Colour-Coded Labels Introduced to Improve Price Transparency at Popular Food Courts
A new initiative has been introduced at Koufu outlets across Singapore, providing clear and colour-coded price labels for all dishes at economy rice stalls. Launched on March 24, the scheme is aimed at reducing confusion and disputes over pricing at food courts and coffee shops. Led by Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) president Melvin Yong and Koufu CFO Chua Sher Lin, the rollout began at the Hong Le Mixed Veg Rice stall in Plantation Plaza’s Koufu food court.
The initiative ensures that seafood, meat, and vegetable dishes are each assigned distinct price labels. Premium items will feature handwritten labels to clearly communicate their cost. Many Singaporeans have expressed their approval of the change, with one observer commenting, “Finally!”
Yong explained that the decision was prompted by frequent complaints from customers who were unsure of the prices when selecting their dishes. “The lack of clear price indications often led to disagreements at the counter. Colour-coded labels will enable customers to make better-informed decisions and prevent pricing disputes,” he said.
By the end of 2025, all 77 Koufu food courts and coffee shops will have adopted this new pricing system, which aims to create transparency for both customers and stall operators. Chua remarked that the change would benefit both parties, promoting fairness and clarity in the pricing process.
This move has sparked positive reactions from Singaporeans, with some users on Reddit praising it as a “great start” to ensure price transparency across food establishments. Others suggested that it should be expanded to other economy rice stalls at coffee shops, especially when there are discrepancies in dish prices from day to day.
Some lighter comments were shared, with one user joking about the potential confusion that might arise over whether certain dishes like spinach fried with ikan bilis should be classified as seafood. Others mused about whether eggs should be considered a vegetable or meat, as different stalls have varying pricing for the same dish.
Despite these playful remarks, the overall response has been overwhelmingly supportive, with many welcoming the much-needed transparency in pricing at local food stalls.
Leave a Reply