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Tag: cake

  • Lady M Confections Tightens Grip on Singapore Market, Amplifying Southeast Asia Expansion

    Lady M Confections Tightens Grip on Singapore Market, Amplifying Southeast Asia Expansion

    Leading patisserie brand, Lady M Confections, is set to take direct control of its Singapore operations, as part of an ongoing strategy to expand its influence in Southeast Asia.

    Lady M Confections Takes Charge of Singapore Operations

    The esteemed US-based patisserie first gained presence in Singapore in 2013 through a licensing agreement with Caerus Holdings. This marked Lady M’s initial venture into international markets outside of the United States. However, with this affiliation set to end this month, the company has decided to assimilate the Singapore market into its global operations. This shift is aimed at fortifying the brand’s supervision and ensuring consistent quality across all outlets.

    Lady M’s CEO, Ken Romaniszyn, revealed that Singapore holds a significant position in the brand’s international operations. As the brand sets foot into the next phase of its growth strategy, having a more direct involvement in the Singapore market is expected to bring forth a high-quality brand experience and enhanced consistency, thereby better serving its regional clientele.

    Romaniszyn further emphasized that this transition embodies the company’s commitment to long-term brand stewardship. By incorporating Singapore into their global operations, they aim to solidify their groundwork in Southeast Asia. This move is also geared towards ensuring that the Lady M experience remains consistent with the high standards expected by customers worldwide.

    About Lady M Confections

    Lady M Confections, which was founded in New York City in 2001, has gained international prestige for its signature Mille Crepes cake. The brand operates more than 40 boutiques across the globe, merging French pastry techniques with subtleties of Japanese culinary artistry.

    Questions & Answers

    What is Lady M Confections’ latest business strategy for Southeast Asia?
    Lady M Confections is taking direct control of its Singapore operations. This is part of its long-term strategy for growth and brand stewardship in the Southeast Asian region.

    When did Lady M Confections first enter the Singapore market and how?
    The company first made inroads into Singapore in 2013 through a licensing agreement with Caerus Holdings. This was their first venture into markets outside the United States.

    What is Lady M Confections best known for?
    Lady M Confections is best known for its signature Mille Crepes cake. The brand expertly combines French pastry techniques with Japanese culinary influences.

  • Table Of Plenty Unveils Nostalgia-infused Miniature Rice Cakes: A Delicious, Nutritious Treat Available Nationwide

    Table Of Plenty Unveils Nostalgia-infused Miniature Rice Cakes: A Delicious, Nutritious Treat Available Nationwide

    Table of Plenty, a cherished family food brand based in Australia, has recently unveiled its new product, miniature rice cakes, available in two different packaging options.

    A Nostalgia-Infused Treat

    Taking a trip down memory lane, the new product line melds together the sweet, comforting taste of milk chocolate and the vibrant visual appeal of rainbow sprinkles atop rice cakes. This innovative product promises to serve as a delightful treat for customers, harking back to the simpler times of childhood.

    Two Packaging Sizes

    These bite-sized rice cakes are being offered in two different packaging sizes to cater to varying customer needs. The smaller 102g box contains six pouches, while a larger 200g family pack is also available. These are being sold at Woolworths stores across the nation, priced at $7 and $10.50 respectively.

    Nutritional Content

    Table of Plenty has made sure that while these mini rice cakes bring joy to the taste buds, they also provide nutritional benefits. Each serving is said to contain whole grains and has a low-calorie count, making it a guilt-free indulgence. Additionally, these treats are gluten-free, lending them to a broader range of dietary preferences. They are also fructose-friendly and suitable for vegetarians, further enhancing their appeal to a wide variety of consumers.

    Questions & Answers

    What is the new product that Table of Plenty has introduced?
    Table of Plenty has introduced mini rice cakes, which are milk chocolate-topped and sprinkled with rainbow sprinkles.

    Where can these mini rice cakes be purchased and how much do they cost?
    These mini rice cakes can be bought from Woolworths stores across Australia, with the 102g box priced at $7 and the 200g family pack priced at $10.50.

    What are the dietary benefits of these mini rice cakes?
    The mini rice cakes are made with whole grains and have a low-calorie count. They are also gluten-free, fructose-friendly, and suitable for vegetarians.

  • Cake digital bank cooperates with VinFast to support e-bike buyers

    Cake digital bank cooperates with VinFast to support e-bike buyers

    Cake by VPBank and VinFast are working together to provide e-bike purchase loans at 0% interest, benefiting both customers and promoting environmental protection in line with green consumption trends.

