Pierre Herme grows Asian footprint with mega store in Singapore's RWS
Set to open on Aug 1 in Weave, Resorts World Sentosa's (RWS) newest dining and lifestyle enclave, the two-storey standalone boutique-restaurant is a joint venture with the integrated resort and is the 'most ambitious project we've ever opened anywhere in the world', said Herme in an exclusive interview with The Business Times. RWS also holds the sole distribution rights to Pierre Herme Paris products in Singapore.
Iconic pastry chef Pierre Herme. PHOTO: PATRICK ROUGEREAU
There are currently more than 90 Pierre Herme Paris stores, including in France, Japan, the Middle East, Hong Kong and now Singapore, said Herme. 'Over the next two to five years, we plan to continue our selective expansion in key international markets, with a particular focus on Asia and the Middle East, where enthusiasm for fine pastries is growing rapidly.'
That said, he added: 'We are aware of the challenges facing the restaurant industry, from global economic fluctuations and changing consumer habits to increasing competition in the high-end segment. Our approach is to stay true to our identity while constantly innovating. Ultimately, our strength lies in our ability to remain agile without ever compromising on quality and creativity.'
Pierre Herme's signature ispahan macarons. PHOTO: PIERRE HERME PARIS
The Singapore flagship, which Herme describes as a 'cultural and gastronomic landmark', will 'set the tone for our future projects globally'. He added that Singapore's position as 'one of Asia's most dynamic crossroads' made the city a natural, 'even symbolic' choice.
The flagship offers an immersive, '360-degree' experience that features several world-firsts in addition to its signature range of macarons, pastries and chocolates. They include an ice cream bar, bubble tea creations and a furoshiki – Japanese wrapping cloth – stand 'to elevate packaging to an art form'.
A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU
Friday, 2 pm Lifestyle
Our picks of the latest dining, travel and leisure options to treat yourself.
Sign Up
Sign Up
There will also be a full-service restaurant, La Table by Pierre Herme, its first in South-east Asia. The all-day dining eatery's menu has not been finalised, but highlights include ceviche incorporating the signature rose-lychee-raspberry flavours of ispahan; a savoury version of French toast and even a Pierre-Herme-style croque monsieur.
The macarons, chocolates and ice cream will be flown in from Pierre Herme Paris's facilities in France to ensure standards, but a local production unit in Singapore will be set up to make daily items such as pastries, viennoiseries and savoury items. 'This hybrid model allows us to maintain authenticity while giving us the flexibility to develop exclusive products for our Singaporean clientele.'
'Trick the Eye' pastry is a Singapore exclusive. PHOTO: PIERRE HERME PARIS
That would include reimagined bubble tea in different flavours, and a Singapore-exclusive Trick the Eye pastry – a peanut butter French toast which is 'a whimsical play on perception and taste', said Herme.
'As part of RWS' transformation into a world-class lifestyle destination, this partnership reflects our commitment to curating exceptional, elevated experiences that speak to today's sophisticated and well-travelled audiences,' said Andreas Reich, RWS' acting senior vice-president, F&B general management.
Besides Pierre Herme Paris, the three-level, 20,000-square-metre biophilic Weave is home to some 40 tenants comprising restaurants, cafes, fashion & lifestyle concepts. It opened its doors on Jul 1, but only some tenants have opened, including Din Tai Fung which introduced a cocktail bar; Wewa – a casual Middle Eastern takeaway serving pitas and shawarmas; and Jumbo Premium – an elevated version of Jumbo Seafood famed for its chilli crab. Jumbo Group has also launched a premium Chinese restaurant Xing Yue Xuan that serves seafood-based Cantonese cuisine.
Din Tai Fung is one of the tenants at Weave. PHOTO: RESORTS WORLD SENTOSA
Due to open in stages are new-to-Singapore concepts such as an ice cream parlour Sundae Royale and French eatery Moutarde by Michelin-starred chef Paul Pairet; Beijing-based Peking Chamber which specialises in Peking duck; and famous Korean bakery Standard Bread. Retail outlets include an Adidas flagship store and a Coach boutique and dining concept.
Designed by architectural firm Benoy with landscape by ICN Design, Weave has a strong sustainability focus with plenty of greenery and natural ventilation. Heat pump technology repurposes by-products from RWS' hotels' hot water generation to create cool air, while the existing ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) roofing has been improved to deflect heat and reduce pressure on cooling systems.
