They didn’t want to inherit the family business. Now, Tan Ser Seng’s 3rd generation owners are fighting for its traditions

Eighty years ago, Tan Ah Sai immigrated to Singapore from China’s Chaoshan region and began selling herbal soup from pots balanced on bamboo poles. Though his children, Allan Tan and Vivian Tan, initially had no intention of inheriting the family business, they found themselves drawn to it eventually. The business, Tan Ser Seng, is now in the hands of the third generation and recently opened its first outlet in a mall in Great World.

Allan, who heads the business, aims to preserve the brand's traditions while appealing to a younger local crowd. The challenge lies in meeting their father's high standards, particularly for the famous turtle soup. The soup, originally a banquet delicacy for Chinese emperors, is now made from farmed freshwater turtles. Allan and Vivian both recognize the importance of upholding the brand's heritage and quality, despite initial reluctance to take over the family business.