During Singapore’s “circuit breaker” period to slow the local transmission of Covid-19, the once-crowded malls became ghost towns with hardly any shops open. Only those deemed “essential businesses”, such as certain food outlets and supermarkets, were allowed to stay open. And even then, the food outlets were open for takeaway or delivery only, and supermarkets often saw long queues as shoppers emptied the shelves of essential goods. People were also advised to stay home and head out only when absolutely necessary.
Covid-19 is forcing F&B and retailers to step up their online presence. In a parallel move, consumers — even the older ones — are taking to online shopping more actively than ever before
In the past years, malls were a common place for people to head to for food, retail therapy, as well as entertainment. But the Covid-19 pandemic has changed all that.
