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Tag: Singapore

  • Carousell Strengthens Executive Leadership Team With Appointment of CCO

    Carousell Strengthens Executive Leadership Team With Appointment of CCO

     Carousell, one of the world’s largest and fastest growing classifieds, today announced the appointment of Lewis Ng as Chief Commercial Officer. Lewis will be responsible for all commercial relationships, including high-value verticals, advertising sales and go-to-market partnerships. Lewis will also oversee the transformation of Carousell into a premium publisher by bolstering value-added services and premium products for clients.

    “We are at a stage with strong potential to scale. Currently, 1 in 4 Singaporeans use Carousell monthly, and with rapid growth regionally, it is imperative that we continue to attract top talents that would elevate our positioning and growth. With his extensive understanding of the classified space and business verticals, Lewis has displayed a solid record of growing robust revenue streams and executing high-impact business solutions,” said Siu Rui Quek, Carousell Co-founder and CEO. “There is a significant and growing market for high-value verticals such as Cars and Property, and we look forward to leveraging Lewis’ experience in these areas that pave way to achieve greater success across Southeast Asia.”

    Lewis’ role has been added in response to the increasing demand for business solutions and growth within the company and follows further high profile hires, including the addition of Su Lin Tan as Vice President of Operations.

    Previously Chief Business Officer at PropertyGuru and Commercial Director, APAC at TripAdvisor, Lewis brings over eighteen years of commercial and leadership experience in driving revenue growth across regional markets. Lewis was said to be instrumental in the leading property site’s continued double-digit revenue growth for three consecutive years, spanning roles in Marketing and Client Retention. At TripAdvisor, he was the Commercial Director for the APAC region and one of the first employees in Singapore, where he drove the brand’s revenue growth by triple digits in a period of three and a half years.

    Lewis has led key regional and in-market functions to deliver value to customers and partners and will be leading the overall commercial strategy at Carousell as Chief Commercial Officer. Lewis will be overseeing the Sales and Business Development functions in Carousell and he reports to Co-founder and CEO, Siu Rui Quek.

    “I am excited to join one of the biggest and fastest growing start-ups in Singapore. I really admire how fast and steadily the visionary founding team has grown the business in such a short amount of time, and I’m delighted to be able to contribute to the ongoing success of Carousell. With my experience and expertise, I am looking forward to creating efficient operations and models to help Carousell reach its fullest potential,” said Lewis.

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  • Singapore May Allow Virtual Banks

    Singapore May Allow Virtual Banks

    Singapore may permit virtual banks to operate in the city-state, following in the footsteps of Hong Kong, said DBS chief executive.

    If virtual banking licenses were handed out in Singapore, it would step up the competitive pressures faced by incumbent lenders. However, those who have upgraded their digital capabilities should not fear this new form of competition, said DBS chief executive Piyush Gupta.

    To my mind, that’s just basically giving a few more banking licenses, said Gupta, who was speaking in an interview with Bloomberg. Virtual banks could typically generate $100 income at 25 to 30 percent of operating costs, according to experts. In comparison, DBS’s cost-to-income ratio stood at 44 percent last year.

    In the interview, Gupta does not see a problem with having virtual banking licenses in Singapore unless these virtual banks are allowed to operate on more lenient terms than incumbents, such as lower capital requirements held.

    The real challenge is if the regulators create an unlevel playing field, and let the new bank licensees come in and do banking on different terms, he said. However, he felt that most regulators don’t seem to be inclined to do that.

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  • Procter & Gamble Starts S$12m Innovation Hub in Singapore

    Procter & Gamble Starts S$12m Innovation Hub in Singapore

    Procter & Gamble Singapore has announced a S$12 million innovation investment to create the next billion-dollar corporate concept for Singapore. GrowthWorks was announced on the 5th anniversary of P&G’s Singapore Innovation Center (SgIC). The intrapreneurship hub will focus on new brands, new technologies and new business models. Working in cooperation with P&G Singapore’s $250 million R&D division, P&G hopes that the next big idea in international business will crop up in Singapore.

    Procter & Gamble is a consumer goods company. Their famous brands like Max Factor, Old Spice and Gillette make them sought after by investors, as these brands have reach well outside the US market. Investing in Procter & Gamble takes investors into multi-national economies: the P&G stock was trading at US$108 on the eToro site on May 17, and their expansion into international markets like Singapore has much to do with this. Do we anticipate this news to precipitate further P&G stock price growth?

