As reported by The Straits Times, Bishan resident Angie Khoo enjoyed budget-friendly grocery shopping on Nov 7, filling her bags with more than 10kg of chicken, ribs, and frozen pork chops at half price from the Project Zero Waste Marketplace. The ground-up initiative held its eighth edition at Bishan Community Club, drawing hundreds of residents seeking affordable essentials amid rising cost-of-living pressures.
Vendors Slashed Prices on Surplus Goods to Ease Household Budgets as Inflation Accelerated
- Household Budget Relief: Over 20 vendors slashed prices by 50% to 70% on surplus goods, near-expiry food, and imperfect packaging.
- Macroeconomic Context: Singapore’s overall price increase for all households reached 1.7% year-on-year in the first half of 2026, accelerating from 0.9% in late 2025 according to the Department of Statistics.
Bishan Residents Stock Up on Discounted Goods as Inflation Persists
The marketplace drew shoppers from across housing estates, with some traveling from Woodlands or Bedok to stock up on daily necessities. According to The Straits Times, the ground-up initiative started in 2023 to rescue surplus food. On Nov 7, the community club welcomed an array of goods brought by a cohort exceeding 20 vendors, which spanned large-scale food distributors alongside local vegetable farmers.
People talk about the cost of living. If you know where to look, you can actually find a lot of other (affordable) stuff out there,
said Ms Khoo, the general manager of a motor company who purchased over 10kg of meat at half price.
Figures released by the Department of Statistics show that year-on-year inflation for all households stood at 1.7% during the opening six months of 2026. This marked an acceleration from the 0.9% pace recorded in the second half of 2025, intensifying pressure on consumer wallets.
Distributors Clear Short-Expiry Stock Below Cost
Vendors utilized the marketplace to move inventory that standard supermarket channels reject due to tight sell-by dates. Frozen food distributor CS Tay, which has participated since 2025, brought items like chicken midwings expiring in less than six months. The company mostly clears its stocks at the marketplace. It also sees this as a form of charity, by helping lower-income families buy the products at affordable prices,
said head of sales Karen Tan, as reported by The Straits Times.
Other distributors priced items below cost to avoid total waste. Food distributor Lim Siang Huat offered ready-to-cook paste and instant noodles at prices lower than wholesale cost. One customer actually bought a carton of noodles. He tried it the last time (at the previous marketplace) and liked it a lot,
said Lissa Goh, head of trade marketing at Lim Siang Huat.
| Item Category | Marketplace Pricing | Estimated Discount |
|---|---|---|
| Frozen Pork Chops, Ribs, Chicken | 50% off retail | 50% |
| Canned Baked Beans | $1 each | 50% to 70% |
| Steamed Buns | $2 | 50% to 70% |
| Assorted Fruit Box (“Buffet”) | $8.90 per box | ~50% |
Community Volunteers Scale Up Food Rescue Operations
The initiative originated from a volunteer food rescue project launched in 2022 by the Bishan East-Sin Ming Green Action Committee. Sylvia Loh, chairperson of the committee, explained that the team initially gathered donations of surplus or near-expiry food and distributed them for free to residents every month. Organizers subsequently established the marketplace to help vendors recover partial costs while raising product awareness.
Especially with the rising cost of living, some might find it is a good time to stock up for their daily necessities or festive events,
Ms Loh stated. During a parliamentary debate in September, Members of Parliament addressed food waste reduction amid rising food prices driven by hotter weather and geopolitical conflicts in the Middle East.
Parallel distribution efforts occurred elsewhere on Nov 7. In Queenstown, roughly 100 volunteers collected donated items from drop-off points and delivered them to the charity Hao Ren Hao Shi. The charity distributed the provisions to nearly 500 residents in need through a collaborative drive involving 10 community partners, 10 Residents’ Networks, and six corporate partners.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.
