cutieboy86
12-01-2007, 06:58 PM
Marche to open in VivoCity next month
12 Jan 07
MARCH will come early for Marche when it opens its first fully owned and managed flagship store in the Asia-Pacific region at VivoCity next month.
According to Josef Dohmen, Marche International's director of culinary (Asia-Pacific), Singapore pipped Hong Kong for the honour.
Those who will miss Marche's franchised outlet at Suntec City, which closes next week, won't have to wait long to satisfy their taste buds. Marche International will open its new 7,000 sq ft store at VivoCity in the second week of February. And the official opening will be in - you guessed it - March.
The outlet, which cost $3.5 million to set up, will also act as the training ground for Marche's businesses and franchisees in the Asia-Pacific region, including China.
Mr Dohmen said Marche has received many franchise enquiries from China but is looking for a Singapore or Hong Kong company familiar with the Chinese market to join it to spearhead the move there.
He is optimistic that with the right partners, Marche will be able to open five to six outlets in such cities as Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou and Shenzhen within five years. Other countries on the Marche list are Taiwan and Japan.
Although a Swiss concept, Marche started in Stuttgart, Germany, in 1983 and today has more than 80 outlets worldwide.
It opened in Singapore in 1997 at The Heeren, in Orchard Road, offering European-styled cuisine and the Swiss national dish, rosti.
It is popular with Singaporeans because diners can walk around the various stalls to order what they like, then move into a cosy corner to eat.
To make the new dining experience at VivoCity as authentic as possible, two antique Alpine huts were dismantled piece by piece and shipped to Singapore, where Swiss and German craftsmen are helping local tradesmen to re-assemble the 500-year-old wood buildings.
The interior of the store, conceptualised by a Swiss designer, will also feature mountain rocks, wall murals and a cable car.
It will be able to seat 240 people, and Marche hopes the 15 tonnes of 15th-16th century wood imported from Adelboden, a village in the Swiss mountains, will make them feel they are in the Alps.
Bread lovers will be pleased to know the new outlet will feature a 'natural' bakery offering 100 per cent home-styled bread and fresh focaccias.
And for early starters, Marche will introduce for the first time in the Asia Pacific region, the Marche Breakfast and Brunch which is very successful at its outlets in Europe.
By ARTHUR LEE
12 Jan 07
MARCH will come early for Marche when it opens its first fully owned and managed flagship store in the Asia-Pacific region at VivoCity next month.
According to Josef Dohmen, Marche International's director of culinary (Asia-Pacific), Singapore pipped Hong Kong for the honour.
Those who will miss Marche's franchised outlet at Suntec City, which closes next week, won't have to wait long to satisfy their taste buds. Marche International will open its new 7,000 sq ft store at VivoCity in the second week of February. And the official opening will be in - you guessed it - March.
The outlet, which cost $3.5 million to set up, will also act as the training ground for Marche's businesses and franchisees in the Asia-Pacific region, including China.
Mr Dohmen said Marche has received many franchise enquiries from China but is looking for a Singapore or Hong Kong company familiar with the Chinese market to join it to spearhead the move there.
He is optimistic that with the right partners, Marche will be able to open five to six outlets in such cities as Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou and Shenzhen within five years. Other countries on the Marche list are Taiwan and Japan.
Although a Swiss concept, Marche started in Stuttgart, Germany, in 1983 and today has more than 80 outlets worldwide.
It opened in Singapore in 1997 at The Heeren, in Orchard Road, offering European-styled cuisine and the Swiss national dish, rosti.
It is popular with Singaporeans because diners can walk around the various stalls to order what they like, then move into a cosy corner to eat.
To make the new dining experience at VivoCity as authentic as possible, two antique Alpine huts were dismantled piece by piece and shipped to Singapore, where Swiss and German craftsmen are helping local tradesmen to re-assemble the 500-year-old wood buildings.
The interior of the store, conceptualised by a Swiss designer, will also feature mountain rocks, wall murals and a cable car.
It will be able to seat 240 people, and Marche hopes the 15 tonnes of 15th-16th century wood imported from Adelboden, a village in the Swiss mountains, will make them feel they are in the Alps.
Bread lovers will be pleased to know the new outlet will feature a 'natural' bakery offering 100 per cent home-styled bread and fresh focaccias.
And for early starters, Marche will introduce for the first time in the Asia Pacific region, the Marche Breakfast and Brunch which is very successful at its outlets in Europe.
By ARTHUR LEE