    Why Singapore?

    So why is American company Procter & Gamble putting so much emphasis on geographically tiny Singapore? For more than a decade, Singapore has topped the World Bank’s list of easiest countries in which to do business. Whether it is starting a business, paying taxes, receiving construction permits, or enforcing contracts, Singapore is generally faster, cheaper, and more efficient than anywhere else.

    According to the World Bank, it takes only 150 days, on average, to resolve a commercial dispute in Singapore. In the United States (7th place on the World Bank’s list), this would take 420 days. In Myanmar (167th place), a similar conflict would drag on for at least three years.

    P&G correctly identifies Singapore as the most fertile ground for new businesses to flourish. If P&G can convince their “intrapreneurs” to innovate on the scale they desire, GrowthWorks really could bring the next international billion-dollar business idea into fruition via Singapore.

    What Will the New GrowthWorks Innovation Center Bring to the Table?

    GrowthWorks won’t be concerned with the full product pipeline like the SgIC. Instead, GrowthWorks is focusing on “home run” ideas, concepts that can be developed elsewhere into innovative products or businesses, without burdening the GrowthWorks team with the difficulties of taking the concepts all the way through the multi-year development cycle.

    GrowthWorks puts an emphasis on “intrapreneurship” – a word referring to employees who act with all the inspiration and drive of entrepreneurs, but for Procter & Gamble, not their own private interests. S$8 million of the initial S$12 million P&G investment will go directly to the intrapreneurs, who will use their funding to conduct lean experiments for early concept development. They will work with relevant Singaporean companies and agencies to establish feasibility and other early conceptual design, with the aim of creating business ideas that are tailor made for the Singaporean marketplace. P&G hopes to see a minimum of S$3 billion-dollar ideas grow out of GrowthWorks.

    GrowthWorks represents one of the first dedicated corporate attempts to incubate new major businesses specifically for the Singaporean market, and it’s P&G’s most significant R&D investment outside of the United States.

    In the big scheme of things, S$12 million isn’t very much money for a multinational to invest in innovation. From our perspective, P&G is simply testing the waters in Singapore, seeing if the small nation can serve as a meaningful strategic outpost for expansion in the wider region.

    If the investment brings returns, P&G will have greater expansion opportunities in Asia than in the US, where it faces relative market saturation. Asia numbers its consumers in the billions, while America numbers them in the tens of millions. America may be the larger and more stable economy, but we can see the value of this strategic play in Singapore.

     

  • First Asian Samsonite Premium store Coming to The Jewel

    First Asian Samsonite Premium store Coming to The Jewel

    The first Samsonite ultra-premium store in Asia is to open at Jewel Changi.

    The luggage brand is also planning one more outlet at Changi, raising its store network at the airport to five.

    “Every time we come up with something new, something big, we launch it first in Singapore,” Subrata Dutta, president and CEO of Samsonite Asia-Pacific told.

    “This is a new retail concept that further elevates the look and feel of the brand to something more luxurious. At Jewel, we get travel traffic from around the world. When you do something in Singapore, you get noticed by the right people.”

    Samsonite has also opened an American Tourister outlet at Jewel Changi, and will open a store at the revamped Funan mall, scheduled to open in the second half of this year.

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  • Muji Singapore opens Large store at The Jewel

    Muji Singapore opens Large store at The Jewel

    Muji Singapore has opened a two-storey store at Jewel Changi. The 12th outlet of the popular Japanese minimalist brand houses more than 4000 products and an 88-seat Cafe&Meal dining area.

    The product range includes apparel, furniture, kitchenware, toiletries, stationery and food items.

    Designed by Tokyo-based design company Super Potato, the store also offers the largest range of Muji’s fitness line, the Walker series.

    The store also features an interior-advisory service, available to recommend customisable solutions to customers.

    Muji Singapore chose Jewel Changi as its newest location to showcase the ‘world of Muji’ to Southeast Asian customers.

    Naoki Kadoike, MD at Muji Singapore and Malaysia, expects about 40 per cent of customers will be tourists, the remainder locals.

    “When I was posted here in January, I realised how similar Singaporeans are to the Japanese. People are very conscious of having a good lifestyle and there is a common understanding of Muji’s philosophy,” Kadoike said.

