Singapore’s retail sector is facing intensifying pressure. While nearly 90% of registered retail entities are locally owned, the rapid expansion of Chinese brands across F&B, fashion, beauty and lifestyle has sharpened competition in malls and prime retail spaces. But beyond brand visibility, the real strain lies in a cost environment and competitive model that increasingly rewards scale, speed and capital strength.

Dr Lawrence Loh, Director of the Centre for Governance and Sustainability at NUS Business School, joins the Breakfast Show to examine whether this moment marks a passing competitive wave or a longer-term reset of Singapore’s retail landscape, and what it will take for local SMEs to stay resilient in a market that is evolving faster than ever.