FairPrice pledges to perform its social role to serve, care and share with not just its customers, but also the society and nation.
The world is getting smaller and global events are no longer distant and removed from our daily lives. FairPrice is thankful to be able to make a big difference to both the local and global communities.
Gulf War
During the Gulf War, there was anxiety and panic buying. FairPrice took the initiative to allay fears of rice shortage by ensuring ample supplies and stabilised prices for rice.
SARS
When SARS broke out in 2003, FairPrice helped to pack and deliver food to those who were quarantined and when the Pasir Panjang wholesale market was temporarily closed.
FairPrice helped to stabilize vegetable prices with its prompt response in importing more vegetables from other sources such as Australia. FairPrice even had to cap the purchase of vegetables per consumer to prevent traders from sweeping the stocks off its racks.
Avian Flu in 2004
FairPrice acted swiftly to put in place precautionary measures to curb profiteering by traders. Measures that restricted the purchase of eggs were unpopular but necessary to help deter traders from buying them in bulk and re-selling them at higher prices.
When the import ban was lifted and the supply returned to normal, prices of eggs remained high. FairPrice worked closely with suppliers to bring down the prices of eggs.
We took the initiative to reduce the price of Malaysian eggs from S$2.10 to S$1.50 for 10 eggs. This helped to restore the price to the pre-ban level for the benefit of consumers.
When the ban was imposed on Malaysian poultry and eggs in August 2004, FairPrice brought in the largest quantity of imported eggs from Australia and New Zealand. This helped to alleviate the egg shortage and moderated the rapid increases in egg price.
In addition to holding down the prices of frozen chicken from our existing stockpile, we took immediate steps to increase frozen poultry imports from Brazil, the United States and Europe.
FairPrice also increased its meat supplies such as fish, seafood, pork and beef to meet the demand from customers who preferred to switch to alternative sources of meat.
Asian Tsunami in 2004
FairPrice contributed more than S$50,000 worth of food essentials towards victims affected by the Asian tsunami disaster. FairPrice senior management led members of its staff volunteer club, Club V, in putting together 5,000 food relief packages at its Upper Thomson Road warehouse.
Each package contained staple food items like rice, milk and biscuits. FairPrice also sold S$10 Food Relief Packages at its supermarkets for donation towards tsunami victimseven though the retail value of the package was over S$13.
The items were dispatched to the victims through humanitarian aid agencies such as Mercy Relief and Singapore Red Cross.
Pakistan Earthquake in 2005
NTUC FairPrice contributed S$5,000 worth of food through Mercy Relief and placed Red Cross donation tins at supermarkets to gather donations from members of the public.
Dengue Outbreak in 2005
Special anti-mozzies corners were set up at FairPrice outlets to sell anti-dengue products during the dengue fever outbreak in Singapore. During a visit by NTUC and union leaders to construction sites, FairPrice sponsored 1,000 sets of goody bags that were distributed to workers.
United Nations Global Compact
In 2005, NTUC FairPrice became a founding signatory to the Singapore network of the United Nations Global Compact, and is supportive of the 10 United Nations principles as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility journey.
Singapore 2006
FairPrice provided one million bottles of FairPrice housebrand drinking water for more than 16,000 delegates at Singapore 2006, one of the largest series of international meetings ever held in Singapore in September 2006.
Partner in National Emergency Food Plan
In times of peace, FairPrice continues to play its social role. As a major food provider, FairPrice is an integral player in the national emergency food plan.
We have invested millions of dollars in a fresh food distribution centre and a central warehouse. Apart from productivity gains, the distribution centres have also enabled us to play our social role more effectively - lowering our cost of operation and passing on the cost savings to consumers, and providing the public with quality products and food safety through better cold chain management.
Contribution Towards China Earthquake Relief Effort in 2008
In May 2008, FairPrice helped to drive the Singapore Red Cross China Earthquake Appeal by offering our network of more than 200 stores across Singapore for the public to make donations. To kick start the donation drive, FairPrice donated S$20,000 towards the China earthquake relief effort. With generous support from customers, FairPrice helped to raise a total of S$155,740.
Contribution to Rebuild Lives for Disaster Victims in The Philippines and Indonesia in 2009
In October 2009, FairPrice rallied the community to raise funds for the Singapore Red Cross' Philippines Tropical Storm Appeal and the Padang (Sumatra) Earthquake Appeal. Members of the public were able to contribute their donations at over 230 FairPrice stores islandwide, including Cheers and FairPrice Xpress stores. All donations were earmarked for the relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts for survivors of the disasters. To kick start the donation drive, FairPrice donated S$20,000 towards this cause.
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