When was the last time you had a cup of kopi for less than a dollar?
While it may seem like a thing of the past, a new coffee shop in Clementi is bringing back those wallet-friendly prices.
Sinfoodie coffee shop, which opened at Block 713 Clementi West Street 2 on Oct 4, is offering diners 80-cent coffee and tea. These low prices are part of its opening promotion, which will run until Nov 30.
During this period, diners can also tuck into $5 Western meals between 11am and 3pm daily — options include Chicken Chop, Crispy Chicken Cutlet and Crispy Fish served with fries or butter rice.
Other stalls there include Nasi Lemak Ayam Taliwang and Mamam House, both offering halal options; Uncle Leong Seafood, Chong Pang Huat with barbecued wings and satay, as well as Lai Cai KKM and Basil King.
While the opening promotion is meant to run for a limited time only, Sinfoodie owner Danny Chen told AsiaOne he is happy to continue offering such deals if it is sustainable and well-received by residents.
“I don’t see why we shouldn’t continue. Residents happy, tenants happy, we’re happy,” he said.
The F&B operator will also continue working with stall holders to roll out more affordable deals.
These prices aren’t just promotions solely meant for generating more business, Danny told us.
“Nowadays, everything is getting more expensive and people are more careful with their spending,” he observed, adding that many residents visit every day for their cuppa or meals, with some even heading down two to three times a day.
“If we can keep the coffee and tea affordable, at least it can help them save a bit on their daily expenses.”
When asked how he keeps the lower prices amid rising costs, Danny admitted that managing business expenses is “definitely one of the biggest challenges” in the F&B industry today, he told us.
“We have to be realistic that an 80-cent cup of coffee isn’t going to generate much profit on its own.”
Sinfoodie’s business model also relies on having a good mix of food stalls, steady customer traffic and strong relationships with its tenants, he explained.
More customers mean stall operators would benefit too. And when the tenants do well, it helps the coffee shop maintain stable business.
“I believe sometimes it’s better to earn a little less per transaction but have more regular customers visiting every day, rather than charge higher prices and lose customers.”
And it seems the coffee shop has been doing well so far, with Danny stating that business has been brisk.
“So far, we’re quite happy with the response! During our first week, lunch was almost full house every day, while dinner was around 75 per cent occupied.” he told us.
An Instagram reel posted by Sgmustwatchla also showed a crowd at the coffee shop during its grand opening celebrations on Oct 11.
While the above-mentioned promotions are only limited to the new coffee shop, the F&B operator said the chain believes in keeping food and drinks reasonably priced across its outlets.
There are some limitations, however, as different locations have different rental costs, operating expenses and customer profiles, he explained.
Address: 713 Clementi West Street 2, #01-115, Singapore 120713
Opening hours: 6am to 11.30pm daily
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carol.ong@asiaone.com
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