    With this loan package, the customer experience will be simplified. They can sign up for loans without visiting a bank branch and receive approval results on the Cake app within a few minutes.

    The first priority group of customers to experience the development is Be Group’s tech drivers, who are familiar with consumer loan services on Cake.

    According to statistics from the Ministry of Industry and Trade, e-bike sales in Vietnam have increased by about 30–35% recently, making the country the largest market for e-bikes in ASEAN, and the runner-up in the world, just behind China.

    There is ample potential for electric vehicles, including e-bikes and electric cars, given that the world in general and Vietnam in particular are promoting green transformation trends in transportation and other fields.

    Ho Thanh Huong, CEO of VinFast Vietnam, said that the partnership agreement gives customers the opportunity to own and use smart, modern, and environmentally friendly e-bikes at optimal costs through simple and convenient procedures.

    This partnership offers customers access to a safe and civilized transportation alternative, contributing directly to the government’s net-zero carbon emission target by 2050.

    In the current context, the collaboration between the large-scale EV manufacturer and the digital bank Cake by VPBank is expected to bring benefits to the mass of customers on both sides.

    While Cake will expand its digital financial product line to include vehicle installment payment services, VinFast offers customers a “Buy Now, Pay Later” payment experience quickly, conveniently, and securely.

    Furthermore, this is also an opportunity to promote digital financial inclusion. Specifically, Cake by VPBank boasts a large and diverse digital ecosystem, while VinFast owns a nationwide distribution network with a diverse lineup of two-wheeler and four-wheeler models.

    According to Nguyen Huu Quang, CEO of Cake, in the coming time, Cake by VPBank will keep working with VinFast to research different financing packages tailored for customers looking to acquire electric vehicles across several channels.

    “We are in discussion to develop more diverse products to bring practical benefits to customers, thereby contributing to promoting comprehensive digital finance and green energy in Vietnam,” he said.

    The handshake between VinFast and Cake by VPBank digital bank will promote comprehensive digital services, popularize EVs, and foster environmental protection.

    Cake by VPBank is a testament to the trend of innovation in consumer finance products. Before venturing into the electric vehicle market, the digital banking app has already enabled its tech drivers to borrow cash online within a few minutes.

    Cake has rolled out niche lending products such as “Ung tien nhanh” with instant approval.

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  • Musang King durian moon cake prices up 10%

    Musang King durian moon cake prices up 10%

    Musang King durian moon cake prices, made with the popular durian variety originally from Malaysia, have increased by 2-10% year-on-year in Vietnam.

    Their cost ranges between VND900,000 ($37.90) to VND1.7 million per box. Last year, the most expensive product sold for around VND1.5 million.

    Hoang Anh, a moon cake vendor in Ho Chi Minh City’s District 3, sold out 500 boxes of Musang King and Black Thorn moon cakes in two weeks last year.

    She has doubled her imports this year.

    “We have to order five months in advance as the manufacturer needs to prepare durian beforehand.”

    A major distributor in HCMC plans to sell nearly 30,000 cakes this year, triple the amount last year.

    The cakes are mostly imported from Malaysia. Other markets that also sell them are Singapore and Hong Kong.

    Industry insiders say prices have gone up due to rising ingredient costs.

    Moon cake is a popular type of desert in Asian countries. It is often enjoyed during the Mid-Autumn Festival in the middle of Lunar August, which falls on Sep 29 this year.

  • Starbucks closes third Vietnam outlet

    Starbucks closes third Vietnam outlet

    Starbucks Vietnam will close its Hanoi outlet after eight years, following the closure of two locations in Vietnam last year. The Starbucks Lan Vien outlet in Hoan Kiem District will operate until June 30, the company said in a Facebook post. Last year, the coffee chain had closed another outlet in Hoan Kiem District and one in Ho Chi Minh City’s District 1.

    Patricia Marques, CEO of Starbucks Vietnam, said earlier this year that the company was finding it challenging to expand the number of outlets in Vietnam due to difficulties in negotiating rent prices.

    The company, however, will continue to expand in Vietnam by focusing on new urban areas where there is a lack of services, she added.

    She also said that in central districts, Starbucks has observed that customers tended to order more takeaways, so it was considering opening small takeaway outlets where customers can pick up their drink right away.

    Starbucks has 78 outlets nationwide, while its competitor Highlands Coffee’s has 500 and The Coffee House has 156.

    The Covid-19 pandemic has forced several food and beverage chains to close outlets amid plunging revenue.

