Food factories in Singapore
Have you ever wondered how your favourite snacks turn up at your grocery stores? Despite what everyone says, sometimes it is cool to know how the sausage is made.
To quell your curiosity, we’ve listed down a couple of food factories in Singapore you didn’t know existed and what you can do or buy there.
Table of Contents
1. Ho Tit Coffee Powder Factory
Tour a retro coffee roasting factory
Image credit: Ho Tit Coffee Factory
A morning cuppa is how most of us start our day, so knowing how the elusive powder gets to us would be worth knowing. Take a step into Ho Tit Coffee Powder Factory, with walls filled with retro coffee shop memorabilia.
Though you won’t see the beans grounded into powder in person, you’ll get a deep dive into the process when you meet the owners Dominic and Cynthia, who’ll leave you with coffee facts galore.
Image adapted from: @ho_tit_coffee via Instagram
Luckily for us, Ho Tit is not just for looking as you can buy drip coffee packs at the factory. They have a wide selection of coffee powder made from beans from all parts of the world, starting at $17.80/250g.
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2. Nury Dian Xin Delight
Wholesale halal-certified dim sum & factory tours
Image credit: Nury Dian Xin Delight
Have a dim sum buffet at home with dishes from Nury Dian Xin Delight like their Lor Mai Gai ($1.74/piece) or Siew Mai ($7.25/10 pieces).
If you’re planning to head down to the factory, you have to make an appointment in advance, where you can also check for the availability of the items.
To enhance the experience, book a 2-hour factory tour at $800/10 pax, where you’ll see how the dumplings and eats are made and packaged. You could also stand a chance to attend a pau workshop, where you can get your hands in the action of actually making your favourite breakfast food.
3. Fassler
Frozen seafood & in-house smoked salmon
Fassler Gourmet is no stranger to the Singapore food scene, being the first seafood smokehouse in the country and having a wide range of soups. Picture an NTUC that’s just shelves and shelves of seafood, that’s what a trip down to Fassler will look like.
Some notable products from them are their Traditional Smoked Salmon ($16.90/200gm) and sashimi collection, including Yellowtail ($35/500gm).
Aside from all the seafood, the unique soup collection has Beef Borsch Soup ($9.20/500gm) and Premium French Onion Soup ($6.80), which are even served up at restaurants.
4. Baker’s Oven
Wholesale raw dough for pastries & tarts
Image credit: Baker’s Oven
Baker’s Oven isn’t your regular bakery, with over 100 goodies like pastries, croissants, and puffs, sold in bulk. They’re sold either baked or frozen, with the latter requiring you to bake them at home. For example, you can buy frozen Chicken Rendang Pies at $81/54 pieces, while their baked counterparts go at $72/30 pieces.
If you’re not party planning, you can still buy smaller amounts of products from them like their colourful Tiger Roll ($15) or decadent, whole Premium New York Cheese Cake ($39).
Image for illustrative purposes only.
Image credit: Eatbook
There isn’t a price difference between ordering on their website or going to their factory, but you could have a better look at each piece you order rather than waiting for delivery. Another plus of going to their factory is that the products will be their freshest considering this is the main outlet.
If you’re planning to visit the factory, you have to call in advance and check on what stock they’ll have when you go.
5. New Everyday
For seafood snacks & chips
New Everyday offers a selection of crackers and chips so extensive, you’ll be able to eat something new everyday for 64 days in a row. Besides the usual prawn crackers, they also sell more unconventional ones such as lobster crackers ($2.80/70gm) and belinjo crackers ($9/300gm).
You can sift through boxes and shelves overflowing with the snacks, while whafts of freshly fried crackers float around. Although you can find their whole catalogue on the New Everyday website, going down to the factory may enable you to get bulk discounts and a bunch of freebie snacks.
6. Q.B. Food Trading
For cold cuts, meats & cheeses
Image credit: QB Food Trading Pte Ltd via Facebook
For the ECP barbecues or Saturday charcuterie wine nights, Q.B. Food Trading has got you covered. They are a wholesale meat and cheese seller, with a factory that puts butcher sections at grocery stores to shame.
They have over 30 different cuts of beef and lamb, starting from as low as $26, as well rarer cold cuts and cheeses like Johnsonville Original Raw Bratwurst ($9.45) and Lemnos Fruit Cream Cheese (from $4.95).
7. Yakult Factory
View how Yakult is made & get a free 5-pack
Find out how your favourite tangy yoghurt drink is made at the Yakult Factory, where you’ll watch the whole process from fermentation to bottling and even uncover why the iconic bottle is designed the way it is.
The only caveat is you will have to find a pretty large group to go down as factory tour booking is for a minimum of 20 people at $3.40/pax. That being said, you also get freebies like a fresh 5-pack of Yakult Gold.
– Bonus: Factories with annual warehouse sales –
Old Chang Kee
For classic snacks & fryums
Image credit: Old Chang Kee via Facebook
Bring the joy of Old Chang Kee home, with their exclusive frozen food selection that can only be purchased in person at festive warehouse sales. Whether it’s Chinese New Year or Hari Raya Puasa, the beloved company sets up shop at their headquarters in Woodlands for great bulk deals.
Some past ones are their 3 for $35 deal for packs of 25 mini curry puffs (U.P. $12/pack) and 45 chicken nuggets (U.P. $12/pack).
Image credit: Old Chang Kee via Facebook
Hosen
For canned fruits, vegetables & snacks
The brand, Hosen, is synonymous with its famous canned fruit amongst other things. However, it isn’t just tinned peaches and pineapples that you’ll spot during their annual sales. Their CNY sales are known for having varied A&W flavours, pringles at bulk discounts and large packs of dried fruits.
Grab a snack at these food factories in Singapore
Now the next time you’re travelling in the north and see the plain buildings, you’ll know that they likely harbour some of your favourite foods. Keep track of Open My Factory tours, where you can get a deeper dive into the processes of how soy sauce and seafood snacks are made.
For more deals on munchies, check out our list of cheap snack stores or take a walk down memory lane as we go through quintessential Singaporean old-school snacks.
Cover image adapted from: Baker’s Oven and Nury Dian Xin Delight
Originally published on 12th March 2016. Last updated on 31st May 2024.
