• FairPrice practices source diversification and imports food from over 70 countries

Singapore, 17 March 2020 – NTUC FairPrice (FairPrice) understands the concerns of its customers, following last night’s sudden movement control order imposed in Malaysia.

FairPrice employs an ongoing strategy of source diversification, working with suppliers from multiple countries, to ensure that the community has a stable supply of daily essentials at affordable prices.

The co-operative imports from over 70 countries around the world. Hence, product categories from Malaysia are complemented by similar categories from other countries.

In addition, FairPrice practices stockpiling to ensure undisrupted supplies in the event of crisis and this provides buffer for alternative supply sources if needed. In recent months, it has also increased its inventory holding for certain categories of products.

Following the movement control announcement in Malaysia last night, several FairPrice stores island experienced high traffic, with customers purchasing various items like toilet paper, canned food, instant noodles, vegetables, and eggs.

Compared to the earlier panic buying witnessed earlier when Disease Outbreak Response System Condition (DORSCON) was raised to Orange in early February, it was observed that checkout queues were more orderly and customers were also buying more responsibly.

Mr Seah Kian Peng, Group CEO, FairPrice Group, said, “FairPrice stands ready to ensure daily essentials remain available for Singapore. While there may be concerns regarding the latest movement restriction order from Malaysia, we want to assure Singaporeans that we have sufficient stocks. We thank customers for the confidence they have in us and appreciate that shoppers have been buying in a more measured and responsible manner; purchasing only what they need.”

To meet the demands of the higher volume, FairPrice is also stepping up its delivery runs from its multiple warehouses located in Singapore to stores to minimize inconvenience to customers.

Mr Seah added, “Our staff continue to work hard to serve the community and replenish high demand items. We appreciate customers’ understanding and patience during this time.”

As a precautionary measure to discourage resellers and ensure as many customers have access to daily essentials items, purchase limits for the following items will be in effect from 17 March 2020:

• Paper products: 4 units per customer (toilet paper, facial tissues, kitchen towels)
• Instant noodles / pasta: 2 units per customer
• Rice: 2 bags per customer
• Vegetables:  $30 per customer
• Fresh poultry: $30 per customer
• Eggs: 3 packs of 10s or 1 tray of 30s per customer

Some of the restrictions from this list were instituted earlier to curb stockpiling. Customer feedback on the purchase limits then had been positive and encouraging.

Since DORSCON Orange was declared, FairPrice has stepped up the cleaning regimes for all its stores, made available hand sanitisers for customers to use in-store, and instituted twice daily temperature screening for all staff. Masks have also been distributed to staff for their use should they feel unwell.

For more information, please visit FairPrice’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/thatsmyfairprice) or contact its customer service team at 6552 2722 or via email at general.feedback@fairprice.com.sg

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