F&B businesses come to grips with new circuit breaker measures, but some unsure what to do
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F&B businesses come up to grips with new excursion breaker measures, just some unsure what to do
A Toast Box store on Apr 22, 2022 equally tighter excursion breaker measures kicked in. (Photograph: Hanidah Amin)
SINGAPORE: Nutrient and beverage outlets are chop-chop adjusting their operations as more stringent "circuit breaker" measures kicked in on Wednesday (April 22), but some businesses CNA spoke to even so had questions on what they were allowed to practice.
Co-ordinate to tightened rules announced on Tuesday evening, standalone outlets that sell simply beverages, packaged snacks, confectionery or desserts have to close. Manufacturing plants that make items such as cakes, ice foam and chocolate are also banned from operating.
Some businesses, which requested not to be named, said earlier on Midweek they were still clarifying with the Ministry of Merchandise and Industry (MTI) on whether they can operate and what they are allowed to sell.
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One such company sells snacks and beverages too every bit hot nutrient, while one bakery said that information technology was not sure if it should fulfil online orders for cakes from before the stricter measures were announced. Some other baker selling mainly pastries, such as croissants, said it would wait for instructions from MTI before deciding its next step.
MTI had clarified that bakeries that sell mainly bread are exempted from the suspension, but if they usually sell other items such as cakes, so only existing cakes can be sold and new ones cannot be broiled for sale.
Bakeries that sell mainly breadstuff, such equally Iv Leaves bakery, remain open but those that sell mostly cakes, such equally Bengawan Solo, are shutting for the time existence.
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For bakery chain Bengawan Solo, the cakes and kaya that it has in stock are going to food charity Willing Hearts and to migrant workers through Project Chulia Street.
It will also continue to pay the salaries of its roughly 400 workers from the over 40 retail stores and the central kitchens, said Mr Henry Liew, director at Bengawan Solo.
Bakery PrimaDeli said in a Facebook post that it volition be "suspending all cake production with immediate issue" but told customers to "keep a picket for updates on our outlet operating hours on both our website and social media platforms". 2 franchisees of the PrimaDeli chain told CNA they volition shut their stores as near of the products volition non exist available.
Old Chang Kee, known for its back-scratch puffs, said nearly of its stores or lx outlets remain open for takeaway and delivery equally the business falls nether the "hot/cooked snacks or staff of life" category. The closed outlets are located in the city or tourist belts, and have been shut since the offset of the circuit billow on Apr 7.
BreadTalk bakeries and Toast Box cafes remain open but will sell only bread, toast and packaged drinks.
As for shops selling multiple nutrient items, the ministry takes into consideration what they predominantly sell.
"For example, if you predominantly sell hot meals and some option of desserts, you lot tin continue sales of all the food items that are not inside the manufacturing suspended scope," the ministry said.
CNA saw a shuttered Jollibean outlet on Wednesday, but Mr Bean, known for its soya milk, said most of its shops volition stay open.
Mr Thomas Koh, COO of Mr Bean, said the 55 outlets that are open for takeaways besides offer hot food such as rice bowls and porridge, while outlets that sell just desserts will close for now. The make has also launched a website to take orders for deliveries.
Ane exception in the new rules is that dessert and beverage outlets in bell-ringer centres, coffeeshops and food courts are still allowed to operate. This applies to businesses similar Lao Ban Soya Beancurd, which said on Facebook that some outlets volition stay open up, such as the 1 at Former Airport Road bell-ringer center.
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Meanwhile, shops that sell but coffee and tea will too exist shut, but cafes like Starbucks volition remain open for takeaway and delivery equally the coffee chain also offers food. Starbucks told CNA that, for now, some outlets are closed, including ane at Parkland Green in Due east Coast Park, as all F&B businesses in parks must suspend operations.
Other shops affected are those that sell mainly snacks such equally nuts, potato chips, popcorn and bak kwa. While their physical stores volition close, retailers like Bee Cheng Hiang and Irvins Salted Egg are encouraging customers to order the snacks online.
Safe DISTANCING MEASURES
The eateries that remain open too told CNA that they accept put in place safe distancing measures and precautions at their stores.
These include taking the temperature of their workers twice daily, requiring them to wear masks and to keep their distance from other workers, delivery riders and customers. Nearly said they accept increased the frequency of cleaning at their stores.
Old Chang Kee said that information technology has reduced staff strength by 20 per cent across all its outlets and in its key kitchen "to cope with the new guidelines".
Fast nutrient chain KFC said it has implemented a "contactless takeaway" system at its 78 outlets and customers are alerted when their order is set up, so there is no need for them to look at the restaurant.
"For the safety of our older staff who are considered the 'at-risk' grouping, we have reassigned them from the front line counter to practice lighter work in the kitchen to minimise their contact with customers," a spokewoman said.
A&West, which has two outlets in Singapore, said it requires its employees to wash their hands hourly with anti-microbial handwash. It also encourages cashless payment to minimise contact betwixt customers and servers. Starbucks said it is encouraging customers to society in advance before heading to the store.
The tightened measures came as Singapore extended its excursion breaker menstruation for four weeks until Jun 1. On Sunday, fast food concatenation McDonald's announced information technology would suspend operations until May 4 later on vii employees contracted COVID-19.
On Midweek, the number of COVID-19 cases in Singapore crossed the ten,000 marking with 1,016 new cases reported.
CNA has contacted MTI for comments.
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Source: https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/food-beverage-businesses-open-close-circuit-breaker-essential-194416
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