Heritage brand award winner Killiney Kopitiam's history dates back to 1919, when it was set up as a Hainanese coffee shop largely serving the community. Though it was a very old and humble kopitiam on Killiney Road in the Orchard Road area, its bread toast and warm beverages gradually became famous and attracted many people.

At that time, it was just an ordinary Hainanese kopitiam which promised well-brewed coffee and tea and traditional charcoal-grilled bread toast. Among its regular customers was Mr Woon Tek Seng, a money broker, who was attracted to it as he is Hainanese himself.

He loved the coffee shop so much that he wished to own it. In 1993, he finally bought the shop, renovated it and renamed it Killiney Kopitiam, spending $900,000 in the process.

"We were lucky to have retained three of the workers, and learnt the skills required for making good kaya, bread toast, coffee and tea. I was keen to preserve the traditional Hainanese food, which was slowly disappearing from the market in Singapore," says Mr Woon.

Killiney Kopitiam's popularity grew as it became known for its fresh bread and kaya made by hand everyday from fresh coconut milk. Its signature offerings are the kaya toast and the french toast.

"It was my own idea to brand Killiney Kopitiam and open more outlets offering quality products at reasonable prices and with a touch of traditional kopitiam-style service," says Mr Woon.

Today, the 58-year-old businessman has 16 outlets all over Singapore, two in Kuala Lumpur and one in Medan in Indonesia, which opened just a few months ago.

With its growing number of outlets, Killiney Kopitiam has among others added curry chicken, mee siam, lontong, mee rebus and nasi lemak to its menu. At the same time the drinks range has been extended by adding ice-blended offerings.

Winning brands and their stories
» Winning heritage
» The benefits of healthy branding
» A taste for tradition
» Spreading wholesome goodness
» Unique fragrance with European connection
» A time check on branding
» Transporting brand values overseas