Philippines specialty store retailer SSI Group will play host to Chinese restaurant chain Crystal Jade in the territory.
The firm has contracted with Crystal Jade Management to own and operate the brand in the Philippines as part of its expanding F&B portfolio.
“The strategic partnership with SSI group is yet another proud moment for Crystal Jade,” said Crystal Jade Culinary Concepts Holdings CEO Douglas DeBoer. “We are excited to join in partnership with such a renowned specialty retailer which has successfully brought so many iconic international brands to the Philippines. Crystal Jade is dedicated to bringing authentic, quality Chinese cuisine to contemporary audiences around the world, and we look forward to delighting consumers across the Philippines very soon.”
SSI president Anthony Huang said the opening of Crystal Jade in the Philippines is aligned with his company’s desire to provide consumers with complete lifestyle offerings through global partnerships “that cater to the eclectic and sophisticated taste of the Filipino consumer”.
SSI will initially open a Crystal Jade Hong Kong Kitchen outlet early next year at Central Square in Bonifacio Global City, before rolling out Crystal Jade’s other three international dining concepts – which include Crystal Jade Golden Palace, Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao and Crystal Jade Go.
A Deliveroo restaurant has opened in Hong Kong in a trial which, if successful, could see its own-branded eateries opened globally.
Called Deliveroo Food Market, the outlet will serve as both a kitchen for delivering online orders, and a customer-facing storefront where diners can choose between 15 dining concepts.
The 1500sqft kitchen which cost HK$7.5 million (US$960,000) to build, does not have seating for dine-in.
“We find there is an opportunity to bring our online to offline model to our customers,” Brian Lo, Deliveroo GM said.
With Hong Kong boasting some of the most expensive rental prices of any major international city, the pressure on restaurant operators to develop concepts which perform is very high.
“This model works very well for them,” said Lo.
The debut Deliveroo restaurant will open in Sai Ying Pun as an extension of the brand’s Editions program, where eateries share kitchen space to fulfil Deliveroo delivery orders.
Five restaurant brands will share the Deliveroo restaurant space in Hong Kong, offering a combined 15 concepts: Chinese chain Crystal Jade, Pizza Express, Pololi Group, Beef & Liberty and Red Sauce Hospitality.
Singapore-headquartered Crystal Jade is using the kitchen to launch Lao Er and Brother Kwok, two delivery-only virtual brands targeting younger consumers by offering a modern twist on traditional noodle and fried rice dishes.
“This is a location we can have a closer touch with the residents nearby and understand their dining behaviour,” said Wincy Cheung, Crystal Jade’s assistant marketing & communications director. “It allows us to test our new brands. If we opened a physical store, we’d have to consider a lot of things. This delivery platform allows us to reach more customers at a location that we’re not already in,” she said.
Another participant in the trial is Pizza Express which plans to test a new concept called The Pasta Project.
“Deliveroo’s Food Market allows customer-facing trials of new concepts to launch in market much faster, just as we have done with The Pasta Project,” said Pizza Express MD of international, Liam Collette.
He stressed that restaurants are not going to be eliminated by delivery and the company will continue to expand.
Pololi Group will offer Shaka with American-style sushi rolls and Killer Golden Bird with fried chicken, while Beef & Liberty is debuting the vegetarian and vegan Leaves & Liberty concept, using Impossible Meat.
Lo said virtual restaurant brands are already supporting the business of Deliveroo’s partner restaurants. Kai, which serves up customised poke bowls, and Blazed offering Hawaiian BBQ platters are both virtual brands launched by Pololi Limited at the first Deliveroo Editions site, a so-called ‘dark kitchen’ in Wan Chai cooking only for delivery orders, without a customer interface. Both brands have succeeded as a delivery concept, leading to brick-and-mortar stores.
Sai Ying Pun appeal
Deliveroo chose Sai Ying Pun as home for its first Food Market due to the neighbourhood’s fast-expanding food, drink and cafe scene, which is attracting local and expat foodies alike. Deliveroo is also working with partner restaurants to create new corporate-specific offerings for the growing number of businesses now moving into SYP and surrounding districts such as Kennedy Town and Sheung Wan.
