The Business Times
business-time-50

Despite offers to go West, Ya Kun Kaya Toast would rather deepen roots in South-east Asia

In Singapore, the kaya toast chain is focusing on innovation and collaboration

Summarise
google-preferred-sourceAdd BT as a preferred source

Romaine Chan

Published Wed, Apr 2, 2025 · 04:00 PM
    • Jesher Loi, director of branding and market development at Ya Kun International, says South-east Asia is very receptive to the brand's taste palate and the concept of coconut as a jam.
    • Ya Kun Kaya Toast and Adidas collaborated to produce apparel for Singapore's 59th National Day.
    • Jesher Loi, director of branding and market development at Ya Kun International, says South-east Asia is very receptive to the brand's taste palate and the concept of coconut as a jam. PHOTO: TAY CHU YI, BT
    • Ya Kun Kaya Toast and Adidas collaborated to produce apparel for Singapore's 59th National Day. PHOTO: YA KUN KAYA TOAST

    [SINGAPORE] Heritage brand Ya Kun Kaya Toast has received many requests to bring its quintessential Singaporean breakfasts to the West, but would rather focus on sinking deeper roots in South-east Asia.

    Founded in the 1940s by Loi Ah Koon, Ya Kun International is now led by the founder’s sons Adrin and Algie.

    In recent years, Singaporeans who migrated to the United States, Europe, and Australia have approached Ya Kun about franchising, said Jesher Loi, Adrin’s son and part of the third-generation leadership.

    Singapore SMEsF&BYa Kun Kaya

    TRENDING NOW

    Traffic through the strait has been resuming but with interruptions, and there is still little clarity over a permanent solution for passages through the chokepoint.

    Qatari LNG ship struck in Strait of Hormuz, testing US talks

    This comes after a Citi note on Tuesday that lifted target prices for all Singapore banks, with a leading preference and “buy” call for DBS.

    DBS shares rise 1.9% to hit all-time intraday high as sentiment improves

    Aster deputy CEO Andre Khor, citing the age of the “polycrisis”, says: “It’s very important to be agile, to be focused on execution… We don’t know all the answers but we keep going forward.”

    ‘Baptism of fire’: Andre Khor on leading Singapore refiner Aster through an energy crisis

    Singapore ranks as the world’s most expensive city for cars and placed third globally for residential property.

    Singapore retains top spot as most expensive city for HNWIs, with five Apac cities in global top 10

    Latest T-bills Treasury Bills Results & Interest NewsLatest SSB Singapore Savings Bonds NewsLatest COE Certificate of Entitlement News
    Latest Johor-Singapore SEZ NewsLatest BTO Build To Order & Sales of Balance NewsLatest STI Straits Times Index NewsLatest SGX Dividends, Share Price NewsLatest Bonds Market NewsLatest Singapore Stocks To Buy NewsLatest Singapore Economy News
    View More