    Meanwhile, Muji Singapore plans to introduce the Muji Passport app, providing local customers with information about the brand and promotions, along with weekly newsletters.

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  • Under Armour Singapore showcases Rush

    Under Armour Singapore showcases Rush

    Under Armour Singapore has partnered with Celliant to create performance apparel line UA Rush and Recovery.

    Designed to enhance performance, the collection includes men’s and women’s fitted tees, long-sleeved shirts, leggings and tights and more.

    All pieces will range from S$69-$199, and are now available for purchase on Under Armour Singapore’s online store, retail stores in Orchard Central, Bugis Junction, VivoCity, and through authorised Under Armour resellers.

    In conjunction with the launch, Under Armour is hosting an admission-free “Rush & Recovery Experience” at Orchard Central Discovery Walk until May 2.

    The interactive exhibits bring to life the inner workings of Rush technology. Distinct experiential zones will showcase how the technology generates performance improvements for the wearer, and helps power recovery.

    Another zone, “Test of Will”, features Under Armour’s annual advanced urban fitness challenge where visitors can see a preview of this year’s unique challenges and put their grit, strength and determination to the test.

    Under Armour’s Rush-and-Recovery-engineered fabric promotes improved performance and energy return. It is intended to provide the same benefits to the body as an infrared sauna.

    “The introduction of UA Rush is our commitment to giving athletes 360-degrees of training support both in the gym and beyond,” said Dan Leraris, GM of men’s training at Under Armour.

    “With the launch of UA Rush, we now complete the training cycle – there is now UA gear designed to optimise human performance at every training occasion.”

    Under Armour athletes from around the globe have been training in UA Rush including Singapore Athletic Association athletes such as swimmer Amanda Lim, marathon runner Jasmine Goh, master coach at Ritual Gym, Shrek Ismail, and SuperheroRunners founder Nelson Wong.

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  • Durasport Singapore opens Doors at Jewel Changi

    Durasport Singapore opens Doors at Jewel Changi

    Ultra-performance brand Durasport has opened a store at Jewel Changi.

    Designed by architecture and interiors firm Ministry of Design (MOD), the store resembles a futuristic research and development lab environment.

    The store is tailored to sports enthusiasts who want to try out sportswear and equipment in simulated environments before buying them.

    Designed to attract ultra-performance athletes and sporting enthusiasts, the store features four hands-on experiential zones. These zones allow cyclists, skiers, climbers and triathletes to sample and test the high performance sportswear and equipment before they purchase them, and is facilitated by five simulators.

    These include a ski simulator, an indoor climbing-wall with a rotating surface, a Magic Mirror that allows customers to virtually try on ski clothing, a swim bench for testing the flexibility of wetsuits, and cycling trainer rollers, which can simulate various slope gradients and cycling experiences.

    A customised flexible display-system made up of shelves, racks or holders that clip in and out of notched display walls and incorporate an integrated LED lighting system, allows the brand to showcase its varied merchandise.

    The facade is made up of a steel frame with a chevron pattern that is designed to point towards the central entrance, conveying a sense of motion, whilst the logo is based on an X.

    “We adopted an X symbol for the logo, to represent the catalyst at the beginning of any experiment, reminiscent of the two arrows coming together like an X at the store entrance,” MOD told.

    The range of products sold in the store was co-curated by Ministry Of Design and the client. It includes the world’s first graphene bicycle by UK company Dassi, the world’s lightest folding bicycle by fellow UK company Hummingbird, and heat-mouldable custom-made cycling shoes by Italian brand DL Killer.

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  • Stefano Ricci opens Doors at The Shoppes

    Stefano Ricci opens Doors at The Shoppes

    Italian menswear Stefano Ricci has opened a boutique at The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands. The 150sqm store presents the brand’s menswear range, SR Home collection, and leather goods such as belts, bags, wallets and shoes.

    The maison’s made-to-measure service is available upon appointment.

    “We are proud to unveil our new boutique location in Singapore, still within the distinguished Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands,” said Niccolo Ricci, Stefano Ricci CEO.

    “This is an expression of our brand’s presence on an international level, and from here the highest forms of Italian craftsmanship are available to our esteemed and refined clients in the city.”

