Recognising Innovation and Resilience Amidst Challenging Times
SINGAPORE: Thirty-eight home-grown brands, including 31 first-time winners, were recognised at the 20th Singapore Prestige Brand Award (SPBA) ceremony on May 4. Second Minister for Trade and Industry Tan See Leng praised the “fighting spirit and gumption” of these brands, noting their resilience in navigating the challenges posed by the pandemic.
“These local enterprises have shown incredible perseverance over the past two-and-a-half years. They’ve pressed on, adapted, and transformed, and that hard work deserves to be acknowledged,” Dr Tan, who was the guest-of-honour, remarked.
Organised by the Association of Small & Medium Enterprises (ASME) and Lianhe Zaobao, the SPBA celebrates home-grown brands that have excelled in branding, innovation, and transformation. The awards are divided into three main categories: Promising Brands, Established Brands, and Heritage Brands, with additional special awards for overall winners, Most Popular, Transformation, and Social Contribution.
In the Promising Brands category, elemen, a vegetarian restaurant chain, was named the overall winner. The brand is known for its creative and vibrant vegetarian menu, and plans for expansion into markets like China, Malaysia, and Australia. Other winners in this category include Union Gas Holdings (Most Popular), KEI (Transformation), and Scent by SIX (Social Contribution).
In the Established Brands category, Mulberry Learning, a preschool education service provider, was the overall winner. The company invested in digital capabilities during the pandemic, including a Parent App for communication and progress tracking. Holistic Way (Most Popular), Soundteoh Electronic (Social Contribution), and LED Signs & White Restaurant (Transformation) also received awards.
ECON Healthcare, an eldercare operator, was named the overall winner in the Heritage Brands category, while Union Energy (Most Popular), City Energy (Transformation), and Four Star (Social Contribution) were also recognised. The Special Merit award was given to the Singapore Association for Mental Health, a non-profit organisation supporting mental health awareness and services.
Lianhe Zaobao editor Goh Sin Teck highlighted the importance of brand building in driving the growth and competitiveness of businesses locally and internationally. ASME president Kurt Wee urged local brands to capitalise on the momentum of the post-pandemic economy to achieve new milestones on the global stage.
