F&B brands you may not have known are still open under stricter circuit breaker rules

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SINGAPORE — Most bubble tea outlets, snack shops and confectioneries were shut on Wednesday (April 22), after the Government set out tighter restrictions on food-and-beverage (F&B) businesses. 

The Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) has mandated the closure of standalone outlets that sell predominantly drinks, packaged snacks and desserts such as donuts, pastries, cakes, cookies and soya bean milk. 

Businesses can sell food products for online deliveries or take-out, but the items must be made in a central kitchen, warehouse or manufacturing facility. F&B operators, however, have to stop manufacturing a list of specified items, including chocolate, tidbits, ice-cream, cakes and confectionery. 

Outlets in hawker centres, food courts and coffee shops will not be affected, and stores that sell meals have been given the green light to continue.

Despite the enhanced measures, TODAY found a number of such places that will remain open during the circuit breaker.

CAFES AND COFFEE JOINTS

Standalone outlets that offer mainly drinks like coffee or bubble tea must close. 

But cafes and coffee joints may still continue operations if they also focus on serving hot meals and do not serve desserts.

Those in need of a caffeine fix can still get takeaway and delivery coffee and tea from Starbucks and The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf.

For some local kopi or teh, Toast Box, which has limited outlets open, and Ya Kun Kaya Toast are still available for orders to-go. 

Those looking for artisanal coffee can order from Baristart Coffee Singapore. While it has closed its Sentosa outlet, its Tras Street outlet in Tanjong Pagar remains open for delivery and takeaway. 

DESSERTS

While most bubble tea shops are closed — much to the dismay of Singaporeans — a handful of bubble tea chains that serve food are allowed to stay open this period, provided that customers buy food as part of their orders. 

Taiwanese chain I Love Taimei remains open for Singaporeans to get their bubble tea fix, but it has stopped accepting bubble-tea-only orders, and is limiting orders to either two combos or two food items with two drinks. 

Monga Fried Chicken Singapore also has a few bubble tea options available, but as with I Love Taimei, they must be bought with food. 

BAKERIES

Confectioneries that focus on selling baked goods, such as donuts, pastries, cookies, kuehs and cakes, must close. 

But bakeries that sell mostly bread may remain open. 

Non-bread items that are already in the shop’s inventory may be sold, but the business must not manufacture any more of these items. 

As such, BreadTalk will remain open, but will stop selling chilled cakes by Wednesday. 

French cafe chain Delifrance, likewise, remains open for takeaway and delivery. 

Those looking to munch on hipster pastries can also order from Tiong Bahru Bakery. All five of its outlets remain open. 

Meanwhile, ketogenic bakery Seriously Keto has closed its store, but remains operational for home delivery services. 

SNACKS

While shops selling pre-packaged snacks predominantly can no longer stay open, those selling cooked snacks or hot food items can stay in business. 

Those looking for an afternoon snack can order take-outs from Old Chang Kee, with most of its outlets remaining open. 

Shihlin Taiwan Street Snacks, which serves deep-fried chicken and oyster mee sua, also remains open.