In Beijing's bustling business district,Singaporean eatery Vanda Room still draws diners craving a taste of home. For 25-year-old Celine Teo,who's been in China four years,familiar dishes like chicken rice and laksa bring comfort. But she's worried connections to Singaporean cuisine are slipping as local competition heats up.
Analysts point out Singapore’s food and beverage firms are struggling to keep their unique edge in fast-changing market. Some Singapore-linked brands are pulling back or shifting strategies. Vanda Room,open since 2012,has survived many storms,including the COVID-19 pandemic,when it switched to delivery after dine-in was halted .
But not all Singaporean brands have been so lucky. Food Republic,once a popular chain bringing hawker-style and regional street food to Beijing,shut its outlet at Oriental Plaza. That location,operating over 25 years,was the chain's first in city . The closure shows mounting pressures on Singaporean F&B establishments as they face tough competition in China.
As market shifts,future of 'Singapore brand' in China's food scene hangs in balance. How will these culinary ties evolve…?
