logo
We check out Hiap Joo Bakery's new vending machine selling its famous banana cake, Lifestyle News

We check out Hiap Joo Bakery's new vending machine selling its famous banana cake, Lifestyle News

AsiaOne20-05-2025
When it was announced that there is a vending machine in Singapore selling Malaysian bakery Hiap Joo Bakery & Biscuit Factory's famous banana cake, people went crazy.
Prior to this, Singaporeans could only purchase their banana cake by crossing the Causeway to JB.
Located in Senja Hawker Centre, the vending machine only doled out boxes of banana cake, with each containing 10 pieces.
The stock was wiped clean in a few days and when AsiaOne paid the machine a visit on Saturday (May 17), there was nothing left.
But fret not, these will be restocked soon on May 21, Hypha, the company behind the vending machines, told AsiaOne.
Hypha shared that the machine is restocked every day except Mondays at 11.30am and 4.30pm.
If Bukit Panjang is too out of the way for you, you'll be glad to know that there are plans in the pipeline to place more Hiap Joo Bakery vending machines in the north and east parts of Singapore.
However, there are no confirmed locations at the moment.
Hypha also shared that while it aims to be a platform for local businesses to get more physical exposure through its vending network, it also hopes to introduce more overseas delicacies to Singapore through its vending machines.
Gone are the times where vending machines only sold canned and packet drinks.
Apart from Hiap Joo Bakery's machine, there have been others popping up around Singapore dispensing a variety of interesting items.
For instance, earlier in February, traditional bakery Uncle Lee Confectionary collaborated with Hypha to set up one selling whole cakes at Woodleigh Village Hawker Centre.
And in January, hawker bakery Buttertown, known for its shio pans (Japanese salted butter rolls) launched its own machine, too.
There have also been vending machines spotted dispensing durians, gold bars and fresh flowers.
[[nid:530366]]
melissateo@asiaone.com
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

12 Malaysian opposition parties agree to form coalition, says ex-PM Muhyiddin
12 Malaysian opposition parties agree to form coalition, says ex-PM Muhyiddin

Straits Times

time3 hours ago

  • Straits Times

12 Malaysian opposition parties agree to form coalition, says ex-PM Muhyiddin

KUALA LUMPUR - A total of 12 opposition parties have united to create a loose coalition aiming to address the people's concerns, which the Madani Government allegedly has not fulfilled. The Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) president, Muhyiddin Yassin, stated that although an agreement has been reached, the official name of the coalition would only be announced at a future meeting, reported Malaysian news outlet Sinar Harian. According to him, the coalition involves the Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (Pas), Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia (Gerakan), Parti Pejuang Tanah Air (Pejuang), Ikatan Demokratik Malaysia (Muda), Parti Rakyat India Malaysia (MIPP), Parti Bumiputera Perkasa Malaysia (Putra), Parti Progresif Penduduk Malaysia (PPP), Barisan Jemaah Islamiah Se-Malaysia (Berjasa), Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM), Parti Kemajuan Malaysia (MAP) dan Parti Perikatan India Muslim Nasional (Iman). 'Also participating is an organisation that has not yet been officially registered, Bersepakat Hak Rakyat Malaysia (Urimai),' he said at a press conference after the Joint Meeting of Opposition Leaders at a hotel on Aug 18. He explained that the meeting also agreed for opposition parties to broaden discussions with community groups, including traders, entrepreneurs and sector representatives, to understand their issues and propose the best way to present solutions to the government. 'We are in agreement here; there is not a single party leader who disagrees. 'These are matters that require attention and priority, including the issue of the 13th Malaysia Plan, which is being presented and discussed but is seen as not addressing many of the people's main concerns.' Muhyiddin, who is also the Chairman of Perikatan Nasional, stressed that the formation of the loose coalition was a preliminary step before any other decisions are taken in the future. According to him, the cost of living issue was the main focus of the discussion because it was the biggest burden borne by the people since the unity government took over the country's administration. 'Despite the low inflation rate, in many places the price of goods continues to rise. This increase is due to the elimination or restructuring of oil subsidies, which increases logistics costs. 'In addition, the implementation of the sales and service tax, which has been expanded since July 1 to nearly 6,000 types of goods, also adds to the burden on the people,' he said. He added that the business sector was also affected, as businessmen complained of incurring higher operating costs, thereby putting pressure on small and medium-sized traders. 'This issue is protracted, especially when the government does not implement reform promises such as eliminating tolls and delaying PTPTN refunds. All this adds to the burden on the people,' he stressed. When asked about the coalition's cooperation in the upcoming elections, he said things have not been decided specifically. 'But whatever we think, there is a common interest that touches both economic, social, educational and other matters, we can use the platform and discuss together and make a decision together, not one party, but many parties,' he said. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK

Jobs, infrastructure and homes at the core of Singapore's resilience: Economists
Jobs, infrastructure and homes at the core of Singapore's resilience: Economists

