CHAGEE Singapore opens first family-friendly heartland store in Pasir Ris; signs skills partnership with ITE

CHAGEE Singapore today officially opened CHAGEE Pasir Ris, its first family-friendly heartland store, and commemorates the opening with a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) to develop a recognised tea beverage qualification and career pathway for young Singaporeans.

The launch was graced by Guest-of-Honour Ms Indranee Rajah, Grassroots Advisor for Pasir-Ris Changi.

Tea is part of everyday life in Singapore, a simple pleasure that brings people together across generations. CHAGEE's aim is to grow with Singapore on both sides of that ritual: creating spaces where families can enjoy tea together, and building the local talent and craft that goes into every cup. Blending the opening of a family store with committing to a new category of F&B certification in Singapore is a joint statement of how a tea brand grows with Singapore over the long term.

At CHAGEE Pasir Ris, parents can relax with a drink while their children play in a safe, dedicated space within the store, making family time easier to enjoy close to home. Children under 12 are served complimentary milk when dining in, and the majority of the menu is graded Nutri-Grade A or B, offering healthier choices for the whole family. As CHAGEE's first family-friendly store in the heartlands, it is designed as a place for the community to gather over a cup of tea.

As part of the MOU, CHAGEE Singapore and ITE will work together to create tea beverage competencies and a structured career pathway that includes job creation and priority progression for ITE’s students from the Higher Nitec in Hospitality Operations course. The tea beverage competencies will be covered within the Barista Service module and is offered to Year 1 students from the course. This would give young Singaporeans a clear route from the classroom into a fast-growing sector, and formal recognition of the skills, knowledge and traditions behind tea beverage preparation. The partnership will include inputs from CHAGEE Singapore in eight core competencies, from tea barista skills to operations management, so that progression continues well beyond a first job.

Highlights of the event include the unveiling of a six-metre CHAGEE wall mural at the store, depicting the old Pasir Ris village in honour of the estate's heritage. Titled 'Memories of Pasir Ris', the mural is hand-painted by artist Rebecca Liu Xibei. It celebrates the history of this coastal town, from the mangrove swamps that Pasir Ris grew out of to nostalgic community landmarks, such

as the Mosaic Elephant Playground, creating a visual record of the neighbourhood. The mural is CHAGEE's way of honouring Pasir Ris and putting down roots in the community it now calls home.

“We believe CHAGEE tea houses should be more than a place to buy a drink,” said Mr Lawrence Wen, Chief Executive Officer, CHAGEE Singapore. “We want to be part of Singapore for the long term, so we have a responsibility to celebrate the families who visit us and the young people who choose to build a career with us. That belief is the core mission for this launch. We believe that commercial success and social contribution can go hand-in-hand; each strengthening the other.”

“A strong Singapore is built when businesses see their people and their communities as part of their success, not separate from it,” said Grassroots Advisor Indranee Rajah. “When a company invests in skills for our young people and in spaces that make daily life easier for families, it strengthens the social fabric alongside the economy. I hope more businesses will see the opportunity to grow in this way.”

“This partnership with CHAGEE Singapore to develop tea beverage competencies will provide structured skills development pathways for both our students and CHAGEE’s employees in the tea and beverage industry. A key aspect of this programme will be centred on the training at the workplace to ensure an authentic learning environment for the students and learners. The technical expertise gained from the training will help raise professionalism in tea beverage preparation.” said Mr Peter Lam, Chief Executive Officer of the Institute of Technical Education, Singapore.