Singapore food firm based on Japanese fare opens new facility at Tai Seng

SINGAPORE - Local food company, RE&S, which offers Japanese cuisine, opened a new 100,000 sq ft facility at Tai Seng Street on Tuesday.

The facility, which boasts a 60,000 sq ft central kitchen, is part of the firm's plans for major expansion programme.

RE&S president Hiroshi Tatara said: "This new purpose-built facility is our springboard for what I call a 'New Start', an aim to increase revenue from the current $130 million per year to $500 million per year, and to increase the number of customers we serve yearly from seven million to 40 million by 2018."

The firm was established in Singapore in 1988, and has grown to 60 Japanese restaurants and stores in the region, with 18 distinct brands.

Guest of honour S Iswaran, second minister for trade and industry, said: "This new building marks the next phase in the growth and development of one of our leading, home-grown food services companies."

He also said that besides being concerned about growth, companies also need to control costs through greater operational efficiency and better supply chain management.

RE&S' new facility, when fully operational and running at full capacity, is expected to save about 3,000 man-hours per month.

Mr Tatara also said that talent development is one of the firm's top priorities.

It is working closely with Spring Singapore on several programmes to help develop its talent pool, such as the SME-Spring Development Scholarship, the Core Executive Programme and the SME Talent Programme.

Eleven new employees - from universities and polytechnics - were hired as a result of these programmes.

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