Singapore’s food and beverage sales up 0.6% in November
F&B sales value during that month remained below pre-pandemic levels.
Sales of food and beverage services in Singapore increased 0.6% year-on-year in November 2021, reversing the 4.5% drop in the previous month, according to the country’s statistics department (SingStat).
The decline seen in October was attributed to tightened COVID-19 restrictions, when F&B establishments were only allowed dining-in for up to two vaccinated people, compared to the group size of five people the same period in 2020.
On a seasonally adjusted basis, sales of F&B services rose 10.4% in November, mainly due to the lower base in October when there were stricter dine-in restrictions.
F&B sales value in November remained below pre-pandemic levels, SingStat noted.
Total sales value of F&B services in November was estimated at S$706 million, of which online sales made up an estimated 32.8%, lower than the 38.4% recorded in the previous month.
Examining categories within the sector, food caterer sales surged 38.9% on a year-on-year basis, still due to the low base in 2020 when demand for catering was low.
Turnover for cafes, food courts and other eating places was up 3.1% in November due to higher demand for food deliveries.
However, restaurants saw a 4.9% decline in sales during this period, due to the tightened dine-in restrictions in November 2021.
On a seasonally adjusted month-on-month basis, restaurants’ sales increased 32.6% due to the easing of dine-in restrictions in November compared to the prior month.
From November 1 to 21, dining-in was allowed for groups of up to two fully vaccinated people before increasing to five fully vaccinated people on November 22.
Sales of food caterers, as well as cafes, food courts and other eating places rose 4.6% and 2%, respectively. In contrast, sales of fast food outlets declined 5.2% during this period.
