{
  "id": 16106589,
  "title": "‘They are here to sweep the market’: Minor Food chief sees more Chinese chains opening in S’pore",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/22/they-are-here-to-sweep-the-market-minor-food-chief-sees-more-chinese",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-10-22T21:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Straits Times Business",
    "slug": "straits-times-business",
    "url": "https://www.straitstimes.com/business/they-are-here-to-sweep-the-market-minor-food-chief-sees-more-chinese-chains-opening-in-spore"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Singapore's dining scene is being transformed by a surge in Chinese restaurant chains, which could spell trouble for local favorites, warns Minor Food Group CEO Dellen Soh. These foreign operators bring efficient kitchens, affordable prices, and popular menu concepts that could outshine older local establishments, Soh explained to The Straits Times. Their business models, honed in the highly competitive Chinese F&B market, aim to expand across South-east Asia, posing a significant threat to Singapore's dining landscape. While Soh believes there is still potential in the industry, he predicts that some local favourites will fade away as the market evolves. The influx of Chinese chains is reshaping Singapore's dining experience and raising the bar for local operators, who must adapt their business models to stay competitive. With rents on the rise, Soh advises operators to carefully consider their commitments when signing leases and to develop operating models capable of bearing the cost. He expects rents to continue increasing, making it essential for businesses to compete with global chains that can afford higher rents and offer fresh concepts to attract crowds. Minor Food's scale provides it with advantages, such as greater leverage with landlords and the ability to replace struggling concepts quickly. However, Soh cautions that many aging hawkers who have contributed to Singapore's food identity may struggle to adapt when replaced by larger chains.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}