Retro Valley Chef Chicken Franks Make Exclusive Comeback At NTUC FairPrice, Supermarket Reassures There Is Enough Stock At All Outlets
It looks like Arctic Roll is not the only retro food item making a comeback in Singapore’s supermarkets.
Folks who grew up in the’ 90s would remember Valley Chef Chicken Franks, the popular American-made hotdog brand with the iconic packaging featuring a chef giving an ‘OK’ sign. The frozen hotdogs disappeared from retail freezers in 2022, and its local social media page stopped updating in December that year.
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Manufacturer went bankrupt
A possible explanation for the disappearance is that Valley Chef’s manufacturer, fourth generation-owned Zacky Farms, filed for bankruptcy in 2018 as it owed US$50mil to $100mil (S$65.5mil to $131mil) to creditors. It also announced that it was closing down, farming news portal Feedstuffs reported.
The following year, American poultry company Foster Farms succeeded in its US$31mil bid to acquire 19 California poultry farms from Zacky Farms.
It’s back
But, just as abrupt as its exit from the Singapore market, the Chef is back in town. On Oct 16, the brand suddenly revealed on Facebook that the chicken franks are making a comeback exclusively at NTUC FairPrice outlets.
It went under the radar, until TikTokers discovered the product and it eventually went viral online. A pack of chicken franks now costs $4.50, which is significantly pricier than what this writer remembers from her childhood.
Netizens say it’s sold out, but…
There were comments online that the viral hotdogs have sold out at several FairPrice outlets. 8days.sg checked with the supermarket chain’s PR rep, who told us that there is adequate stock for Valley Chef Chicken Franks at all outlets, and that the FairPrice had “prepared in advance knowing many people miss it and will buy it a lot”.
Valley Chef Chicken Franks are available at all NTUC FairPrice supermarket outlets and on www.fairprice.com.sg. More updates on www.facebook.com/valleychefsg.
Main photo: TikTok/ @apeakfood, NTUC FairPrice
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