Skip to main content

Advertisement

Advertisement

Some coffee shops raise drink prices amid higher rent, manpower costs

SINGAPORE — More than 100 coffee shops in Singapore have increased the prices of coffee and tea, due to rising rental and manpower costs.

Photo: Channel NewsAsia

Photo: Channel NewsAsia

Follow TODAY on WhatsApp

SINGAPORE — More than 100 coffee shops in Singapore have increased the prices of coffee and tea, due to rising rental and manpower costs.

“The increase in costs this year is because landlords every year increase rent by 10 to 20 per cent. And also the workers – for every worker that earns under S$4,000, we have adjusted (their pay) by S$400,” said Mr Thomas Foo, chairman of Kheng Keow Coffee Merchants Restaurant and Bar-Owners Association.

About 30 per cent of the association's 300 members raised prices during Chinese New Year. Currently, a cup of coffee from those outlets costs about S$1.30, up from S$1. The previous price hike was in mid-2014.

For NTUC-run food outlets, the price of a cup of coffee has gone up by 20 cents. Its 12 food courts are now charging S$1.10, up from S$0.90. For its seven coffee shops, coffee is now S$1 instead of S$0.80.

However, coffee shops under the Kopitiam group will not be joining the beverage price hike. To handle manpower costs, the group said that it plans to provide more training for its staff and hire workers under a temporary arrangement.

Some members of public told Channel NewsAsia that they are receptive towards the price adjustments, as long as the increase is not too much. CHANNEL NEWSASIA

CORRECTION: In an earlier version of this story, it was reported that the 12 food courts increased the price of a cup of coffee from S$1.40 to S$1.60. This is incorrect. They are now charging S$1.10, up from S$0.90. We are sorry for the error.

Read more of the latest in

Advertisement

Advertisement

Stay in the know. Anytime. Anywhere.

Subscribe to get daily news updates, insights and must reads delivered straight to your inbox.

By clicking subscribe, I agree for my personal data to be used to send me TODAY newsletters, promotional offers and for research and analysis.