Singapore bakery heads to Myanmar

Singapore bakery heads to Myanmar

A BreadTalk outlet in Bangkok. The Singapore chain will open its first bakery in Myanmar in early 2017. (Photo from BreadTalk Thailand Facebook)
A BreadTalk outlet in Bangkok. The Singapore chain will open its first bakery in Myanmar in early 2017. (Photo from BreadTalk Thailand Facebook)

Myanmar is about to become the next Southeast Asian country to experience an explosion of bakeries as real estate giant Shwe Taung Group has signed a deal to set up and run local franchises of Singapore’s BreadTalk chain.

The agreement between BreadTalk and Shwe Taung Group’s Myanmar Bakery Co marks the international firm’s first foray into the Myanmar market and Shwe Taung’s first try at the food and beverage business.

BreadTalk’s first bakery will open in early 2017 in one of Shwe Taung’s shopping centres, the Myanmar Times reported on Wednesday, citing a press release.

The local construction-focused conglomerate runs the Junction Centre malls in Yangon and Nay Pyi Taw.

BreadTalk is far from the only franchise to notice Myanmar’s blossoming food and beverage sector. The bakery follows pasta, pizza and fried chicken chains that have opened in Yangon in the belief its middle class is booming.

“With a growing middle class and rising retail consumption, there are immense growth opportunities for BreadTalk in Myanmar,” said Bakery Division CEO Tan Aik Peng in a statement.

“We are confident that BreadTalk will introduce a new lifestyle of bread appreciation.”

For now, however, rice wins out as the most popular grain in Myanmar.

BreadTalk has spread to nearly 800 locations in Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia and other countries.

Meanwhile, Shwe Taung Group sees a bright future ahead for its food and beverage sector ambitions.

“We envision ourselves [becoming] a premier food and beverage operator in Myanmar by introducing exciting and trendy concepts in new cafes and restaurants, fast food chains and modern food courts,” said deputy managing director Sandar Htun.

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