'Weave represents a pivotal milestone in our RWS 2.0 transformation journey as we reimagine how guests experience luxury and leisure in one seamless environment,' said Lam Xue Ying, vice-president, Singapore Oceanarium & Destination Experience.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
China's first Legoland opens to tourists in Shanghai
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox The Chinese branch of the British-owned theme park franchise is the biggest Legoland in the world. SHANGHAI - Thousands of local tourists poured into China's first Legoland as it opened its gates in Shanghai on July 5, the latest theme park hoping to capitalise on a domestic tourism boom. The Chinese branch of the British-owned theme park franchise is the biggest Legoland in the world. It drew in early customers who flocked to attractions including a miniature train ride and a dragon-themed rollercoaster. 'I personally love to play with Lego blocks and we have many sets at home... so I wanted to come to Legoland at the earliest opportunity,' said Mr Shi, a 35-year-old resident of nearby city Hangzhou, who was visiting the park with his wife and child. Despite the Chinese economy's sluggish growth in recent years, domestic tourist spending grew 18.6 per cent in the first quarter of this year compared to the previous year, according to statistics. The theme park is hoping to capitalise on a domestic tourism boom. PHOTO: REUTERS 'Ever since the pandemic, I've made very few trips abroad,' said Mr Shi, adding that his family now travels to theme parks around China 'many times a year'. Eager Lego fans rushed into the park as soon as it opened, wearing themed shirts and waving branded flags as they enjoyed the 318,000 sq m compound in scorching temperatures. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Asean needs 'bolder reforms' to attract investments in more fragmented global economy: PM Wong Singapore CPF members can make housing, retirement and health insurance plans with new digital platform Singapore CPF's central philosophy of self-reliance remains as pertinent as ever: SM Lee Asia Dalai Lama hopes to live beyond 130 years, much longer than predicted Sport Liverpool will move on after Jota's tragic death, but he will never be forgotten Singapore Tan Cheng Bock, Hazel Poa step down from PSP leadership; party launches 'renewal plan' Singapore Rock climbing fan suddenly could not jump, get up from squats Life Japanese food in Singapore under $20: 5 hawker stalls serving restaurant-quality sashimi and donburi Beijing has announced subsidies intended to make travelling within the country more affordable for Chinese citizens, and is pushing local governments to heavily market their attractions on social media. Companies have taken note of the wider local tourism boom and stepped up their plans in China. Eager Lego fans rushed into the park as soon as it opened. PHOTO: REUTERS A new Spider-Man attraction at Shanghai Disneyland broke ground in May, while Warner Brothers is set to open a Harry Potter experience in Shanghai by 2027. Toy giant Hasbro said this week its giant Peppa Pig park in the city was now 'in the phase of creative design'. Chinese collectable toy maker Pop Mart has also opened an attraction in Beijing featuring life-sized versions of its popular Labubu toys. 'The various provinces are putting a lot of effort into expanding their tourism industries, and all of them have special attractions,' said Mr Xu, a 34-year-old parent visiting Legoland on Saturday with his children. People wait for the gate to be opened on the grand opening day of Legoland Shanghai Resort on July 5. PHOTO: REUTERS But profitability remains a problem, especially for local companies with less brand recognition. As of late 2024, around 40 per cent of parks were still failing to turn a profit, according to state media reports. Yet analysts point to a growing population of retirees and job market changes as key factors pushing more locals to visit domestic attractions. 'The labour market is turning more flexible,' said Ernan Cui, China consumer analyst at Gavekal Research. 'More people have leisure time to travel around.' AFP
Straits Times
4 hours ago
- Straits Times
Asean needs ‘bolder reforms' to attract investments in a more fragmented global economy: PM Wong
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Prime Minister Lawrence Wong speaking in a video posted to his YouTube channel on July 5. SINGAPORE – Asean must become a more seamless and competitive single market, one that attracts businesses and investments looking for alternatives in a more fragmented global economy. To get there, bolder reforms are needed, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong in a video message posted on YouTube on July 5, adding that the association's 10 nations may be limited in scale individually but together have considerable weight. Asean today has 700 million people and it forms the fifth largest economy in the world, and is projected to be the fourth largest by 2030. The next decade will be critical to unlock its full potential, said PM Wong, who has just finished his introductory visits to Asean's capitals, with the exception of Myanmar, which he said he hopes to visit 'when the situation is more conducive'. PM Wong said: 'Continued peace, stability and growth in Asean will transform our entire region – and this will translate to better jobs, opportunities and living standards for all our peoples.' The key to achieving this lies in closer integration amongst Asean economies. PM Wong noted that supply chains across the bloc already span multiple countries, leveraging their complementary strengths. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore CPF members can make housing, retirement and health insurance plans with new digital platform Singapore CPF's central philosophy of self-reliance remains as pertinent as ever: SM Lee Asia Dalai Lama hopes to live beyond 130 years, much longer than predicted Sport Liverpool will move on after Jota's tragic death, but he will never be forgotten Singapore Tan Cheng Bock, Hazel Poa step down from PSP leadership; party launches 'renewal plan' Singapore As her muscles weaken, 26-year-old leans on best friend for strength and support Life Japanese food in Singapore under $20: 5 hawker stalls serving restaurant-quality sashimi and donburi He gave the example of cotton from the Philippines. This could be spun in Thai factories, dyed and sewn in Vietnam and exported to the world. 