Paige Lim

Paige Lim

CORRESPONDENT

Paige Lim is a correspondent at The Business Times. She covers small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and macroeconomics, with a focus on F&B and retail. She also contributes to the monthly Barfly column, which profiles home-grown craft cocktail bars. 

A separate business outlook poll by OCBC revealed that nearly one in two business owners expect the outlook for the next six months to improve.

Singapore SMEs stay expansionary in Q4 2025, though growth likely to ease in near term: OCBC

Higher operating costs, stronger market competition in the region and ongoing economic uncertainty were cited as headwinds in 2026

L to R: Allan Choo, Head of Operations, Kwong Cheong Thye; Alvin Choo, Head of Business Development, Kwong Cheong Thye

New factory helps 133-year-old sauce maker Kwong Cheong Thye ramp up exports, sell more at home

The family-owned brand, now led by its fifth generation, is seeing rapidly growing overseas demand for its soya sauce

Apac is perceived as the next frontier for search fund growth, with observers citing its favourable demographics: baby-boomer business owners approaching retirement without successors.
BRUNCH

‘Search funds’ to buy SMEs spring up in the Asia-Pacific, but will they succeed?

Australia and Japan lead in successful acquisitions, while search funds are emerging elsewhere

Open Farm Community sits on a 5,000 square feet plot of land at Minden Road, bordering the Dempsey dining enclave.

Open Farm Community in Dempsey to close after 10 years

The home-grown urban farm and restaurant concept will hold its last day of service on Jan 11

Teck Soon Medical Hall's second-generation leader Chow Khai Shui (left) with his daughter, Chow Chew Li.

Teck Soon Medical Hall keeps traditional Chinese medicine relevant in the modern age

The 62-year-old family business eventually hopes to open a wellness experience centre offering massages and TCM treatments

PizzaExpress Singapore previously shut its Holland Village outlet in January 2024 after six years.

PizzaExpress Singapore shuts Millenia Walk and Scotts Square outlets; two operating stores remain

The British pizza restaurant chain opened its first outlet in the Republic in 2016

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Singapore retail sales up 6.3% in November

Most retail sectors record year-on-year growth in sales

Choo Chee Onn, Executive Chairman and Managing Director, KSH Holdings
TOPLINE

Amid global economic uncertainty, KSH Holdings doubles down on Singapore for growth

The construction and property group is eyeing more laboratory construction projects, given its strong track record in the sector

FILE PHOTO: An employee checks readings at a laboratory in a pharmaceutical manufacturing factory in Singapore April 17, 2017. REUTERS/Edgar Su/File Photo

Singapore factory output rises 14.3% in November, moderating from October’s growth

Pharmaceuticals and electronics – exempt from US tariffs for now – lead growth

French restaurant Brasserie Gavroche

Singapore F&B players see stronger festive demand, but retailers report uneven spending

Hotels and restaurants have not had cutbacks in festive spending despite the challenging economic environment