Gourmet grocers aim for bigger market share

GOURMET grocers – with their artisanal cheeses, organic vegetables and dry-aged meats – used to be the playground for the rich and well-travelled, but speciality produce is steadily entering the mainstream market, with even big supermarkets getting in on the act.

So where does this leave niche grocers who used to cater to a select clientele? In this week’s BT Lifestyle, we are inspired by the recent sale of Cold Storage and Giant to Malaysia’s Macrovalue chain to look at how gourmet grocers are faring in the face of their bigger competitors offering more high-end products. We catch up with the likes of Ryan’s Grocery, Culina and Little Farms, which have also been expanding their inventories to cater to a wider market. Find out how they are carving a niche for themselves and facing the challenges of this fiercely competitive retail market.

Meanwhile, in the Arts, National Gallery unveils a new, groundbreaking exhibition that examines the history of Paris from Asian artists’ perspectives. It features the works of artists who were in Paris from the 1920s to 1940s, including Georgette Chen, Liu Kang and Foujita Tsuguharu.

In Dining, we get a taste of French bistro fare with a light Japanese touch at Pulsii, a cosy restaurant in Tras Street.

For all this and more, don’t miss this week’s BT Lifestyle in your issue of The Business Times.