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FOOD JUNCTION POSTS TURNOVER OF S$45.3 MILLION
AND PROFIT BEFORE TAX OF S$4.1 MILLION FOR FY2008
- Food Junction upgraded to Mainboard on 28
October 2008
- 3% growth in Group Turnover
- Profit decline due to higher costs & new
business setups
- Overseas expansion with acquisition of Malone's
Restaurant chain in PRC and opening 2 more food
courts in Malaysia and Indonesia
Singapore, 12 November 2008 - Mainboard-listed,
Food Junction Holdings Limited and its subsidiaries
("Food Junction" or the "Group"),
announced today that its Group Turnover for the
financial year ended 30 September 2008 ("FY2008")
was approximately S$45.3 million, a 3% growth
from previous financial year.
As at 30 September 2008, the Group operated and
managed 16 food courts over 4 countries namely
in Singapore, Malaysia, China and Indonesia, and
59 self-operated F&B stalls out of a total
of 227 stalls. The Group also operates a Japanese
Restaurant and a Gourmet Gift Boutique.
The Turnover growth was attributed to higher
turnover from Food & Beverage ("F&B")
operations from F&B self-operated stall sales
and sales from new Japanese restaurant "TETSU"
and gourmet gift boutique "kokoro",
offset by lower turnover from food court operations
due to the temporary closure of food courts at
Great World City and Junction 8 for renovations.
Food Junction posted a profit before tax of approximately
S$4.1 million for FY2008, a 39% decline from approximately
S$6.7 million in financial year ended 30 September
2007 ("FY2007"). This was due to higher
depreciation charges, higher rental and operating
expenses for the Food Court segment, higher cost
of sales from food price increases for self-operated
stalls, one-time consultancy fees and set-up costs
for new F&B concepts for the F&B segments.
In FY2008, the Group renovated its existing food
courts at Great World City and Junction 8 into
lifestyle food courts with modern and trendy ambience.
The Group also relocated its Lot 1 food court
from Basement 1 to Level 4 of the Mall with a
modern country park design to be in line with
the Mall's new theme.
Commenting on the expansion plans for the food
court segment, Managing Director, Mr Andrew Fu,
said, "Though food court business is facing
tough challenges from high rentals, renovation
and electricity costs, we are still committed
to deliver a unique dining experience and ambience
for our customers and continue to expand our presence
in the region.
From 2007 to 2008, we invested sensibly to renovate
food courts at Bugis Junction, Great World City,
Junction 8 and Lot 1 to trendy lifestyle food
courts to stay ahead of our competitors.
Right now we have 3 outlets under renovation
across Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. At Raffles
City, we are changing to a modern and stylistic
food court to operate under a new brand name called
"The Food Place". The outlet is expected
to open in early December 2008.
The other 2 new outlets in Malaysia's Mid Valley
City (KL) and Indonesia's Megamal Pluit (Jakarta)
will be operational by December 2008 too. The
Malaysia outlet will operate as a new food concept
under a new brand name "Food Garden".
Besides these 2 new sites, we will continue to
look for more suitable sites to expand our businesses."
In FY2008, the Group expanded its F&B segment
from self-operating F&B stalls in food courts
to operations of restaurant and gourmet gift boutique.
This was part of the Group business strategy to
expand its business from mass food court market
to lifestyle F&B market.
To expand into F&B lifestyle market and also
into overseas market, Food Junction has acquired
a PRC restaurant chain, Malone's American Café
("Malone's") in October 2008. Malone's
was established in 1994 and offers an American-style
restaurant-cum-sports café concept targeted
at both expatriates and local customers' palates.
Malone's currently operates 2 restaurants in Shanghai,
PRC. The main restaurant located at Tongren Road
is owned and self-operated for the last 15 years.
In April 2008, Malone's started its first licensed
outlet at Thumb Plaza in Pudong, Shanghai.
Commenting on Malone's, Mr. Andrew Fu, said,
"The existing management team at Malone's
is committed to expand the business and intends
to open more outlets both in PRC and the region.
The acquisition of Malone's has allowed Food Junction
an immediate foothold into Shanghai's exciting
and vibrant F&B market ".
Despite the ongoing financial crisis, Food Junction
is still committed to grow its businesses with
extra care and caution.
About Food Junction Holdings Limited
Food Junction has been established for 15 years.
To-date, Food Junction manages and operates a
total of 16 food courts: 12 in Singapore and 2
in Malaysia, 1 in Indonesia and 1 in China. It
also self-operates 59 F&B stalls, out of the
227 stalls in the Group's food court business.
As a food court management specialist, Food Junction
manages the operational aspects of its food courts
and food stalls, ranging from cash collection
services to dish collection, dish washing, cleaning
and general maintenance. To enable tenants to
stay focused on food quality and services, an
operations team is stationed at each food court
to ensure smooth day-to-day running of the food
courts as well as the food stalls. The Group also
handles the marketing and tenant mix of each food
court, and handles the advertising and promotion
of the food courts to create greater awareness.
Food Junction has expanded into lifestyle concept
with the upgrading of existing food courts and
introducing new F&B concepts. The Group has
also moved into restaurant operations with the
opening of a Japanese restaurant in January 2008
and recently acquired Malone's American Café,
a Shanghai based restaurant chain.
October 12, 2008
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