Building Brands
Royal Umbrella, our proprietary consumer brand, continued to enjoy strong top-of-mind recall and customer loyalty and has once again emerged as Singapore’s number one rice brand*. In addition, it continues to be a Reader’s Digest Trusted Brand and received accolades from key retail partners.
Both of our FMCG businesses, via our subsidiaries Topseller in Singapore and SOCMA in Malaysia, had a very busy year particularly after the reopening of the borders in both countries which spurred significant growth in demand from our B2B and B2C customers in the region.
SOCMA, in particular, has a lot of growth potential as it has extensive coverage across all channels in Malaysia. It markets and distributes well-known brands such as Mentos, Chupa Chups, TaoKaeNoi, Tai Sun, Meiji, Mazola, Gold Roast, Café 21 and Harmuni.
Fortune, another top-selling proprietary brand**, continued to innovate and develop new products in line with market demand and consumer feedback such as the original and almond-flavoured soya beancurd in ready-to-eat bowls that can either be served cold or warmed, as well as two new tofu products – traditional and deep-fried tau kwa.
Our tissue paper business, through Tipex in Singapore and Tips in Malaysia, also experienced robust growth as a result of the economic reopening in the region. Beautex, our flagship tissue paper brand, underwent a visual identity and packaging revamp with bold contrasting colours to emanate a youthful vibe. It also introduced a new 4-ply tissue paper range, wet wipes and cleaning products.
CKH Food Trading, the leading food distributor to food and beverage establishments in Singapore which we acquired in 2021, contributed its earnings to the Group for the first year.