    Founded in 1972, Stefano Ricci now has more than 65 mono-brand boutiques worldwide, selling menswear-suits, dress shirts, jeans, casual wear, and leather goods.

    The brand’s offer has expanded with the SR Home collection, featuring porcelain and crystal dinner services, silverware, furnishing accessories, linens and leather home accessories.

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  • Pazzion footwear launches cafe concept

    Pazzion footwear launches cafe concept

    Footwear retailer Pazzion has unveiled a cafe concept at Jewel Changi.

    Located next to the Pazzion boutique, the 45-seat Pazzion Cafe is designed in monochromatic tones of black and white, peppered with grey and gold, and vintage-style pendant lights.

    A feature wall with an inset shelving unit displays vintage-looking props, including a typewriter, telephone and metal globe, making the cafe an Instagram-worthy spot.

    More seating is arranged outside, overlooking the Rain Vortex.

    “Pazzion cafe provides our customers with a much-needed cosy spot to rest their feet while enjoying our specially curated menu and a cup of coffee,” said Tom Ng, Pazzion’s founder.

    Established in 2002, Pazzion has stores in Brunei, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam.

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  • ICBC Singapore Issues Bank’s First Green Bond

    ICBC Singapore Issues Bank’s First Green Bond

    State-owned bank offers green Silk Road bond in three currencies one week after a similar exercise by rival Bank of China. Acting through its Singapore branch, the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), the world’s biggest bank by assets, has issued its first green bond offering in three currencies totalling $2.2 billion equivalent, Reuters reported on Wednesday.

    The U.S. dollar-denominated tranche includes $900 million three-year floating rate notes priced at three-month Libor plus 72 basis points and $600 million five-year floating rate notes priced at three-month Libor plus 83 basis points. They received over $2.4 billion and $1.5 billion in orders respectively, with Asia buying 92 percent of the deal and the rest coming from EMEA in both cases, according to Reuters.

    The 1 billion yuan ($149 million) three-year tranche was priced at 3.3 percent. The 500 million euro tranche received over 1.8 billion euros in orders.

    DBS Bank was the only Singapore bank among the issue’s joint global coordinators, which also include ICBC, Credit Agricole, HSBC and Standard Chartered Bank. DBS was also the joint book runner and joint lead manager of the issue. There were 22 underwriters for the bond issue, which intends to support green projects under China’s Belt and Road Initiative.

    According to Clifford Lee, DBS Bank head of fixed income, said that ICBC Singapore’s successful issuance of its first green bond is underpinned by its commitment to financing sustainable development along the Belt and Road, «The Business Times» reported.

    A week before, Bank of China raised $3.8 billion equivalent across five currencies and eight tranches from its fifth Silk Road bond offering.

  • Singapore’s Chinatown Point Mall Finally Sold

    Singapore’s Chinatown Point Mall Finally Sold

    Singapore’s Chinatown Point Mall has been sold to a subsidiary of Pan Asia Realty Advisors, for S$520 million (US$383.28 million). The joint-venture, including Mitsubishi Estate and CLSA Real Estate Partners, will also acquire four accompanying strata office units in the office tower element of the project.

    Perennial Real Estate Holdings and a consortium of investors including Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) have agreed to sell their entire interests in the retail complex.

    The consortium will receive S$225 million in cash for their shares in the company holding the assets as well as for assignment of shareholder loans. Perennial, which holds a 50.64 per cent stake is expected to receive approximately S$125.3 million of that amount, subject to final adjustments.

    “The transaction is a testament to Perennial’s ability in identifying quality assets, creating value via enhancement initiatives, and ultimately unlocking value via divestment for all stakeholders,” said Pua Seck Guan, Perennial CEO.

    After settlement, Perennial’s retail management subsidiary will continue to manage the mall.

    Built in 1993, the Chinatown Point project includes a 25-storey strata-title office tower next to the mall. SPH and Perennial bought a 60 percent stake in the mall in 2016, at a value of S$442.5 million.

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  • eBay and Singapore Institute of Retail Studies come together to deliver eCommerce training

    eBay and Singapore Institute of Retail Studies come together to deliver eCommerce training

    eBay and the Singapore Institute of Retail Studies (SIRS) joined forces to deliver training to small businesses and entrepreneurs seeking new and global sales channels in the fast-growing eCommerce sector. Titled “Let’s eBay with SIRS”, the full-day workshop was held at the Lifelong Learning Institute, one of two Continuing Education and Training (CET) campuses by SkillsFuture Singapore. To offer SMEs in Singapore a holistic support system to grow their businesses globally and sustainably, eBay and SIRS signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) focused on Global e-Commerce Onboarding & Education Programs.

