From a humble sauces business to a global F&B firm

Singapore

"EVERYBODY has got a story to tell because life journeys are never easy," says Jocelyn Chng, chief executive of JR Group. The company, formerly JR Foodstuff, is behind Singapore's first vending machine cafe launched last August.

Located at a Housing Board void deck in Sengkang, the VendCafe features vending machines that can dispense hot meals, drinks and desserts around the clock.

Ms Chng, 50, said that the throngs of people flooding VendCafe in the first few days of the launch reminded her of the kampong spirit - couples bringing their children and parents for a meal, and former neighbours who had not seen each other in years gleefully catching up.

It was also in a k…