Try GOLD - Free

GOURMET GRUB ON THE GO

The Straits Times

|

September 28, 2025

More new-to-market brands are banking on this fast-casual business model for expansion

- Eunice Quek STFood Online Editor

GOURMET GRUB ON THE GO

Don't Runaway's sandwiches. PHOTO: DON'T RUNAWAY

(PHOTO: DON'T RUNAWAY)

When wallet-friendly, quick and convenient food is the name of the game here, there is no stopping the proliferation of fast-casual concepts to feed the demand.

In May, The Sunday Times reported on how this sector is emerging as an attractive middle ground between hawker centres and full-service dining, with air-conditioned comfort and no compromise in the quality of food.

Since then, more new-to-market brands have launched, banking on this business model for expansion.

This includes casual pizza joint rumeL at Bugis+, offering affordable sourdough pizzas from $6.80; and Middle Eastern concept WeWa at Orchard Gateway and Resorts World Sentosa, specialising in stuffed pita and shawarma.

MORE STORIES FROM The Straits Times

The Straits Times

Bank of S'pore's new Al tool cuts time taken to draft wealth source reports

Bank of Singapore, OCBC Bank's private banking arm, has launched an agentic artificial intelligence (AI) tool to shorten the time it takes to generate source-of-wealth reports.

time to read

2 mins

October 11, 2025

The Straits Times

TWISTED STEEL BIDS FOR THIRD IN A ROW

RACE 4 (6) TEXAN DREAM looks like a jump-and-run sort and when you consider that Luke Fernie won this race in 2024 with Capitola off the same preparation (Belmont Park 400m jump-out two weeks before Opening Day), then he becomes increasingly attractive.

time to read

5 mins

October 11, 2025

The Straits Times

The Straits Times

Weaving new magic through old buildings

Adaptive reuse has been a breath of fresh air for the architecture of Temasek Shophouse and Weave at RWS

time to read

8 mins

October 11, 2025

The Straits Times

US could fire air traffic controllers who fail to work during shutdown

Spike in absences is causing significant air disruptions, says Transportation Secretary

time to read

2 mins

October 11, 2025

The Straits Times

The Straits Times

Old-school charm meets fanciful tech in IM 5

New Chinese brand mixes warm personality ofa Jaguar with cool efficiency of a Tesla

time to read

3 mins

October 11, 2025

The Straits Times

Singapore shares close lower in tandem with Wall Street retreat

STI dips 0.3%; ThaiBev tops index with Seatrium at bottom

time to read

1 min

October 11, 2025

The Straits Times

The Straits Times

HK-based actress Jacquelin Ch’ng weds senior police inspector in Bali

Hong Kong-based actress Jacquelin Ch’ng has confirmed on social media that she has remarried three years after her divorce.

time to read

2 mins

October 11, 2025

The Straits Times

Similar long-term mindset and pragmatism make S'pore, China good partners: Chee Hong Tat

Minister lists ways that the two countries' strong ties can be taken to a higher level

time to read

4 mins

October 11, 2025

The Straits Times

Upgrading Asean-New Zealand ties a priority

Zealand believe that their partnership can model the standards they want to see affirmed in the world.

time to read

2 mins

October 11, 2025

The Straits Times

Rethinking talent: Lessons beyond the grading curve

As exam season returns, the writer wonders if Singapore’s definition of talent is too narrow for the challenges ahead.

time to read

7 mins

October 11, 2025

Listen

Translate

Share

-
+

Change font size