    The Coffee House closed over 20 outlets last year, while Soya Garden shut down its last one in HCMC. Soya Garden still has eight outlets in Hanoi.

  • Lady M teams with Netflix to create Over the Moon mooncake lantern

    Lady M teams with Netflix to create Over the Moon mooncake lantern

    Luxury cake boutique Lady M is serving a limited-edition mooncake lantern to celebrate the musical Over the Moon, in a partnership with Netflix and Pearl Studio.

    Timed to mark the Mid-Autumn Festival, Lady M’s Over the Moon mooncake lantern also marks a rare collaboration with Netflix – and illustrates the potential for seemingly unrelated brands to collaborate on products.

    Lady M’s pastries will come with an exclusive lantern package illustrating scenes from Pearl Studio’s animated musical Over the Moon.

    The lantern features gold and jade colors with laser-cut imagery of characters and scenes from the film with an interactive illumination effect. Inside the lantern is a collection of six individually-wrapped Lady M mooncakes in two flavors – sweet egg custard and chocolate custard.

    Each lantern package comes with a gift bag, a greeting card, an instruction card, and an envelope creating a memorable gift for family or friends.

    The movie Over the Moon tells the story of a bright young girl who builds a rocket ship to the moon to prove the existence of a legendary Moon Goddess. It will begin streaming on Netflix this fall.

  • Nam Dae Mun to open its first global flagship store in Singapore

    Nam Dae Mun to open its first global flagship store in Singapore

    The world’s first Nam Dae Mun flagship store will open in Singapore on Saturday, November 30 at 313@Somerset.

    The Shanghai-born brand now has more than 300 stores across China, and is famous for the hour-long queues it attracted when it was first launched in 2016. Consumers still queue for its traditional glutinous and osmanthus rice cakes.

    Named after one of the Eight Gates in the fortress wall of Seoul in South Korea, the Korean-style rice cakes are chopped into small pieces after the dough is rolled out. The local flagship store also offers Maoshan durian glutinous mochi.

    “We are honored and excited to open the first Nam Dae Mun global flagship store in Singapore,” said Herme executive director Freya Wang, which has brought the brand to the Lion City “Besides the popular varied selection of Korean-style rice cakes, consumers here will also be able to get their first taste of Herme’s signature drinks and desserts.”

  • London’s Duck & Waffle opens in Hong Kong

    London’s Duck & Waffle opens in Hong Kong

    The Duck & Waffle restaurant will officially land in Hong Kong this September at IFC mall.

    Its first destination outside of London, the new venue is designed to welcome guests throughout the day and into the late hours of the night with a large open space and kitchen combined with an “island” bar.

    The restaurant was designed by architecture and interior design firm CetraRuddy.

    The Duck & Waffle’s menu is designed for sharing and offers a take on British cuisine with broad European and American influences. Its signature eponymous dish has sold more than 1 million servings.

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  • New Cheesecake Factory Outlet in Macau to open at Sands Cotai Central

    New Cheesecake Factory Outlet in Macau to open at Sands Cotai Central

    American upscale casual-dining restaurant The Cheesecake Factory in Macau is set to open in Sands Cotai Central.

    The more than 8500sqft restaurant, which will be operated by a subsidiary of Maxim’s Caterers Limited, will offer fresh from-scratch dishes and more than 30 cheesecakes and specialty desserts from the US.

    The venue is sized to accommodate more than 220 guests and is decorated with hand-painted wall murals and artistic lighting features, keeping a consistent look with The Cheesecake Factory restaurants all over the world.

    The Cheesecake Factory in Macau will also feature a Macao-only limited-edition dish with Macao culinary characteristics: Portuguese Chicken, a portion of a half roasted chicken with coconut curry and peanut sauces and crispy potatoes.

    The opening of The Cheesecake Factory in Macau follows launches regionally in Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Beijing.

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  • The Cheesecake Factory to open at Sands Cotai Central, Macau

    The Cheesecake Factory to open at Sands Cotai Central, Macau

    American upscale casual-dining restaurant The Cheesecake Factory in Macau is set to open in Sands Cotai Central.

    The more than 8500sqft restaurant, which will be operated by a subsidiary of Maxim’s Caterers Limited, will offer fresh from-scratch dishes and more than 30 cheesecakes and specialty desserts from the US.

    The venue is sized to accommodate more than 220 guests and is decorated with hand-painted wall murals and artistic lighting features, keeping a consistent look with The Cheesecake Factory restaurants all over the world.

    The Cheesecake Factory in Macau will also feature a Macao-only limited-edition dish with Macao culinary characteristics: Portuguese Chicken, a portion of a half roasted chicken with coconut curry and peanut sauces and crispy potatoes.

