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The key to success for these foreign chains was mainly due to the popularity of Singapore as
tourist destination for these countries. Tourists are the strongest "buzzer." Usually after they went
back from vacationing in Singapore, they told friends and families about new things in
Singapore, including new shopping malls, new boutiques, new restaurants, and new fast food
joints. The fascination of Asian tourists coming to Singapore has positioned the city itself as an
aspiration to modern life in the region.
Many local entrepreneurs camouflaged their retail stores as an international brand in accordance
to what they sell. For instance, there is a local entrepreneur who created a Japanese name to sell
yakitori (Japanese BBQ meat skewers), and there is a fashion boutique named after an old Italian
movie.
Industry Analysis
Despite the prolonged effects of the Asian Economic Crisis followed by political turmoil up to
mid 2001, Singapore's food service industry witnessed growth over 2000/2001 at 4 - 5% in terms
of units and transaction (Euromonitor). Much of this growth was contributed by the cafes/bars,
fast food, and food retail sectors, whose wide appeal amongst a young population, for whom
time is of a premium, led to high levels of growth. This growth is underpinned by market
demand and lifestyle changes, such as seeing eating out as part of trendy lifestyle.
Entry of major multi-national food service operators into major shopping destination in the late
1980s until the 1990s led to growth in competition in the marketplace, mainly from fast food
chains. This stimulated the rise in the number of fast food units, both of international and local
chains, that started in the early 1990s. Although there was a slowdown during the economic
crisis in 1998, the food service industry recovered faster than others, particularly during 2000
and 2001. Recent bombing tragedies have also proven that negative effects on this sector are
moderately short-term.
Franchising became popular in the food service industry through the introduction and entry of
multi-national food service brands, primarily U.S.-owned enterprises, such as KFC, Pizza Hut
and McDonald's. Currently, there are many local chains that have also experienced growth by
applying this system to their operations.
Trends in Food Service Retail
According to government surveys, Singapore's spending on "eating out" is continuing to
increase. Spending on cooked food as a percentage of total average food-spend reached 55% in
1998. The growth in spending in the food service sector arises from a number of factors:
• Increased affluence amongst Singaporeans, especially those under the age of 40 years.
• Increases in the number of expatriate residents, which has more than doubled since 1988.
• Increased convenience-seeking amongst younger Singaporeans who live in a hectic city
today compared to the much slower pace of life that existed 20 years ago.