Straits Times

time8 hours ago

  • Straits Times

Jobs, infrastructure and homes at the core of Singapore's resilience: Economists

Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox PM Lawrence Wong said artificial intelligence will continue to disrupt the economy, hence the usual mantra of reskill, upskill and lifelong learning remains valid. SINGAPORE - Singapore's economy remains resilient despite US tariff uncertainties, thanks to the nation's core strengths in job creation, infrastructure and housing, economists said after Prime Minister Lawrence Wong's National Day Rally on Aug 17. While no new handouts were announced, PM Wong has set out a strategy focused on equipping workers with new skills, helping businesses adopt technology, renewing the living environment and ensuring affordable housing for future generations - priorities that economists said play to Singapore's long-term strengths. 'PM Wong's second National Day Rally speech charted a forward-looking vision for Singapore and its citizens: one filled with hope, possibilities, and opportunities, yet firmly grounded in realism and caution. The short-to-medium term challenges are immense, particularly in the economic front,' said Mr Suan Teck Kin, head of research at UOB. Artificial intelligence (AI) will continue to disrupt the economy, hence the usual mantra of reskill, upskill and lifelong learning remains valid, he said. 'The core message is how will Singapore not only survive, but thrive in this unknown world,' Mr Suan said. The immediate priorities are safeguarding jobs and securing Singapore's interests through international business deals, Mr Suan said. In the medium term, he added, the focus should be on helping all segments of society harness innovation and technology to lift productivity and create new value across the economy. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore LTA, public transport operators join anti-vaping effort with stepped-up enforcement Opinion It's time vaping offences had tougher consequences Singapore Malaysia's Inspector-General receives prestigious Singapore award Asia 2 firefighters die in building fire at Osaka's Dotonbori tourist district Singapore Woman hurt after car turns turtle in Upper Thomson accident Singapore Jail for driver of 11-tonne garbage truck that ran over cyclist in Woodlands Life 'Unexpected challenge': Actor Jet Li in hospital for operation Maybank economist Chua Hak Bin said Singapore's economy has so far been absorbing the shocks from US tariffs. However, it remains vulnerable if the levies are hiked further and US-China rivalry intensifies. 'PM Wong is preparing Singaporeans for the risks and uncertainty from a more fragmented world,' Dr Chua said. A 1 per cent slide in global growth could shave about 0.7 percentage points off Singapore's gross domestic product (GDP) growth, Dr Chua said. Dr Chua said new government funded job matching schemes will strengthen the labour market by helping fresh graduates secure traineeships aligned with their skills and fields. The government is leveraging the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) and Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone to develop and invest in the northern region of the Republic. Singapore will be building flexible industrial spaces around the RTS Link station in Woodlands North to support businesses taking advantage of the JSSEZ, in addition to new homes in nearby Kranji and Sembawang. 'The step up in infrastructure and construction spending will help cushion the economy from any global trade slowdown. More broadly, developing the north and coastal protection infrastructure will sustain Singapore's ongoing construction boom until the end of the decade,' Dr Chua said. Maybank is keeping its 2025 GDP growth forecast for Singapore at 3.2 per cent, which is higher than the Ministry of Trade and Industry's revised forecast range of 1.5 per cent to 2.5 per cent. DBS economist Chua Han Teng said the direct impact of the US tariff will be limited, but Singapore's exports and economy could suffer indirect hits in the second-half 2025 and beyond through its trade linkages with key partners. While the US has lowered its tariffs for several countries, the levies are still mostly in the range of 10 per cent to 30 per cent, and are the highest US tariffs in nearly a century, PM Wong had said. For China, the tariffs on many goods still remain above 50 per cent. DBS's Mr Chua expects these ongoing tariff uncertainties will continue to weigh on business sentiment, resulting in firms hesitating on future investment and hiring plans. Eventually, activities in the trade-related manufacturing, wholesale trade, as well as transport and storage sectors will moderate, bearing the brunt of the overall weakness, he said. Given the more protectionist global landscape and ageing demographics, AI can boost productivity by accelerating business processes, enhancing efficiency, and allowing a focus on higher value-added activities, the DBS economist said. He sees significant room for companies in Singapore to widely adopt AI in the coming years, noting that only 4.2 per cent of the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) here used AI in 2023. DBS's Mr Chua also welcomed the three targeted employment and re-skilling measures aimed at easing job security concerns: a government-funded traineeship for fresh graduates , a CDC-level job-matching scheme, and enhancements to the SkillsFuture Level-Up Programme for mid-career workers. The traineeship will support a broad spectrum of ITE, Polytechnic, and University graduates. This should help graduates embark on their first steps in their careers to gain experience and relevance in order to secure future full-time positions, he said. PM Wong said that if the economy worsens, the traineeship programme will be scaled up. 'We think that this fresh graduate support would be akin to the SGUnited Traineeships programme adopted during the Covid-19 pandemic, with room to tweak various criteria such as duration, government co-funding, and stipend amount,' the DBS economist said. He said the enhancements to the SkillsFuture Level Up Programme - introduced in 2024 - will reinforce the importance of enhancing human capital. Two enhancements were announced: First, to allow a portion of the training allowances to be claimed for part-time courses; and second, to expand the course offerings. 'These efforts would likely support mid-career and mature workers, who face downside pressures in re-entering the labour market six months post-retrenchment, to keep up with evolving employer needs,' DBS's Mr Chua said. Read more: Key announcements from PM Wong's first National Day Rally Watch PM Wong's National Day Rally speech here:

1,600 Ministop stores in Japan suspend deli sales over fake expiry dates
1,600 Ministop stores in Japan suspend deli sales over fake expiry dates

Straits Times

time9 hours ago

  • Straits Times

1,600 Ministop stores in Japan suspend deli sales over fake expiry dates

Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Sales of onigiri and bento lunch boxes were halted from Aug 9, and other deli dishes from Aug 18. TOKYO – The operator of the Japanese convenience store chain Ministop said on Aug 18 it has suspended the sale of deli items at some 1,600 stores as expiry dates of certain foods prepared by its kitchens have been faked. While no health damage has been reported so far, sales of onigiri and bento lunch boxes were halted from Aug 9, and other deli dishes from Aug 18. Ministop found that some store workers extended expiry dates by not placing labels on items for one to two hours after they were prepared at in-house kitchens, while others removed expiry stickers and relabelled them with false dates. The misconduct has been discovered at 23 stores in Tokyo, Saitama, Aichi, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo and Fukuoka prefectures. KYODO NEWS .

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store