Money Matters with Hongbin Jeong and Chua Tian Tian

It's time to wake up and smell the beanless coffee. Yes, you read that right! Local start-up Prefer has launched a fa-brew-lous bean-free coffee made from bread, spent barley and soya bean pulp. Prefer’s offerings have been brewing in selected cafes since December 2023, following a year of product development since it was co-founded in 2022 by a Singaporean food scientist Tan Ding Jie, and Texas-born former neuroscientist Jake Berber. So, would you ever try bean-free coffee? Maybe Jake Berber and Tan Ding Jie, Co-founders of Prefer can convince you.  Presented by: Hongbin Jeong and Roshan Gidwani Feature produced and edited by: Nadiah Koh  Do you have a story to tell on The Evening Runway show? Contact nadkoh@sph.com.sg

It’s a momentous day today for Singapore. After nearly two decades, the country will officially inaugurate a new prime minister.  In a smooth transition of leadership, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lawrence Wong will succeed Lee Hsien Loong, who has served as premier since 2004.  But does Mr Lee’s story end here? And how will the incoming PM write the next chapter of the Singapore story? Terence Ho, Associate Professor in Practice at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore shares his analysis.  Presented by: Hongbin Jeong and Roshan Gidwani Feature produced and edited by: Nadiah Koh and Aaron Lam Do you have a story to tell on The Evening Runway show? Contact nadkoh@sph.com.sg

Jackson Aw's journey from a solo trip to China led to creating over 100 original toy sculptures reaching 50 countries. On R.I.C.H., Hongbin Jeong and Roshan Gidwani speaks to Jackson Aw, Founder and CEO, The Mighty Jaxx Group, to find out the secrets behind transforming passion into a thriving business. Presented by: Hongbin Jeong and Roshan Gidwani Produced and Edited by: Alexandra Parada (alexparada@sph.com.sg) Want to get featured on our show? Drop me an email today!

Two months ago, there were no dairy or food safety researchers who anticipated that we would be testing for avian influenza in the product of cows, says Payne, who is a researcher at the Western Institute of Food Safety and Security at the University of California. What’s the future hold? How will this develop? Stay tuned for more Spill The Tea.

Singapore stocks began trading in muted tones this morning, mirroring the cautious sentiment on global markets where investors await key inflation data. In early trade, the Straits Times Index (STI) rose 0.01 per cent to 3,303.85 points, after 52.5 million securities changed hands in the broader market. In terms of companies to watch for today, we have Thai Beverage, after the beverage manufacturer yesterday reported a 4.9 per cent drop in net profit to seven billion baht (S$257 million) for its second quarter ended 31 March 2024.  Elsewhere from Haidilao’s restaurant operator Super Hi’s billion dollar valuation target for its US IPO to a deep dive into comments by US Federal Reserve officials and April’s US CPI expectations, more international headlines remain in focus. On Market View, The Evening Runway’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian unpacked the developments with Toby Gresham, Investment Counselor Team Lead, Citi Private Bank.

Are you planning a trip to Korea anytime soon?  If you’ve never been - or if you been several times, but looking for something new in your next trip, perhaps you’d like to go to the Korea Travel Fair 2024?! I hear they’ve invited some regional tourism organizations from Busan, Gangwon do, Gwangju, Jeju and Yeosu to share more about those destinations. But that’s not all. There are workshops and different activities at the travel fair as well. And apparently - there’s even freebies and travel discounts at the event too!  Fiona Lee, Marketing Manager, Korea Tourism Organization, joins Hongbin Jeong on K-WAVE to tell us more about the event. 

Ice-cream, sauces, seasoning powders, dish soaps, shampoos, deodorants, laundry detergent and hand sanitisers.  There is one common factor linking all these products together – and that’s they are all fast moving consumer goods or FMCGs. In fact our guest for today is part of one of the world’s leading FMCG firms Unilever.  That is the company behind brands such as Lipton, Knorr, Dove, Hellmann’s as well as your Wall’s Ice-Cream, Lifebuoy hand soap and Comfort fabric softener.  More specifically, we are speaking to Unilever International. Founded in 2012, Unilever International is the white space partner for Unilever, and was set up to serve emerging and fast growing geographies, consumers, customers and channels created worldwide as a result of mega trends such as globalisation, migration and digital commerce.  Fast forward to today, Unilever International operates out of eight key hubs in major cities such as London, Rotterdam, Singapore, Dubai, Mumbai and Seoul.   It also provided over 100 million consumers in remote markets like Yemen, Mongolia and East Timor access to Unilever products, such as Wall’s ice cream and Vaseline lip balm. But how rewarding is it for the firm to build supply chains outside of major cities where the dollars and cents are concerned? Meanwhile, Unilever International had last year expanded its network of partnerships to the travel sector, serving over 50 Fortune 500 companies like IHG Hotels, Marriott, Delta Airlines, Singapore Airlines with items such as Dove amenities in room or in-flight, reaching over 200 million consumers per annum. But how far will that translate into earnings for Unilever as a whole? On Under the Radar, The Evening Runway’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Aseem Puri, Global CEO of Unilever International. 

Are you looking to stay away from the typical jam-packed tourist trail? Maybe it’s time to travel off the radar and consider a place like Mongolia. Mongolia is a hidden gem that offers the perfect blend of nature, culture and solo activities. And it’s definitely not crowded. There are around 67 million animals to nearly 3.5 million people in Mongolia; so, animals outnumber people.  Buyandelger Ganbaatar, the Country Director Of Nomadic Expeditions and Three Camel Lodgeshares his travel tips.  Presented by: Hongbin Jeong and Roshan Gidwani Feature produced and edited by: Nadiah Koh  Do you have a story to tell on The Evening Runway show? Contact nadkoh@sph.com.sg

In August 2004, a significant moment in Singapore's history unfolded as then Deputy Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong was sworn in as Prime Minister. Among the distinguished guests, one attendee stood out – a 14-year-old girl with an extraordinary story. On What's Trending, Hongbin Jeong and Roshan Gidwani speaks to Clara Lock, Assistant Life Editor, The Straits Times, to share how a letter to PM Lee Hsien Loong changed her life. Presented by: Hongbin Jeong and Roshan Gidwani Produced and Edited by: Alexandra Parada (alexparada@sph.com.sg) Want to get featured on our show? Drop me an email today!

A passionate enthusiast from Singapore whose love for Barbie dolls extends beyond mere collection. With over 12,000 Barbies, 500 Transformers, and a treasure trove of '80s and '90s toys, his journey goes beyond shelves filled with dolls. On R.I.C.H., Hongbin Jeong and Roshan Gidwani speaks to Jian Yang, Managing Partner and Head of Strategy, Distilleri, to find out more about his Barbie collection journey. Presented by: Hongbin Jeong and Roshan Gidwani Produced and Edited by: Alexandra Parada (alexparada@sph.com.sg) Want to get featured on our show? Drop me an email today!