'This is the kind of cooperation we must strengthen,' he said. To become a more seamless and competitive single market, Asean needs to reduce trade and investment barriers and make it easier for companies to operate across borders, PM Wong said. It also means negotiating a digital economy agreement across the bloc, and linking payment systems Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand have done, he added. The seven other countries in the bloc are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Philippines and Vietnam. Physical infrastructure including rail and power grid connections must also be enhanced and Asean must also deepen its partnership with the rest of the world, PM Wong said. It already has seven Free Trade Agreements with external partners, including the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) – the world's largest trading bloc, he noted. These existing agreements will be upgraded, and Asean is exploring new ones such as with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the European Union. These agreements open doors for businesses and make Asean more connected to global markets, he noted. PM Wong said Malaysia – this year's Asean chair – has been pushing for these reforms and Singapore fully supports these efforts. He added: 'The momentum will continue with the Philippines as chair next year, and when Singapore takes over as chair in 2027 – a milestone year marking ASEAN's 60th anniversary'. PM Wong was most recently in Cambodia where the two countries on July 2 announced they will deepen their collaboration in several areas, including renewable energy, high-quality carbon credits and trade in food products. He prioritised visits to Asean capitals because they are in Singapore's immediate neighbourhood, he said. 'We have close bilateral ties with all its members. And it is in our shared interest to have a strong and united Asean,' he said, adding that Singapore will work closely with these countries as well as others around the world, to keep Asean strong, effective, and relevant for the future. He encouraged all Singaporeans to be 'part of this journey' and to learn more about the region, understand their neighbours and build connections. 'Because Asean's future is our future – and everyone has a role to play,' he said. The world is going through profound changes and geopolitical tensions are rising. But this is not the first time the region has faced uncertainty, PM Wong noted. When the bloc was formed in 1967, the world was also in turmoil – right in the middle of the Cold War, a conflict between the United States and the USSR and their respective allies. PM Wong said: 'Our founding leaders knew we were better off facing challenges together rather than alone.' He quoted Mr S. Rajaratnam, Singapore's first Foreign Minister, who said 'if Asean does not hang together, we will hang separately'. He said: 'So we came together – respecting each other's sovereignty and focusing on mutually beneficial cooperation. 'That unity helped lay the foundations for peace and stability in our region.' The region has seen conflict before and was once an arena for proxy wars by major powers, PM Wong said. 'We do not want that to happen again. Neither can we afford to have disputes divide us,' he added. Instead, Asean must work together to preserve peace and stability and to keep the bloc open and inclusive – a region that is not dominated by any single power, but where all the major powers are engaged and invested, he said.
Straits Times
5 hours ago
- Straits Times
The Great Inflatable Dome of China: A 50m bubble blocks dust and noise pollution from construction site
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox A giant inflatable dome has been erected over a worksite in Jinan in eastern China. Who says construction can't be clean or stylish? A giant inflatable dome has been erected over a construction site in eastern China , in what may be the country's puffiest solution yet to keeping dust and noise pollution out. M s Mao Nin g, a spokesperson for China's Foreign Ministry, shared in a Facebook post on July 2 that Jinan in eastern China has introduced a 50m-high inflatable dome covering 20,000 sq m, which is reportedly the largest of its kind worldwide. An accompanying video on the post shows the large balloon-like structure enclosing the construction site. Ms Mao said the dome aims to reduce noise and pollution, helping to protect nearby communities and the environment. According to Times Now News - an English-language news outlet based in India - which reported on the project on July 3 , the dome is the first of its kind in China and uses negative pressure and air filtration systems to prevent dust from escaping into nearby areas. The Bridge Chronicle, a digital news platform, also reported on July 3 that the dome features advanced ventilation systems to ensure good air quality, while transparent panels let in natural sunlight, cutting down on the need for artificial lighting during the day. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore CPF members can make housing, retirement and health insurance plans with new digital platform Singapore CPF's central philosophy of self-reliance remains as pertinent as ever: SM Lee Singapore Fewer people caught venturing off designated trails in nature spaces: NParks Singapore Tan Cheng Bock, Hazel Poa step down from PSP leadership; party launches 'renewal plan' Life Japanese food in Singapore under $20: 5 hawker stalls serving restaurant-quality sashimi and donburi Singapore As her muscles weaken, 26-year-old leans on her best friend for strength and support Asia Dalai Lama hopes to live beyond 130 years, much longer than predicted Asia Dream wheels, Malaysian deals: Singaporean car lovers find affordable indulgence across the border The platform added that the dome's design allows for quick assembly and dismantling, making it a flexible solution for various construction projects. A viral TikTok video posted by British broadcaster ITV News on July 4 shows the dome gradually inflating into a rounded rectangular shape as the sun rises and sets in the background. The video shows the dome being inflated over an area that is nestled among several surrounding buildings, suggesting the site is in a developed urban zone. The time-lapse clip has since attracted more than 2.6 million views. Viewers of the TikTok video left some colourful and curious reactions. Karmic Kayda joked: 'This is really dangerous because if it gets too big it becomes really soft and a giant might see it and come to take a nap.' TikTok user Amely praised the innovation as 'such a clever way to protect both the environment and the people living nearby.' Meanwhile, a user by the name of ThingsRickAstlyWontDo was curious about the scale of the project, asking: 'How does one even manufacture a single sheet that large?'