    Singapore’s eCommerce market is expected to grow by 48% to S$10.04 billion by 2022, and a rising number of entrepreneurial Singaporeans are capitalising on the opportunity to sell their products directly to customers all around the world on eBay.

    According to eBay Head of Southeast Asia Seller Growth Wong Mei Inn, “Singapore’s cross border trade (CBT) exports continue to grow and there is huge opportunity for more small businesses to join the ranks of eBay sellers. By listing their products on eBay’s global marketplace, Singaporean businesses can reach 180 million active buyers all around the world.”

    “Let’s eBay with SIRS was designed for the small business and entrepreneur who has little or no ecommerce experience but wants to learn directly from the source,” said Wong.

    “eBay has thousands of sellers here in Singapore and over 80% of them sell to customers overseas. eBay’s focus in Singapore this year is to enable even more SMEs to sell worldwide”, said Jenny Hui, General Manager, Cross Border Trade, eBay Hong Kong, Taiwan and Southeast Asia.

    “eCommerce has been recognised as one of the key growth opportunities under the 2020 vision of the Retail Industry Transformation Map launched by SPRING Singapore (now Enterprise Singapore),” said Nanyang Polytechnic’s Singapore Institute of Retail Studies Director Megan Ong. “By partnering eBay, we will be able to encourage retailers in Singapore to adopt eCommerce and omni-channel strategies to succeed in today’s digital context.”

    Small medium enterprises (SMEs) contribute to 72% of Singapore’s employment, and in 2018, added a nominal value of S$213.6 billion, or 48% to the economy. The government has acknowledged the importance of SMEs plugging into the digital economy as it would make a noticeable impact on Singapore’s economic growth.

    During the workshop, Let’s eBay with SIRS featured speakers from eBay, SIRS, WorldFirst, Watcheszon International, JTBC Global and DHL Express Singapore. The speakers shared case studies, advice on getting started, and introductions to payments and logistics service providers to help small businesses begin their global ecommerce journey.

    Following the workshop, eBay has launched the “eBay Onboarding Program”, a series of courses with SIRS to further enable SMEs to optimise cross-border selling and manage operations. Each course will be charged at $160, and subsidies range from 70-95%. For more information on the courses and available subsidies, visit https://www.sirsdigitalcommerce.com/ebay.html or email SIRS at courses@sirs.edu.sg

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  • SP Telecom to build alternative fiber network in Singapore

    SP Telecom to build alternative fiber network in Singapore

    Singapore-based telecommunications joint venture SP Telecom has engaged PCCW Solutions as a consultancy partner to help design and deploy the company’s planned alternative fiber network.

    The company has provided details of its plans to build an alternative to Singapore’s next-generation national broadband network (NG-NBN).

    SP Telecom, a joint venture between ST Engineering and Singapore Power Group, is deploying its network alongside the power lines operated by SP Group to create a separate fiber infrastructure to the NG-NBN.

    SP Telecom’s network will serve as the only rival to the NG-NBN common network infrastructure, offering route diversity and redundancy for enterprise customers.

    The alternative data fiber network will utilize SDN-NFV capabilities in a bid to allow users greater control, visibility and scalability of their network assets, as well as built-in cybersecurity capabilities.

    These capabilities will allow for the deployment of network functions as a service on demand without the need for costly hardware investment.

    SP Telecom plans to offer services including access to an IoT-as-a-Service platform, edge cloud resources, and bandwidth provision on demand.

    “An increasing number of businesses rely on their communications systems for mission-critical applications. They can no longer afford any downtime that can cause major problems and significant losses in terms of costs, productivity and reputation,” SP Telecom CEO Titus Yong said.

    “As SP Telecom forges forward towards providing an advanced solution that supports Smart City developments, we are confident that the consultancy partnership with PCCW Solutions will enable our plans of becoming an advanced network provider to meet fast-evolving digital needs globally.”

