Retailers eye a slice of the growing global food gifts market projected to reach S$96 billion by 2020

In a push to promote Singapore food to tourists – and support the local food industry – dedicated food gift aisles have been launched at Changi Airport Terminals 1 and 4.

For a start, about 20 local food products ranging from Bak Kut Teh cooking kits, to ginger milk tea and even laksa-flavoured cookies by more than 10 Singapore brands will be featured.

This effort by the Singapore Food Manufacturers Association (SFMA), called the Singapore Food Gifts initiative, will also tap on the burgeoning global food gift market. It is projected to grow from S$75 billion in 2015 to S$96 billion by 2020, according to figures issued by SFMA and SPRING Singapore, which is supporting this initiative.

Minister for Trade and Industry (Trade) Mr Lim Hng Kiang, who launched the initiative at Terminal 4 on Saturday (Nov 18), noted that local food companies can tap on this growing trend of food gifts.

“In Singapore, confectionery, souvenirs and gifts are popular among tourists, accounting for between eight to 11 per cent of their total shopping expenditure. We expect a rise in sales of food gifts as our international visitor arrivals increase.”

He added: “Given this positive outlook, Singapore food manufacturers are well-positioned to continually improve their offerings and create new products for the Singapore and overseas markets.”

Mr Lim also pointed out that Changi Airport is a “coveted location” for these food gifts retailers retailers due to its high passenger traffic.

Last year, 58.7 million passengers passed through Changi Airport, which sees over 7,000 flights per week to more than 380 cities in 90 countries.

“It is the ideal stage to showcase our food gifts to the international market,” said Mr Lim.

SFMA president Thomas Pek noted that this Food Gifts initiative is a “very important” step toward supporting the local food industry.

“Many countries already have their own food gifts, so now that we have our own, we can make an impact as tourists can buy our Singapore foods back home,” he said, adding that work started on this initiative from 2014.

Mr Pek said this is a continuous work in progress, as they identify more types of local food products to add to the line of products.

Tang Seng Kee Foods is among the retailers, and have created a set of three types of noodles – prawn mee soup, curry mee and laksa – to be sold at the airport. Executive director Mr Raymond Tan said he sees a “huge market potential” for these local foods, and is targeting Chinese, Japanese and Indonesian visitors.

Tourists looking to bring a taste of Singapore back home will be able to buy food products from Taste Singapore outlets within the transit areas of both terminals.

Source:
courtesy of TODAY

by TAN WEIZHEN

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