    The opening of The Cheesecake Factory in Macau follows launches regionally in Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Beijing.

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  • 108 Matcha Saro opens first store in Singapore

    108 Matcha Saro opens first store in Singapore

    Japanese cafe chain 108 Matcha Saro is opening its first Southeast Asian store, at Singapore’s Suntec City shopping center.

    Set to open tomorrow (July 26), the take-away concept store will be designed to resemble a traditional ancient Japanese teahouse, located in the basement of the shopping center.

    The 108 Matcha Saro stores in Japan feature four different live stations where passers-by can watch staff making Warabi-mochi or Obanyaki, whisking Matcha and assembling Parfaits and Soft Serves.

    Founded in 2014, 108 Matcha Saro has four stores in Japan, and another four in Taiwan.

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  • Taiwan’s 85C Bakery Cafe expands in USA

    Taiwan’s 85C Bakery Cafe expands in USA

    Taiwanese franchise 85C Bakery Cafe is undergoing rapid expansion in the US.

    The firm has branched out from its flagship venue to open more than 60 locations in California, Washington and Texas, with more states expected to follow.

    The self-service bakery concept has around 400 locations in Taiwan and more than 500 in Mainland China. It launched in Australia in 2006 and now has 12 outlets there.

    The concept involves customers selecting from a range of Asian and European pastries with tongs. Its name refers to the brand’s stated optimal coffee temperature – and it is noted for its servings of coffee with sea salt.

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  • Vive Cake Boutique Welcomes Mother’s Day with Artisan Cakes

    Vive Cake Boutique Welcomes Mother’s Day with Artisan Cakes

    In celebration of Mother’s Day, celebrity-loved Vive Cake Boutique welcomes the special day with an exclusive collaboration with Israel’s premium Body Care brand Sabon, to create a special cake to join two whimsical cakes true to Founder Vivien Lau’s aesthetic creation.

    “Mother’s Day is one of the most important occasions for my team and I to honour and celebrate,” shares Ms Vivien Lau, Founder of Vive Cake Boutique. “Inspired by the strength, patience, grace, and beauty of women all around the world, we have created a line of exquisite treats to be gifted and shared with mothers all over Hong Kong.”

    Inspired by Sabon’s Green Rose collection, ‘Supermom’ (HK$680, 1lb), the cake is tiered cake dressed with a green and pink buttercream frosting signifying appreciation of the beloved mothers and elegance of women. A bouquet of roses and daisies sit atop the cake, further fine tuning its perfection. Apart from its stunning aesthetic, this delicious cake is heaven-sent for chocolate lovers as it is made with chocolate sponge cake with chocolate mousse and raspberry agar. Customers who purchase this cake will get a free Sabon Signature Green Rose Silky Body Milk sample and an invitation to join the Soap Delicatessen workshop to DIY your own soap at a discounted price of HK$600 for 2 people (originally HK$800). Those who complete the workshop will receive an additional HK$50 shopping discount upon a HK$300 purchase.

    Let the special woman in one’s life know there is no one like her with the all-new ‘Mother Like No Other’ (HK$880, 1lb), a multi-tiered pastel pink cake, adorned with flower-shaped marzipan and edible gold leafs. The cake topped with a bouquet of fresh eustoma, Kenya roses and lilies, on which the message ‘mother like no other’ float, in golden letters. Coming in three flavour favourites, including  vanilla sponge cake with white chocolate mousse, passion fruit mousse, and passion fruit jam; chocolate sponge cake, chocolate mousse, and raspberry agar; and red velvet butter cake with cream cheese, this cake is sure to satisfy the special women in one’s life.

    For those who would like to thank their mothers for all the wonderful things they have done for them, but don’t quite know how to say it, VIVE’s ‘Voted Best Mom’ (HK$580, 1lb; HK$400, 0.5lbs) shares the message for you. The vanilla sponge cake with white chocolate mousse, passion fruit mousse, and passion fruit jam, gets a new look with lavender cream, a colour which signifies love and trust.

    The special Mother’s Day cakes are available from 29 April to 31 May. To capture the convivial occasion of appreciation and sharing, a special promotional period will be introduced from 29 April to 5 May, where guests are invited to enjoy a special limited time offer of a 20% discount, applicable in both Central and Harbour City pop-up stores. Orders must be placed three days in advance.

    Vive Cake Boutique has proved a roaring success story since being launched with online orders in 2014 by founder and creative director Vivien Lau, who discovered her passion and talent by chance, making her first cake for a friend’s birthday.

