Coffee shops, eating houses and food courts are usually “food shops” made up of several individual food stalls selling food and beverages.

Characteristics Of Coffee Shops, Eating Houses & Food Courts
Statistics & Trends
Government Programmes & Assistance
Licences & Permits
Laws & Regulations
Trade Associations
Key Government Agencies

Characteristics Of Coffe Shops, Eating Houses & Food Courts

• Coffee shops, eating houses and food courts are usually “food shops”. Typically:
  
  
  • they are made up of several individual food stalls.
  • food and beverages are the main source of income.

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Statistics & Trends

• Here are some statistics and trends that you may be interested in:
  
  
  • Overview Of The F&B Industry
    The F&B sector, including bars & pubs, contributed S$1.7 billion or 0.9% to Singapore’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2005.
    
    
  • Snapshot: Other Types of Establishments
    Statistics (e.g. profitability ratio and operating receipts) for cafes, coffee houses and snack bars; coffee shops, eating houses and food courts.
    
    
• For more statistics and trends, please refer to the F&B Industry Statistics & Trends section.

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Government Programmes & Assistance

• Coffee shops, eating houses and food courts can tap into all of the programmes and assistance available to F&B establishments. For a full list of these, please refer to the F&B Programmes & Assistance section.

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Licences & Permits

Coffee shops, eating houses and food courts must obtain these licences and permits to operate or carry on certain business activities in Singapore.

Essential Licences & Licence Compliance For Coffee Shops, Eating Houses & Food Courts

• Food Shop Licence
  Coffee shops, eating houses and food courts are considered “food shops”. Anyone or any organisation that wishes to operate a food shop must have this licence.
  
  
• Food Stall Licence
  Individual food stall operators within food shops must obtain this licence unless they are merely employees of the food shop operator tasked with manning the food stall.
  
  
• Points Demerit System For F&B Establishments
  Food shop and food stall licensees who violate environmental health regulations will get demerit points which may lead to licence suspension or revocation.

Other Licences & Permits For F&B-Related Activities

• You must obtain licences or permits to carry on certain activities. These activities, typically carried out by coffee shops, eating houses and food courts, require licences or permits:
  
  
  • importing processed food (e.g. food ingredients)
  • operat