Don’t mourn DFI’s sale of Cold Storage, Giant; its modernisation journey could pay off soon
While the group has a seemingly formidable portfolio of retailing brands, its shares have delivered a negative total return of 65.8% over the past 10 years
[SINGAPORE] Some investors might have been perplexed when DFI Retail Group said earlier this week that it had agreed to sell its Cold Storage and Giant stores in Singapore for S$125 million.
For one thing, DFI has been associated with these well-known brands for several years. More to the point, the announcement came only a fortnight after the company reported headline financial numbers for 2024 that seemed to indicate the whole group – including its Singapore food business – is turning around.
Upon closer examination, however, the deal seems to dovetail with DFI’s broad strategy of pruning its business portfolio, investing in technology and harnessing data to drive profitability.
TRENDING NOW
Why US$100 oil, 5% US yields affect Singdollar, ringgit differently vs other Asean currencies
Singapore fintechs struggle to find finance and tech talent
Despite the de-dollarisation debate, demand for dollar liquidity in Asia is growing
Why Tan Aik Keong of digital solutions specialist Agmo wants to make himself less indispensable