Mr Bean's royal Cinderella tale

CHEERY cartoon stickers adorn the walkway leading up to Super Bean International's headquarters in Sims Drive. At the front door, employees and visitors have to remove their shoes before entering the brightly coloured, carpeted office - not something you'd quite expect in an otherwise industrial-looking building, or from a two-decade-old chain whose soya bean milk stands are now ubiquitous across the island.

"I wanted to create a homely culture, and kicking off one's shoes instantly gives you a feeling of entering someone's home, doesn't it?" says Loh Jwee Poh, founder and executive director of the company behind soya milk chain Mr Bean.

Barefoot culture aside, Mr Loh also makes it a point to personally conduct orientation programmes for new employees, and keeps his door open to anyone with grievances to raise.