BUZZ BEAT MEDIA

The Franchising and Licensing Association Awards (FLA Awards) 2023, held last night and served as the 17th edition, celebrated and honoured outstanding achievers in the franchising and license industry. The ceremony was graced by Ms Low Yen Ling, Minister of State for the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth.

The centrepiece of this year’s FLA Awards 2023 are the highly coveted ‘Franchisor of the Year,’ ‘International Franchisor of the Year’ and ‘Promising Franchisor of the Year.’ These awards signify a badge of honour in the industry, instilling confidence and a true testament to local brands’ ability to achieve global competitiveness. Since its inception in 2005, over 280 brands have received recognition from the FLA Awards and this year, the awards have launched 2 new recognitions – the ‘Franchise Manager Award’ and the ‘Franchise Leader Award’ to give accolades to employees and business leaders who have shown exemplary performance in inspiring and taking the brands to new heights. 

“Franchising and licensing are the driving forces behind accelerated business growth in today’s dynamic economic landscape. At FLA (Singapore), we proudly lead the way in recognising and celebrating excellence in this impactful industry. Our unwavering commitment to raising standards and fostering a vibrant community of franchise professionals sets the stage for Singapore to emerge as the hub of franchising and licensing in Asia,” shared Mr Dickson Low, President of the Franchising and Licensing Association (Singapore).

An impressive 26 nominations poured in, spanning 11 Award Categories and involving 14 distinguished companies, representing a total of 11 exceptional brands. At the ceremony, 24 awards were presented across 11 categories, involving 13 companies and 10 brands.

One of the success stories comes from GOPIZZA, a South Korean food chain. Their journey began in 2016 with a humble food truck and has now expanded to over 200 global stores across 6 countries. Kelvin Sia, the Regional CEO of GOPIZZA Singapore, received the ‘Franchise Manager’ award. Despite the challenges of the pandemic in April 2020, he revitalized the Singapore business, launched the 10th franchise within six months, and earned the ‘Promising Franchisor of the Year’ title. He reflected, “Our journey is a testament to innovation and determination. We thrived through the pandemic, expanding our presence and empowering employees to embark on their entrepreneurial journeys.”

7-Eleven Singapore, the Overall Winner of the prestigious ‘Franchisor of the Year’, operates almost 500 stores across the island with more than half being franchised, capturing a substantial 70% market share. Mr. Jaymes Lee Kim Meng, Franchise Owner at 88 Enterprises, the franchisee of 7-Eleven Singapore and the runner-up for ‘Franchisee Of The Year’, expressed, “From our May 2021 debut to acquiring our 6th outlet at Woodlands Circle on September 1st, 2023, we’ve been on an exhilarating journey of exponential growth. Our partnership with 7-Eleven Singapore has been an exciting ride, and this achievement reflects our unwavering commitment to expansion.”

The Overall Winner of ‘International Franchisor of the Year’, JUMBO Seafood, which serves our beloved Singapore’s award-winning Chilli Crab dish, has a remarkable presence in the international market, with a total of 23 outlets worldwide, comprising 11 franchised and 12 corporate-owned locations. Among these, C J Seafood Company Limited has been successfully operating and managing JUMBO Seafood in Bangkok, Thailand since November 2018. Their launch of the second outlet in 2021 showcased extraordinary resilience and success. “This accomplishment solidifies our commitment to elevating standards and expanding the presence of Singapore brands on the global stage,” expressed the winner of Commendable International Franchise Partner, Ms Malida Chinsupakul, Director of C J Seafood Company Limited.

Another local hero, Poke Theory, which was founded in 2016 now has a total of 16 stores (in Singapore, Bali, Surabaya & Ho Chi Minh). Remaining true to our brand values, we use planet-friendly disposables, handcrafted sauces and offer nutritious meals at affordable prices, promoting healthy eating as a choice, not a privilege. “We are committed to taking our brand worldwide and hope to replicate the success we’ve achieved back home in Singapore & Vietnam,” shared Nicole Hoang, Managing Director, HHH Enterprise, the master franchisee (ASEAN markets) of Poke Theory.

For further information, please visit https://flasingapore.org/.

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About Franchising and Licensing Association (Singapore)
Franchising and Licensing Association (Singapore), also known as FLA (Singapore), one of the founding members of the World Franchise Council, was established in 1993 with the mission to nurture and develop Singapore’s franchising industry.

FLA (Singapore) is an Approved Training Organisation (ATO) accredited by SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG), offering Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) Franchise courses to enhance the capabilities and competencies of Singaporean companies and individuals.

Through its partnership with Singapore government agencies and international franchise and license bodies, FLA (Singapore) also assists its members in their international development programmes.

With an active growing membership of close to 140 companies, representing more than 250 strong brands, FLA (Singapore) is led and managed by a dedicated team of advisors, committee members and a full-time secretariat with the goal of supporting Singapore companies to expand internationally.

For media inquiries, please contact:
Seema Surinder
Grow Public Relations
Account Manager
+65 9245 2640

Appendix – The 17th Editon FLA Awards 2023 Winners

*Cover Photo/Thumbnail Photo from Franchising and Licensing Association