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FOOD JUNCTION REPORTS TURNOVER OF S$10.7M
FOR 2QFY2008
- Complete make-over of Junction 8 and Lot
1 CCK food courts
- Opened second franchised Rakeru Omelette stall
- Opening second Indonesia food court in Sept
2008
- Proposed Acquisition of Malone's American Restaurant
chain
SINGAPORE, 13 May 2008 - Catalist-listed Food
Junction Holdings Limited and its subsidiaries
("Food Junction" or the "Group"),
a specialised food and beverage ("F&B")
service management Group, today announced that
its revenue for the quarter ended 31 March 2008
("2QFY2008") maintained at S$10.7 million
in comparison to 2QFY2007 despite lower turnover
from Bishan Junction 8 food court's 2 months closure
in the quarter due to upgrading.
FY2008 continues to be a challenging year for
Food Junction with increasing rentals, labour
and food costs while at the same time recognizing
the need to upgrade its existing food courts to
maintain its competitiveness.
In the recent months, the Group upgraded Bugis
Junction and Great World City food courts, while
in 2QFY2008, Junction 8 and Lot 1 food courts
also underwent upgrading works. Junction 8 food
court reopened on 24 March 2008 and Lot 1 food
court on 26 April 2008. These contributed to the
lower Profit after tax in 2QFY2008.
Profit after tax for the Quarter under review fell
77.5% to S$0.4 million from S$1.6 million previously,
due to higher depreciation, rising operating costs
and one-off expenses. The latter includes consultancy
fees and related expenses for new F&B business
concepts (TETSU Japanese Restaurant and KOKORO premium
gift boutique), loss on disposal of investment property
(Bencoolen Office Unit), food court fixed assets
written off, loss from temporary closure of Junction
8 food court for upgrading and the impairment of
fixed assets.
Commenting on the Junction 8 food court, Mr.
Andrew Fu, Managing Director of Food Junction,
said, "Junction 8 after a complete makeover
showcases a "hip" and trendy interior.
We also opened our second franchised Rakeru Omelette
Rice stall in this newly renovated food court.
Both the food court design and Omelette Rice have
been very well received."
In Indonesia, the Group operates its first food
court since July 2007 at Universitas Pelita Harapan
in Lippo Karawaci. On 9 Apr 2008, the Group announced
the acceptance to operate its second food court
in Indonesia at Megamal Pluit Shopping Centre
in North Jakarta. This food court is expected
to open for business in September 2008. Food Junction
on 8 May 2008 announced its proposed acquisition
of the Malone's American Café ("Malone's")
chain of restaurants located in Shanghai, PRC.
Malone's currently operates 3 outlets - 2 owned
(Tongren Road and Pudong) and 1 franchised (Thumb
Plaza, Pudong). Malone's has a franchise agreement
for 4 outlets, 1 already opened, 1 more to be
opened in 2008 and 2 in 2009.
With the acquisition, Food Junction will have
an immediate presence in Shanghai and by the end
of 2009 Malone's is expected to have 6 restaurants
in China.
Upon completion of the Acquisition (target date
1 July 2008), a total profit after tax of RMB14.3
million (approximately S$2.8) is guaranteed to
Food Junction for 18 months post acquisition.
Commenting on the Acquisition, Mr Andrew Fu,
" The acquisition is in line with our strategy
of expanding into the restaurant business both
in Singapore and the region. Malone's had an established
operating history and is a favourite haunt for
expatriates and locals alike in Shanghai. We will
capitalize on Food Junction's expertise in food
and beverage service management and Malone's experience
in restaurant operations in Shanghai to produce
synergies in terms of service levels and operating
efficiencies and also to expand further in Asia."
On our expansion, Mr Andrew Fu commented, "Food
Junction continues to actively seek new food court
sites in Malaysia, Indonesia and China to expand
our business. We will also be looking at other
ways to expand into food related businesses."
About Food Junction Holdings Limited
Food Junction has been established for more than
14 years. To-date, Food Junction manages and operates
a total of 16 food courts: 12 in Singapore and
two in Malaysia, one in Indonesia and one in China.
It also self-operates 68 F&B stalls, out of
the 237 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 including the
opening of a premium gift boutique in Singapore.
The Group has also moved into restaurant operations
with the opening of its first Japanese TETSU restaurant
in January 2008.
May 13, 2008
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