“Residential projects, business development and cultural sites are flourishing in the western districts of Hong Kong Island, and yet many popular restaurant brands have little presence in the area,” said Lo.
“Sai Ying Pun is an exciting location for future growth and we are pleased to offer our partners restaurants more reach into this vibrant district and its surrounding areas. In the coming year, Deliveroo will be looking for more opportunities to expand into Kowloon and the New Territories to bring our Food Market concept to more customers across Hong Kong.”
The Sai Ying Pun location is expected to employ up to 30 on-site staff in its kitchen and customer spaces.
Vietnam’s newest shopping centre, Van Hanh Mall, has opened in Ho Chi Minh City, on Su Van Hanh Street in District 10.
Built on a 90,000sqm site, the shopping complex has 55,000sqm of retail space, which is 90 per cent occupied already, by more than 200 international and local brands.
Tenants include Bata, Charles & Keith, Levi’s, Mujosh and Nike and a raft of dining options, including Buffalo Wild Wings, Crystal Jade, Sushi Kei, Starbucks and Phuc Long coffee.
For entertainment, there is a CGV multiplex cinema, a Superbowl amusement center and a giant European-themed bookstore.
A Co.opXtra hypermarket, operated by Saigon Co.op and Singapore’s NTUC FairPrice, also opened, marking the brand’s third outlet in the city.
There are nine parking floors from basement to fifth floor, enough space for 350 cars and 3000 bikes.
Built at the cost of VND1 trillion (US$43.9 million), Van Hanh mall rentals range from US$30-60 per sqm.
Australian swimwear brand Seafolly and Colombian beachwear brand Maaji are the first signings for a global lifestyle platform launched by L Catterton Asia.
Based in Singapore, L Catterton Asia is an arm of private equity firm L Catterton, formed last year through a partnership between Catterton, LVMH and Groupe Arnault. It will be the controlling shareholder of the combined business, with the Maaji and Seafolly founders as minority shareholders.
It is the first step in the aggregation of the fragmented swimwear/beachwear industry.
Seafolly was founded in 1975 by Peter and Yvonne Halas, and has been led by Anthony Halas since he became CEO in 1998. He has built the business across international markets in Europe, North America and Asia. L Catterton Asia acquired a controlling interest in the brand in December 2014, and now it is sold in 41 countries (there are four stores in Singapore) as well as online.
Maaji was founded by sisters Manuela and Amalia Sierra in 2002, and has a presence in more than 54 countries.
“With this unparalleled combination of Maaji and Seafolly we look to grow our portfolio and create the largest independent house of beach lifestyle brands,” says L Catterton Asia chairman/managing partner Ravi Thakran. “This combination will drive many synergies, including geographic expansion, retail rollout and product sourcing.”
L Catterton Asia’s goal is to preserve each brand’s DNA and heritage, while enabling the brands to enhance their global growth.
Previously known as L Capital Asia, L Catterton Asia was launched in 2009 and manages more than US$1.6 billion across two private equity funds, and more than US$2 billion including co-investments. It has offices in Singapore and Mauritius, with further regional advisory presence in Hong Kong, Mumbai, Shanghai and Sydney. Its investments include Charles & Keith, Crystal Jade, Pepe Jeans Group and YG Entertainment, which promotes Korean singers and entertainers like Big Bang and Psy.
Singapore Myanmar Investco (SMI) will launch Japanese ramen restaurant chain Ippudo in Myanmar early next year.
Brand owner Chikaranomoto Holdings will provide training programs for SMI to set up and run the Myanmar restaurants.
“We see abundant growth opportunities within the F&B retail market in Myanmar, and the time is ripe for us to introduce the Ippudo brand and cuisine to the growing middle class,” says SMI president/CEO Mark Bedingham.
SMI, which is involved in consumer products and services in Myanmar, is looking to invest in retail and F&B over the next three years. It has also signed a franchise agreement with restaurant group Crystal Jade and The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf.
Luxury travel retailer DFS Group Cambodia has marked the opening of its first store, T Galleria by DFS, Angkor, with a gala event for more than 300 guests.
