Instagram-Famous ‘Taobao’ Peach Seller Opens Dessert Café

There’s a very popular online business called ‘Taobao’, but we’re not referring to the Chinese e-retail giant. Instead of everything under the sun, this Instagram-famous Taobao sells only peaches. And its name (‘桃宝’ in Chinese) is a pun on the OG Taobao and the Chinese words for ‘peach’ and ‘treasure’).

Its owner, Jeremy Khoo, 32, started his Taobao biz in 2015. He sells his peaches by announcing ‘launches’ via Instagram when the fruit is in season, and customers could place their orders for the peaches — which are sold by the carton — on a first come, first served basis. Each launch typically sells out in under a day.

He told 8days.sg that he serendipitously started selling peaches as his dad works at Pasir Panjang Wholesale Centre dealing with the import and export of vegetables, and has access to good quality peaches. As he has minimal overhead costs, his fruits are also priced slightly lower than supermarkets’ retail price (around $2.20 a peach, instead of the average $3, though prices vary depending on the season and the peaches’ country of origin).