  • 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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  • KiKi Tea@Sun’s Bazaar Partnering Iconic Chiu Chow Restaurant Chiu Tang with Summer Pop-up Menu

    KiKi Tea@Sun’s Bazaar Partnering Iconic Chiu Chow Restaurant Chiu Tang with Summer Pop-up Menu

    Pacific Place’s popular casual Asian dining concept KiKi Tea@Sun’s Bazaar is presenting a summer pop-up menu in partnership with iconic Hong Kong Chiu Chow restaurant Chiu Tang.

    Chiu Tang’s Executive Chef Cheung Lam Por has created three traditional Chiu Chow specialties incorporating KiKi Tea’s sister brand KiKi Noodles for the seasonal promotion from 6 May to 31 August 2019. The new noodle options for summer also embrace Mother’s Day and Father’s Day for a light, healthy and affordable family gathering for light lunch or supper.

    Chiu Chow Assorted Meat Ball KiKi Noodles in Soup (Fish Balls, Beef Balls, Pork Sausage) (HK$98) redefines classic Chiu Chow fish balls from hawker stands of the 1960s and 1970s with a combo of meat balls and pork sausages homemade by Chef Cheung complimenting KiKi’s famed handmade Taiwan sun-dried noodles.

    Shredded Chicken KiKi Noodles in Soup, Chiu Chow Picked Vegetables, Mushroom (HK$98) showcases the Cantonese region’s fame for appetising cuisine with slightly sour flavour from pickling vegetables – now upgraded with premium mushroom and chicken.

    Pig’s Tripe and Pepper KiKi Noodles in Soup, Chiu Chow Pickled Vegetables (HK$98) pays homage to the resourcefulness of Chiu Chow chefs in creating nutritious yet extremely healthy dishes from humble ingredients like tripe, the stomach lining of a pig. Not only high in protein and fat-free, it aids digestion and strengthens the spleen and stomach – and is a ‘soul food’ adopted worldwide.

    Chef Cheung recommends to spice-up the specialties with KiKi Spicy Sauce, for an additional flavour of authentic Sichuan cuisine, incorporating hot pepper, premium Sichuan pepper and chilli bean sauce – free of MSG and preservatives and ideal for vegans.

    Seasoned chef Cheung Lam Por helmed Chiu Tang to Grade A status in the recent ‘Taste of Hong Kong’ awards and is frequently invited to cook private pop-ups at celebrity and socialite mansions. One of Hong Kong’s most celebrated Chiu Chow chefs, with 30 years’ experience in the craft, he is renowned for sourcing only the freshest, premium seasonal ingredients at the popular restaurant at The Galleria at 9Queen’s Road Central.

    “We select KiKi’s sun-dried handmade noodles for their exceptional texture and high quality, made without salt and dried naturally in sunlight, as authentic and traditional as you can find anywhere,” he said.

    KiKi Tea@Sun’s Bazaar has become an instant hit at Pacific Place, twinning the brand’s premium Taiwanese teas and bubbles with affordable modern Asian favourites. It stands out from the bubble tea crowd using quality natural ingredients including premium Taiwanese tea leaves, black sugar and cane sugar – along with authentic handmade pearls and pressed-to-order House Blend Teapresso.

    Popular favourites include Pineapple Green Teapresso (HK$38), Winter Melon Tea, Sichuan Pepper Flavoured Pearls topped with Cream Mousse(HK$36), Jasmine Tea, Chinese Herbal Tea Pearls (HK$33), KiKi Roasted Tea topped with Caramel and Nuts Cream Mousse (HK$34), and Brown Sugar Milk with Pearls (HK$35).

    Different ‘bubbles’ (add HK$5) beloved by celebrities including Shu Qi and Kimbee Chan include the most popular Brown Sugar Pearls; a favourite in Taiwan; Mini Taro Balls, Sichuan Pepper Flavoured Pearls with a spicy kick of ‘KiKi Sichuan Pepper Seasoning’; and Chinese Herbal Tea Pearls with prunella ‘heal-all’ tea (xia ku cao) used in Chinese medicine.

    All KiKi Tea drink specialities can also be adjusted to preferred levels of sweetness, from regular 50% down to 30% or zero, and also ice level, from regular 70% to 30% or no ice at all.

    KiKi Tea@Sun’s Bazaar is located at Shop 112, 1/F, Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Hong Kong , opens daily from 11 am to 10:30 pm.

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