Over 100 hawkers and stakeholders participated in SG Hawker Seminar 2022, a ‘for-hawker-by-hawker’ seminar. 15 hawkers presented with Promising New Hawker, Hawker Heritage, Enterprising Hawker Awards

JOINT NEWS RELEASE BETWEEN NEA AND FMAS

Singapore, 11 April 2022 – The third edition of the SG Hawker Seminar today saw the exchange of ideas to sustain the hawker trade, and the acknowledgment of hawkers’ contributions in shaping Singapore’s hawker culture. Under the theme, ‘Sustaining the Hawker Trade through Uncertain Times’, SG Hawker Seminar 2022, held as an ‘for-hawker-by-hawker’ effort during the ongoing COVID-19 situation, was a positive reflection of the dedication and resilience of Singapore’s hawkers. Organised by The Federation of Merchants’ Associations, Singapore (FMAS) and supported by the National Environment Agency (NEA), the seminar had its inaugural run in September 2019, and had a second instalment in January 2021.

Honouring hawkers’ work

2          At this year’s seminar, 15 hawkers selected from 111 nominations received Promising New Hawker, Hawker Heritage and Enterprising Hawker Awards from Dr Amy Khor, Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment (please refer to ANNEX A for list of award recipients and judging criteria).

3          The Singapore Hawkers Awards, introduced in 2021, commend the innovative and entrepreneurial spirit of hawkers who run cooked food stalls at hawker centres managed by NEA and NEA-appointed operators, and recognise exemplary hawker brands and individuals who have helped to shape the local hawker scene. The Awards are organised by FMAS and are supported by NEA. Nominations are submitted by FMAS members, Hawkers’ Associations, or individual hawkers. An independent panel of five judges, comprising hawker food advocates and representatives from the public and private sectors with extensive knowledge and expertise in the food and beverage industry, evaluated the nominations.

Achieving more together at centre-level

4          This edition of the seminar, held at the Central Plaza of Our Tampines Hub, also saw NEA’s presentation of the first Progressive Hawker Centre Awards. This award is newly introduced to recognise the contributions of Hawkers’ Associations or NEA-appointed operators towards ensuring cleanliness, supporting digitalisation, driving productivity and enhancing vibrancy .Ten hawker centres were recognised as Progressive Hawker Centres (please refer to ANNEX B for the list of hawker centres).

5          At the seminar’s dialogue session, two hawkers were amongst four panellists who spoke. Ms Filzah Miranti, a fourth-generation hawker who runs Gerai Nenek Obek at Geylang Serai Market, shared how she adapted during the pandemic by getting onboard social media marketing and food delivery platforms to boost sales, while keeping to the traditional method of cooking passed down by her great-grandmother. Gerai Nenek Obek was awarded the Hawker Heritage Award at SG Hawker Seminar 2021. Mr Jimmy Teo, recipient of the Enterprising Hawker Award 2021, spoke on how his corporate management philosophy had helped to attract and retain good stall assistants. Mr Teo operates Huang Da Fu, a bak chor mee and fishball noodle stall at Commonwealth Crescent Market & Food Centre.

6          Dr Amy Khor, Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment, said, “It takes everyone’s efforts to sustain the hawker trade – from our young hawkers who have the passion to venture into the trade, to our veteran hawkers who have worked hard to cook our favourite hawker fare, as well as everyone who has visited our hawker centres with their families and friends. With the launch of the inaugural Progressive Hawker Centre Awards, we want to recognise the efforts of hawker centre operators and associations in enhancing productivity and digitalisation, and keeping our hawker centres clean and vibrant. I hope that these collective efforts will contribute to future proofing our hawker centres and hawker trade, and safeguarding our hawker culture for future generations of Singaporeans.”

7          Mr Yeo Hiang Meng, President of the FMAS said, “COVID-19 has presented unprecedented challenges for hawkers over the past two years. Despite that, many hawkers I know have persevered and overcome these challenges. Today’s SG Hawker Seminar, fittingly themed ‘Sustaining the Hawker Trade through Uncertain Times’, is about hawkers coming together to share experiences and practical business ideas, all in the spirit of motivating one another to continue to adapt to the new normal to grow their business.”

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ANNEX A

List of Award Recipients

Promising New Hawker Award

To recognise new hawkers who have shown potential in sustaining their budding hawker businesses

Eligibility criteria:

• New entrant to the hawker trade
• Operating his or her hawker business in a hawker centre managed by NEA or NEA-appointed operator
• Has been in the hawker trade for a minimum of 15 months but no more than 30 months
• Must be a new hawker business which is not linked to an existing business or franchise support network

Hawker Heritage Award

To recognise hawker brands where management and culinary skills have been passed down generations and which contribute towards the continuation of Singapore’s hawker culture

Eligibility criteria:

• Hawker brand must be established for at least 30 years, and selling essentially the same food from the start
• Has a hawker stall in a hawker centre managed by NEA or NEA-appointed operator

Enterprising Hawker Award

To recognise hawkers who have innovated and implemented new business models, strategies, processes, or tools to grow their hawker businesses

Eligibility Criteria:

• Has been in the hawker trade for more than 3 years
• Able to demonstrate innovative and forward-thinking initiatives that have been executed and have contributed to growth of the hawker business
• Has a hawker stall in a hawker centre managed by NEA or NEA appointed operator

ANNEX B

List of Hawker Centres Awarded Progressive Hawker Centre Awards

• Alexandra Village Food Centre
• Blk 724 Ang Mo Kio Ave 6
• Blks 221 A/B Boon Lay Place
• Ci Yuan Hawker Centre
• Blk 20 Ghim Moh Road
• Marsiling Mall Hawker Centre
• Pasir Ris Central Hawker Centre
• Blk 6 Tanjong Pagar Plaza
• Yishun Park Hawker Centre
• Zion Riverside Food Centre