SINGAPORE - They are like friends to the staff of a supermarket chain here, a point which did not go unnoticed.

Recognising that the two customers shop very often at the chain, know staff well, "always greet us and treat us more like friends", Cold Storage gave the duo a chance to ride on a Harley-Davidson motorcycle on Tuesday (Oct 17).

Retail and private aviation consultant Duarte Lopes de Mondoca, 47, rode on the American-branded bike with his 12-year-old daughter Leonor as part of the supermarket's two-week-long promotion on food from the United States, such as Driscoll strawberries, Smoke Bar Ranch beef bacon and Lucky Charms cereals.

The other rider was Ms Loh Suat Kheam, 58, who shops at Cold Storage in Great World City daily. It was her first time on a Harley-Davidson.

Both shoppers had about 10 minutes each on the bike.

The Harley-Davidson convoy of six motorcycles was part of the opening ceremony of the annual US fair, which will end on Oct 26. Ms Stephanie Syptak-Ramnath, charge d'affaires at the US Embassy, attended the event as the guest-of-honour.

Established in 1903, Cold Storage has 52 stores in Singapore, comprising 44 supermarkets and eight specialty ones.