Singaporean food brands face challenges in China's competitive market

Singaporean food and beverage brands are encountering significant challenges in China's increasingly competitive market, with some players retreating or struggling to maintain their presence. Celine Teo, a 25-year-old undergraduate who has lived in China for four years, noted the thinning connections to home as some Singaporean eateries face difficulties.

Food Republic, a well-known Singaporean food court chain, recently closed its last remaining outlet in Beijing's Oriental Plaza after its lease expired. The store had been operating for over 25 years and was the chain's first in the city.

Meanwhile, Chinese food and beverage giants are increasingly leveraging Singapore as a strategic launchpad for their own international expansion. This trend is driven by a slowdown in domestic demand in China, persistent price wars, and high operational costs, which led to an estimated 3 million restaurant closures in China last year. Brands like Luckin Coffee, Mixue, and Chagee are replicating their efficient, automation-driven models abroad.

Consultancy Momentum Works reports that Chinese F&B brands were operating over 400 outlets in Singapore as of August 2025, more than double the number from a year prior. This influx of Chinese brands, ranging from dairy and tea cafes to fine dining establishments, intensifies competition within Singapore's F&B sector, impacting local small and medium-sized enterprises that struggle to match the capital backing and economies of scale of the mainland competitors.