FairPrice backs national efforts to help community

Singapore

A MASSIVE order of household objects, with some items required in quantities of up to 5,000 pieces. Less than 48 hours to deliver them all. And on top of that, nationwide Covid-19 measures which meant that most businesses were closed.

That was the difficult situation faced by supermarket chain NTUC FairPrice in early April 2020, when the community care facilities (CCFs) were being set up.

"What made it more challenging was that the request was made over a weekend during the Circuit Breaker period when most businesses were not operating," recalls Andy Wan, NTUC FairPrice general manager for trading healthcare and groceries.

Nonetheless, NTUC FairPrice rose to the occasion, managing to supply the required items - including storage boxes, padlocks, and extension wire cords - in bulk quantities of up to 5,000 pieces.

"Ensuring the availability and affordability of necessities has always been our priority and this commitment is even more crucial in times of crisis," said Seah Kian Peng, group chief executive officer of FairPrice Group.

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"Drawing on stockpiles and tapping on our established network of suppliers that we have built over time, we supported the national efforts by providing storage solutions and household items in large quantities, so that the patients' needs were taken care of and they could focus on recovering under dedicated medical care," he added.

During the nearly two-month circuit breaker, businesses providing non-essential goods such as locks and storage boxes were closed, said Mr Wan. But FairPrice's long-running ties came into play. Working closely with local suppliers, they managed to source the items.

"We also worked with our supply partners in Malaysia to make special arrangements to transport stocks from across the border within just two days," he added.

The complex operation - which included having to deploy manpower and manage the logistics of delivering the items at designated times - was a crucible from which the team emerged stronger.

Said Mr Wan: "We established new processes, forged stronger networks and alliances and are now more prepared than we have ever been to manage crises of such magnitude on a national level."

Supplying the CCFs was just one of many ways in which FairPrice Group aided national Covid-19 efforts, from keeping supermarket shelves adequately stocked during the early waves of panic buying, to its FairPrice on Wheels initiative to bring daily essentials to low-income seniors.

"During times of crises, FairPrice Group will always lean forward as we always have to support national efforts to help the community as this is part of who we are, and our DNA," said Mr Seah.

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