17 Jul 2024
On 26 June, Frasers Property Singapore held Retail Spark! 2024 – an annual event for our tenants to connect, have purposeful discussions, and sow seeds for potential partnerships.
Themed “Sustainability and Inclusion by Design”, over 100 of our retail partners came together to discuss ways to incorporate inclusive and sustainable practices within our retail ecosystem, in line with our Purpose – Inspiring experiences, creating places for good.
Mr Tan Kee Yong, Chief Operating Officer, Frasers Property Singapore, Retail, delivering his opening address at Retail Spark! 2024.
We also recognised over 60 brands who have worked closely with us in driving inclusivity and sustainability efforts. These organisations are either a partner in our Inclusion Champions or food waste valorisation programmes, and their support enables us to enhance the community experience at our malls.
Mr Tan Kee Yong, Chief Operating Officer, Frasers Property Singapore, Retail said: “We recognise that malls are no longer just places to shop and transact. Our shoppers and customers expect more from us beyond brick-and-mortar offerings. We see ourselves as community connectors and builders, creating places for good and placing people at the heart of everything we do.”
Championing Inclusivity
This year, 31 brands, including Starbucks Singapore, Fairprice Group and 4Fingers Singapore, were recognised for their support and participation in the Inclusion Champions Programme. Launched in June 2023, the programme aims to equip our tenants and staff with the skills and resources to assist shoppers with autism, dementia, and other forms of disability.
We want to create a more inclusive and meaningful shopping experience for all shoppers while fostering a stronger sense of customer loyalty, as we respond to the projected increase in Singapore’s elderly population and the anticipated rise in disabilities by 2030. Moreover, inclusivity initiatives do not only help persons with disabilities, but will also bring benefits to families and shoppers too.
Since its launch, we have tripled the number of Inclusion Champions from 10 in 2023 to 31 brands across 104 stores this year, showcasing the shared commitment from Frasers Property Singapore and our retail partners to transform our malls into inclusive spaces for the community.
31 brands were recognised for their contributions to the Inclusion Champions programme at the Retail Spark! Awards.
Ms Winnie Lewis, Deputy Director of Partnerships at SG Enable, shared the importance of creating an inclusive society where persons with disabilities can live, learn, work, and play. She said, “Accessible businesses simply reach more customers.”
Mr Lee Tze Ming, Founder and Principal Designer at STUCK Design, shared the Inclusive Design Playbook, developed collaboratively by SG Enable and STUCK Design. This playbook offers concepts and guidelines that our retail partners could adopt in their stores to creating inclusive community experiences, with an expansive list that covering everything from doorways to store layouts.
Mr Lee also encouraged our tenants to enhance their frontline service delivery through inclusive service training workshops offered by SG Enable and Enabling Academy, covering basic disability awareness and consumer inclusiveness training.
Ms Winnie Lewis, Deputy Director of Partnerships at SG Enable, sharing about their partnership with Frasers Property Singapore to transform retail spaces into inclusive community hubs.
Mr Lee Tze Ming, Founder and Principal Designer at STUCK Design, introducing the idea of inclusivity by design, a key focus of our inclusivity efforts at Frasers Property Singapore.
Inclusivity is a cornerstone of our efforts to ensure that our malls are welcoming and accessible to everyone. Initiatives and collaborations, like the Inclusion Champions Programme, highlights how we are leading the way in creating vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable community hubs.
Fostering Sustainability
30 retail partners were recognised as Food Waste Advocates at the Retail Spark! Awards
Sustainability was another key focus of the Retail Spark! 2024, with 30 retail partners, including the FairPrice Group, Genki Sushi Singapore, and Don Don Donki, being recognised as Food Waste Advocates through their support for our food waste valorisation programme. Developed in partnership with LifeLab Resources and enabled by Green Eco Technologies, the programme converts food waste into commercial-grade fish feed. By the end of this year, we expect to process up to 2,200 tonnes of food waste, significantly reducing waste sent to incinerators and contributing to Singapore’s Zero Waste Master Plan.
Mr Patrick Kwok, General Manager of Starbucks Singapore, sharing about the importance of inclusivity and sustainability to Starbucks’ corporate purpose, aligning with our ESG goals at Frasers Property Singapore.
Mr Patrick Kwok, General Manager of Starbucks Singapore, reinforced these themes by sharing Starbucks’ sustainability journey in Singapore. Mr Kwok highlighted Starbucks’ Greener Store Framework, which was developed with the World Wildlife Fund and focuses on reducing single-use items and promoting reusable alternatives.
“We never stop investing in our people, innovation, and sustainability,” he said, emphasising the continuous effort to integrate sustainable practices.
Additionally, Starbucks’ commitment to inclusivity is also evident in their diverse and inclusive workforce. Mr Kwok stressed the importance of employee well-being. He said: “We care about their mental, physical, social, and also financial well-being. We try to make sure the health and wellness of our employees is at the top of our mind.”
We are proud of the success of Retail Spark! 2024, as a platform to celebrate the achievements of our retail partners in building a more inclusive and sustainable retail ecosystem. With their continued support, we can continue to enhance customer trust, elevate retail experiences, and build resilient communities.
We would like to thank our tenants once again for taking part in our Retail Spark! event. We look forward to continued engagement and networking with all our valued partners. Together, we can create a brighter, and more inclusive and sustainable future.