for the year increased RMB17.5 million, or 1.8 per cent, over the previous year. This was attributed mainly to rental growth from the multi-tenanted malls, partially offset by lower revenue fromCapitaMall Minzhongleyuan, which was impacted by road closure for the building of a subway line, and from CapitaMall Wuhu, where tenancy adjustments are being introduced to achieve stronger positioning and better trade mix.

    CRCT is the first China shopping mall real estate investment trust (REIT) in Singapore, with a portfolio of 10 malls. Listed in Singapore in 2006, its objective is to establish long-term investments in a diversified portfolio of real estate used primarily for retail in China, Hong Kong and Macau.

    A significant portion of CapitaLand China’s properties’ tenancies comprises major international and domestic retailers such as the Beijing Hualian Group, Carrefour and Wal-Mart. The anchor tenants are complemented by specialty brands such as BreadTalk, Innisfree, KFC, Nanjing Impressions, Nike,Sephora, Starbucks, Uniqlo, Watsons and Zara.