In the resort town and provincial capital of Siem Reap, near the ancient temple of Angkor Wat, T Galleria by DFS, Angkor is the largest duty-free luxury department store in Cambodia. It offers travelers an integrated retail, hospitality and leisure experience with 170 brands across 86,000 sqft (7989 sqm).
The opening celebration began with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, after which traditional Cambodian Apsara hostesses led guests through the two-storey store for traditional cultural performances and demonstrations by Cambodian craftsmen.
From DFS Group were chairman/CEO Philippe Schaus and co-founder Robert Miller, while special guests included Cambodia’s Senior Minister of Economy and Finance Aun Pornmoniroth and Minister of Tourism Thong Khon.
The store features a curated collection of Cambodian artisanal products designed and produced by more than 30 Cambodian artist workshops. At the event, Angkor Artwork, a Siem Reap design studio, demonstrated the art of lacquer work, while Golden Silk, one of the last fully integrated silk producers in the world, wove silk spun from Cambodian silk worms.
Traditional Khmer motifs and carvings feature throughout the store, including a nearly 20m art installation suspended above the vaulted atrium.
T Galleria by DFS Angkor also ranges more than 130 international brands including watches and jewellery from Bulgari, Cartier and Tiffany & Co and fashion from Bottega Veneta, Burberry, Fendi, Gucci and Saint Laurent. There are also more than 30 beauty and fragrance brands such as Cle de Peau Beaute, Dior, Estee Lauder and Giorgio Armani.
The gala event also marked the official opening of the onsite restaurant, the first Crystal Jade outlet in Cambodia, serving traditional Chinese cuisine in a setting overlooking the gardens and reflecting pools outside.
The event also provided a platform to officially announce the company’s sponsorship of several non-profit organisations focussed on helping underserved populations in Cambodia. Schaus presented a donation to Kuma Cambodia, which aims to reduce poverty through providing education, healthcare and nutrition to vulnerable youngsters, English and computer courses for teenagers, and workshops and guidance for parents and guardians.
SGX Mainboard-listed Singapore Myanmar Investco (SMI) – engaged in consumer products and services in Myanmar – will be looking at investing in the retail and food & beverage vertical in the next three years.
Late last year, SMI inked an agreement with Royal Golden Sky Co Ltd to operate a retail space at the Yangon International Airport.
“We will continue to look at retail opportunities in the domestic market (Myanmar). We are in discussions with the Junction City (Shwe Taung Group’s $300-million mixed-used development project) and I think there will be opportunities in both retail and F&B space,” said Mark Bedingham, president and chief executive officer, Singapore Myanmar Investco.
About 10 international brands will be brought to the domestic market while the Yangon International Airport retail space will sport 30 brands by July 2016.
SMI is primarily targeting the downtown business district around Kandawgyi lake area and Mandalay for retail opportunities.
For the food and beverages sector, SMI has signed a franchise agreement with Crystal Jade group to bring in the Chinese restaurant concept and The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf that will open soon at the new Yangon International Airport terminal.
“We want to be seen as a progressive company in Myanmar, bringing new products and services that have not been available here before, both for consumers and businesses.”
Crystal Jade Group has more than 100 outlets in 20 cities in the Asia Pacific region and the US.
Under the terms of the agreement, SMI will have the exclusive right to develop, manage and run the Crystal Jade Kitchen, Crystal Jade Palace Restaurant and Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao restaurants in Myanmar for 10 years, with the option to extend for a further 10 years.
The first Crystal Jade Kitchen outlet is expected to open in the third quarter of this year at the new Yangon International Airport Terminal 2, while a Crystal Jade Palace restaurant is expected to launch at the Sedona Hotel Yangon later in the year.
Further ahead, the group expects to open another two Crystal Jade Kitchen restaurants in 2017 and in 2018.
SMI manages the duty-free retail space in the new Yangon terminal.
Luxury travel retailer DFS Group has opened its first T Galleria by DFS store for Cambodia in the resort town of Siem Reap.
Near the ancient temple of Angkor Wat, T Galleria by DFS, Angkor is the largest Cambodia duty-free luxury department store, offering an integrated retail, hospitality and leisure experience.
