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SINGAPORE: Food and beverage outlets are rapidly adjusting their operations as stricter “circuit breaker” measures were implemented on Wednesday (April 22), but some companies CNA spoke to still had questions about what was going on. allowed them to do.
Under strict rules announced Tuesday night, independent retail outlets that sell only drinks, packaged snacks, candy, or desserts have to close. Manufacturing plants that make items like cakes, ice cream, and chocolate are also prohibited from operating.
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Some companies, which asked not to be identified, said on Wednesday they were still clarifying with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MTI) if they can operate and what they are allowed to sell.
READ: COVID-19: Hairdressers, confectioneries, independent beverage outlets to close as essential services are cut.
One of those companies sells snacks and drinks, as well as hot food, while a bakery said it was unsure whether to fulfill online orders for cakes before the stricter measures were announced. Another bakery that primarily sells cakes, such as croissants, said it would wait for MTI’s instructions before deciding on its next step.
A bubble tea shop closed on April 22, 2020 after stricter measures for circuit breakers were announced. (Photo: Marcus Mark Ramos)
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MTI had clarified that bakeries that primarily sell bread are exempt from the suspension, but if they normally sell other items such as cakes, then only existing cakes can be sold and new ones cannot be baked for sale.
Bakeries that mainly sell bread, like the Four Leaves bakery, remain open, but those that mainly sell cakes, like Bengawan Solo, are closing for now.
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For the Bengawan Solo bakery chain, the cakes and kaya it has in stock will go to the food charity Willing Hearts and migrant workers through Project Chulia Street.
It will also continue to pay the wages of its approximately 400 workers at the more than 40 retail stores and central kitchens, said Henry Liew, director of Bengawan Solo.
Bengawan Solo stores have been temporarily closed since April 22, 2020 after tougher measures for circuit breakers were announced. (Photo: Marcus Mark Ramos)
Bakery PrimaDeli said in a Facebook post that it “will suspend all cake production with immediate effect,” but told customers to “be on the lookout for updates to our business hours both on our website and on the network platforms. social”. Two franchisees from the PrimaDeli chain told CNA that they will close their stores as most of the products will not be available.
Old Chang Kee, known for its curry puffs, said that most of its stores or 60 outlets remain open for take-out and delivery, as the business falls under the category of “hot or cooked snacks or bread.” belts, and have been closed since the start of the switch on April 7.
BreadTalk bakeries and Toast Box cafes remain open, but will only sell bread, toast, and packaged beverages.
A BreadTalk store in operation on April 22, 2020 after tougher measures for circuit breakers were announced. Stores can only sell cakes they have in stock and cannot bake new ones. (Photo: Marcus Mark Ramos)
As for stores that sell multiple food products, the ministry takes into account what they mainly sell.
“For example, if you primarily sell hot foods and some selection of desserts, you can continue to sell all foods that are not within the scope of discontinued manufacturing,” the ministry said.
A Jollibean store closed at AMK Hub on April 22, 2020. (Photo: Marcus Mark Ramos)
CNA saw a Jollibean store closed Wednesday, but Bean, known for his soy milk, said most of his stores will remain open.
Thomas Koh, COO of Bean, said the 55 outlets that are open for takeaway also offer hot food such as rice dishes and porridge, while outlets that only sell desserts will close for now. The brand has also launched a website to receive delivery orders.
Mr Bean’s store is still open on April 22, 2020. (Photo: Hanidah Amin)
An exception to the new rules is that dessert and beverage stores in street vendors, cafes, and food courts are still able to operate. This applies to companies like Lao Ban Soya Beancurd, which said on Facebook that some outlets will remain open, such as the one at the Old Airport Road hawker center.
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Meanwhile, stores that sell only coffee and tea will also be closed, but cafes like Starbucks will remain open for take-out and delivery, as the coffee chain also offers food. Starbucks told CNA that, for now, only its Parkland Green point of sale in East Coast Park will be closed, as all F&B businesses in the parks must suspend operations.
Other affected stores are those that mainly sell snacks like nuts, chips, popcorn, and bak kwa. While their physical stores will close, retailers like Bee Cheng Hiang and Irvins Salted Egg are encouraging customers to order the snacks online.
SAFE DISTANCE MEASURES
Restaurants that remain open also told CNA that they have implemented safe distancing measures and precautions in their stores.
These include taking their workers’ temperatures twice a day, requiring them to wear masks and to stay away from other workers, delivery people, and customers. Most said that cleaning frequency has increased in their stores.
Old Chang Kee said he has reduced staff strength by 20 percent at all of his outlets and in his central kitchen “to meet the new guidelines.”
KFC has a contactless takeaway system so customers don’t have to wait at the store for their takeout meals. (Photo: Marcus Mark Ramos)
Fast food chain KFC said it has implemented a “contactless takeaway” system at its 78 points of sale and that customers receive an alert when their order is ready, so there is no need to wait at the restaurant. .
“For the safety of our older staff who consider themselves the” at risk “group, we have reassigned them from the front-line counter to do lighter work in the kitchen to minimize their contact with customers,” said a spokeswoman. .
A&W, which has two outlets in Singapore, said it requires its employees to wash their hands every hour with an antimicrobial hand wash. It also encourages cashless payment to minimize contact between clients and servers. Starbucks said it is encouraging customers to order in advance before heading to the store.
Hairdressers and shops that sell only beverages like bubble tea are closed on April 22, 2020 after tighter measures for circuit breakers were announced. (Photo: Marcus Mark Ramos)
The strictest measures came when Singapore extended its breaker period for four weeks to June 1. On Sunday, the McDonald’s fast food chain announced that it would suspend operations until May 4 after seven employees hired COVID-19.
On Wednesday, the number of COVID-19 cases in Singapore crossed the 10,000 mark with 1,016 new cases reported.
CNA has contacted MTI for comment.
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