Most drink prices up at NTUC Foodfare outlets

Customers of foodcourt operator and cooperative NTUC Foodfare will now have to fork out an extra 10 cents to 20 cents for most drinks after it increased prices for the first time in 10 years.

Its seven coffee shops and 12 foodcourts this week raised prices of all drinks - except those bearing the healthier choice symbol, NTUC Foodfare told The Straits Times.

A cup of coffee or tea, as well as a bottle of beer, now costs 20 cents more, while a bottle of water costs an extra 10 cents.

At some outlets, a cup of coffee or tea with sugar and evaporated milk is now $1.20, up from $1 previously.

NTUC Foodfare said that despite the rising costs of raw materials and labour, it has not raised its prices since 2006. But now, an increase in prices is necessary for its business to remain sustainable.

The operator has also allowed stallholders to adjust the prices of some food items "to help them manage their business operations better".

Prices of food and drinks bearing the Health Promotion Board's healthier choice symbol are unchanged, to encourage healthier lifestyle choices among its customers.

Meanwhile, foodcourt operator Kopitiam said it has no plans to increase prices at the moment and will continue to monitor the situation.

Madam Irene Choo, 54, who runs her own cleaning business, said the increase in the price of tea with sugar and evaporated milk, or teh C, is too steep, but added that $1.20 for a cup is "normal" at other coffee shops.

She said: "It's like a sudden 20 per cent increase. I will still order my teh C when I go to NTUC Foodfare, but will try to cut down on it."

mellinjm@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on February 27, 2016.
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