    Her signature ‘handmade with love’, cupcakes, macarons, cookies, confectioneries and tailor-made cakes for weddings and special occasions, are all made from scratch with less sugar and finest ingredients sourced from all over the world.

    VIVE’s widespread acclaim includes Time Out’s listing among the “crème de la crème of Hong Kong’s bespoke dessert makers” – with a massive celebrity and socialite following including Aaron Kwok, Charlene Choi, Gillian Chung, Niki Chow, Sharon Chan, Miki Yeung, Ella Koon, Myolie Wu and more.

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  • Vive Cake Boutique Hops Into Easter With ‘Cutielicious’ Easter Bunny & Adorable Chicks

    Vive Cake Boutique Hops Into Easter With ‘Cutielicious’ Easter Bunny & Adorable Chicks

    Celebrity-loved Vive Cake Boutique is hopping into Easter with cutielicious Easter Bunnies and adorable Easter Chicks from 1-30 April at its Central flagship café-store in H Queen’s, 80 Queen’s Road Central and latest pop-up store in Harbour City, Tsim Sha Tsui.

    Founder Vivien Lau’s new Insta-worthy dessert sensations are headlined by the most enchanting Easter Bunnie cake in town – ‘Bunny Luvs You’ – a showstopper which is an Easter dessert and table decoration all in one.

    Priced HK$680 for 1lb, this darling creation for the festive holiday is available in an assortment of flavours to suit all tastes: Pistachio Cake with Pistachio Buttercream, Red Velvet Cake with Cream Cheese Fillings, Earl Grey Cake with Earl Grey Cream, Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Cream and Crunchies, Lemon Cake with Lemon Buttercream filled with Yuzu Curd, Green Tea Cake with Green Tea Buttercream, Banana Cake with Chocolate Buttercream, and Hazelnut Cake with Hazelnut Buttercream.

    Two of the sweetest little treats imaginable are also on the endearing Easter menu. Baby Chick Macacreams (HK$68, available only at Central cafe-store) is confectionary queen Vivien Lau’s charming festive adaptation of her beloved melt-in-your-mouth macarons – styled after chicks hatching from Easter eggs and flavoured with yuzu ice-cream.

    Available at both stores, ‘Easter Meringues’ (HK$55) are the sweetest of treats styled in carrot and chick shapes especially for Easter Bunnies – adapted from a new line of meringues launched with the recent opening of Vive Cake Boutique’s Harbour City pop-up.

    Vive Cake Boutique has proved a roaring success story since being launched with online orders in 2014 by founder and creative director Vivien Lau, who discovered her passion and talent by chance, making her first cake for a friend’s birthday.

    Her signature ‘handmade with love’, cupcakes, macarons, cookies, confectioneries and tailor-made cakes for weddings and special occasions, are all made from scratch with less sugar and finest ingredients sourced from all over the world.

    VIVE’s widespread acclaim includes Time Out’s listing among the “crème de la crème of Hong Kong’s bespoke dessert makers” – with a massive celebrity and socialite following including Aaron Kwok, Charlene Choi, Gillian Chung, Niki Chow, Sharon Chan, Miki Yeung, Ella Koon, Myolie Wu and more.

  • Hong Kong dessert shop Hui Lau Shan Launched in Philippines

    Hong Kong dessert shop Hui Lau Shan Launched in Philippines

    Hong Kong dessert shop Hui Lau Shan has opened in the Philippines.

    It is the first time for the franchise to open in the very region from which its special variety of mango is sourced. Its soft launch on March 17 at SM Megamall in Mandaluyong city was well-attended by local fans of the brand’s mango-based food products.

    Hui Lau Shan Megamall PH store

    Hui Lau Shan originated as a Chinese herbal tea vendor in the 1960s before blending carabao mangoes in with its other ingredients in the 90s to create a unique dessert.

    The fresh fruit drinks were well-received and the brand now has more than 260 locations globally.

    The firm’s local partner is Fat Daddy’s Group, well-known for its Smokehouse restaurants.

    “The sweet taste of our own fruit has helped propel the brand’s growth in and outside Asia,” said Fat Daddy’s president Freshnaida Versoza. “It’s about time that we bring it here to the Philippines. It’s also our way of supporting the country’s agribusiness since Hui Lau Shan is estimated to consume one ton of premium carabao mangoes per week for 10 to 15 stores.”

    More Hui Lau Shan branches are planned for other malls in the territory, including SM North Edsa, SM Fairview and SM Mall of Asia.