NTUC Foodfare - About Us - Social Contributions

NTUC Foodfare Co-operative Ltd was founded in 1995 with the mission to maintain affordable prices for cooked food in Singapore. Our success allows us to absorb increased operational, raw material and GST costs to keep prices affordable for working people by setting benchmark prices for the industry.

This is not a means to an end. Foodfare provides leadership, services and support to promote inclusiveness across all collars and ages and to help bridge the three social divides between the high and low wage workers, young and old and the local and foreign workers.

Foodfare's social role in safeguarding the interests of the average Singapore resident came to the fore when it dealt with the rising prices of Coffee and Milo beverages in Singapore in March 2006, September 2007 and again in early 2008.

Foodfare stayed true to our mission by absorbing the increased operational and raw material costs. Since 2003, Foodfare has not increased Coffee and Milo prices as part of our mission to help workers cope better with rising costs.

NTUC Foodfare Co-operative Ltd acknowledges our social responsibility to adopt age-friendly employment practices, drawing from a labour pool that features a mix of multi-skilled, full-time and part-time workers. Foodfare taps on the expertise and reliability of our mature workers, who comprise 70% of our total workforce. We have put in place training and job redesign initiatives to help our mature workers adjust to today’s working environment.

Paneerchalven s/o Kasevan, otherwise known as Philip, was 52 when he joined Foodfare in 2004. He started off as a store keeper, but displayed the aptitude for administrative work. Foodfare believes in Lifelong Learning and Job Redesign, and sent Philip for upgrading courses. His job duties were redesigned to combine physical work with computer work.

"I feel a sense of achievement when I am trusted to take on supervisory roles (when my boss) is absent. I want to expand my job scope and Foodfare has given me many opportunities," said the happy worker.

NTUC Foodfare Co-operative Ltd is a key component of the rehabilitation programmes on offer for inmates of prison institutions. In our bid to equip inmates with a higher level of education, valuable life skills and a nationally recognised certificate to enhance their employment opportunities, we continue to train inmates in the ISC Food Preparation Course, conducted in conjunction with ITE.

"I have found a new me," says Abraham (not his real name). Abraham has picked up the skills to be a good cook through the Foodfare and SCORE joint programme, which offers a certifiable ITE course in Food Preparation. But he has gained much more besides. Abraham now displays a renewed sense of confidence, has developed patience and has learnt to appreciate many things around him. Abraham added, "This is a meaningful opportunity for us. We return home with valuable skills that add to our employability in society. It will be something to start afresh with."

Foodfare provides the first step from the heart. Executive Sous Chef, Christopher Lim says that it is not just a job. As he puts it: "To me, it's about more than just teaching them how to cook. Whenever I can, I try to add a personal touch by giving them opportunities to discover and learn beyond the scope of the curriculum."

NTUC Foodfare Co-operative Ltd extends our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) practices across Singapore society, providing donations and programmes in support of educational and financial assistance to needy union members. Charitable works include donations and festive promotions to the less fortunate as well as social and financial support, and charity drives for our adopted houses - Man Fu Tung Nursing Home and Jun Eng Home for Senior Citizens.