The store is opening in phases until June, bringing 170 brands to the 86,000 sqft (7990 sqm) space, including fashion and accessories, watches and jewellery, wines and spirits, and beauty and fragrances as well as locally handcrafted artisan products.
Next to Angkor National Museum and overlooking a park, the new outlet features traditional Khmer motifs and carvings by Cambodian artisans. Stone columns feature panels carved in styles reflecting the nearby temples and palaces of Angkor Wat, intricately patterned wall screens and floor tiles evoke local architecture, and a 20m art installation suspended above the store’s vaulted atrium, was inspired by the hues of Buddhist monks’ robes. More than 200 local sales associates will welcome customers.
Several firsts for Cambodia duty-free come with the opening of the store, such as watches and jewellery brands Bulgari, Carl F Bucherer and Tiffany & Co and international fashion brands Burberry, Bottega Veneta, Fendi, Gucci, Ralph Lauren, Saint Laurent and Zegna. There are also 12 exclusive beauty and fragrance brands such as Bobbi Brown, Cle de Peau Beaute, Mac and Sulwhasoo.
Among Cambodian artisans featured are Angkor Artwork, whose master craftsmen Eric and Thierry Stocker produce lacquer and straw marquetry using traditional techniques. There is also Golden Silk, one of the last fully integrated silk producers in the world to use the rare yellow silkworm indigenous to Cambodia, and Samatoa, an eco-friendly accessories brand that has revived the technique of lotus-fibre weaving.
T Galleria by DFS, Angkor has also teamed up with Artisans d’Angkor, a socially conscious business aimed at revitalising Cambodia’s traditional craftsmanship while pioneering a sustainable working environment. Its exclusive collection of handwoven silks and fine crafts were designed by and will benefit local artisans.
An onsite restaurant, Crystal Jade, will open in June, the first outlet in Cambodia for the Singapore brand. It will serve traditional Chinese cuisine and dim sum dishes in a casual setting overlooking gardens and reflecting pools.
Standard Chartered Private Equity has invested in Crystal Jade Group to help Louis Vuitton accelerate the restaurant group’s Asian expansion.
Crystal Jade operates over 100 outlets ranging from fine dining, casual and specialty restaurants to bakeries across the Asia Pacific region with a primary focus in Singapore, Hong Kong and Mainland China. Established in the early 1990s, it has become a household name in Chinese cuisine.
SCPE has invested US$52 million in the business, joining Louis Vuitton’s investment arm L Capital Asia on the shareholder’s register.
The investment will primarily go towards funding the growth of Crystal Jade’s existing network of outlets across Asia, as well as the expansion of its footprint internationally.
Ravi Thakran, managing partner of L Capital Asia, said the two investors already have a track record of successful investment partnerships.
“Their investment will further strengthen the resources available to allow full exploitation of the tremendous growth opportunity for Crystal Jade.”
Nainesh Jaisingh, global co-head of private equity at SCPE, said Crystal Jade is an exciting business, with a strong Asian brand and significant potential across Standard Chartered’s footprint.
“We… look forward to building a great company together.”
Fashionable Singapore restaurant chain Tremendous Peking Duck seems to be set for accelerated worldwide enlargement.
In response to Bloomberg, Malaysian personal fairness agency Navis Capital Companions has agreed to purchase the model’s Singapore proprietor, Imperial Treasure Restaurant Group.
The corporate has paid between S$60 and $80 million for a majority stake within the enterprise and plans to speed up the model’s rollout in China.
Imperial Treasure was based in 2004 by Alfred Leung who will retain his curiosity and proceed to be concerned with the enterprise. It now has 23 eating places specialising in Chinese language meals and owns a positive eating restaurant at Marina Bay Sands, overlooking the gaming flooring.
Leung is also referred to as the founding father of Crystal Jade Culinary Ideas, bought to the LVMH Group final yr, netting round $100 million.
In line with Bloomberg, the deal and phrases are confidential and neither celebration wished to remark additional on the transaction.
Navis final week purchased Malaysian sweet and snackfood enterprise Cocoaland Holdings.
