Presenting 24 prestigious awards and unveiling 2 new recognition awards to showcase the driving forces behind outstanding growth and best practices in today’s franchising landscape
The Franchising and Licensing Association Awards (FLA Awards) 2023, held last night and served as the 17th edition, celebrated and honoured outstanding achievers in the franchising and license industry. The ceremony was graced by Ms Low Yen Ling, Minister of State for the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth.
The centrepiece of this year’s FLA Awards 2023 are the highly coveted ‘Franchisor of the Year,’ ‘International Franchisor of the Year’ and ‘Promising Franchisor of the Year.’ These awards signify a badge of honour in the industry, instilling confidence and a true testament to local brands’ ability to achieve global competitiveness. Since its inception in 2005, over 280 brands have received recognition from the FLA Awards and this year, the awards have launched 2 new recognitions – the ‘Franchise Manager Award’ and the ‘Franchise Leader Award’ to give accolades to employees and business leaders who have shown exemplary performance in inspiring and taking the brands to new heights.
“Franchising and licensing are the driving forces behind accelerated business growth in today’s dynamic economic landscape. At FLA (Singapore), we proudly lead the way in recognising and celebrating excellence in this impactful industry. Our unwavering commitment to raising standards and fostering a vibrant community of franchise professionals sets the stage for Singapore to emerge as the hub of franchising and licensing in Asia,” shared Mr Dickson Low, President of the Franchising and Licensing Association (Singapore).
An impressive 26 nominations poured in, spanning 11 Award Categories and involving 14 distinguished companies, representing a total of 11 exceptional brands. At the ceremony, 24 awards were presented across 11 categories, involving 13 companies and 10 brands[1].
One of the success stories comes from GOPIZZA, a South Korean food chain. Their journey began in 2016 with a humble food truck and has now expanded to over 200 global stores across 6 countries. Kelvin Sia, the Regional CEO of GOPIZZA Singapore, received the ‘Franchise Manager’ award. Despite the challenges of the pandemic in April 2020, he revitalized the Singapore business, launched the 10th franchise within six months, and earned the ‘Promising Franchisor of the Year’ title. He reflected, “Our journey is a testament to innovation and determination. We thrived through the pandemic, expanding our presence and empowering employees to embark on their entrepreneurial journeys.”
7-Eleven Singapore, the Overall Winner of the prestigious ‘Franchisor of the Year’, operates almost 500 stores across the island with more than half being franchised, capturing a substantial 70% market share. Mr. Jaymes Lee Kim Meng, Franchise Owner at 88 Enterprises, the franchisee of 7-Eleven Singapore and the runner-up for ‘Franchisee Of The Year’, expressed, “From our May 2021 debut to acquiring our 6th outlet at Woodlands Circle on September 1st, 2023, we’ve been on an exhilarating journey of exponential growth. Our partnership with 7-Eleven Singapore has been an exciting ride, and this achievement reflects our unwavering commitment to expansion.”
The Overall Winner of ‘International Franchisor of the Year’, JUMBO Seafood, which serves our beloved Singapore’s award-winning Chilli Crab dish, has a remarkable presence in the international market, with a total of 23 outlets worldwide, comprising 11 franchised and 12 corporate-owned locations. Among these, C J Seafood Company Limited has been successfully operating and managing JUMBO Seafood in Bangkok, Thailand since November 2018. Their launch of the second outlet in 2021 showcased extraordinary resilience and success. “This accomplishment solidifies our commitment to elevating standards and expanding the presence of Singapore brands on the global stage,” expressed the winner of Commendable International Franchise Partner, Ms Malida Chinsupakul, Director of C J Seafood Company Limited.
Another local hero, Poke Theory, which was founded in 2016 now has a total of 16 stores (in Singapore, Bali, Surabaya & Ho Chi Minh). Remaining true to our brand values, we use planet-friendly disposables, handcrafted sauces and offer nutritious meals at affordable prices, promoting healthy eating as a choice, not a privilege. “We are committed to taking our brand worldwide and hope to replicate the success we’ve achieved back home in Singapore & Vietnam,” shared Nicole Hoang, Managing Director, HHH Enterprise, the master franchisee (ASEAN markets) of Poke Theory. For further information, please visit https://flasingapore.org/.
[1] Please refer to the appendix for the full list of 17th Editon FLA Awards 2023 winners
Dickson Low
President, Franchising and Licensing Association (Singapore)
Dickson Low, a 58-year-old Singaporean, is a seasoned figure in the food and beverage industry with
over 30 years of management experience in both Singapore and Malaysia. Within FLA Singapore, Dickson holds a pivotal role in overseeing the association’s strategic direction and government relations.
He was also the Director and Co-founder of Revenue Valley Group and served as the Chief Executive Officer until 2020. One of the Co-founded brands, The Manhattan FISH MARKET, won consecutive ‘Franchise Brand of the Year’ awards in Malaysia from 2016 to 2017 and expanded to 14 countries through franchising.
Over the course of the last 18 years, Dickson has also introduced and managed a number of F&B brands in Malaysia, including Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, Tony Roma’s, TR FireGrill, Nice Catch Seafood, Dapolah, and New York Steak Shack. In these roles, he played a key role in company growth, profitability, and maintaining high standards in the restaurant business.
Dickson is an ‘operations-focused’ leader, who advanced from a frontline role in the F&B industry to his current portfolio. In an industry that demands constant innovation and transformation, his key strength lies in developing, understanding, and training people for advancement, including expanding brands into new territories, which requires a combination of survival skills, courage, and foresight.
