Commentary: LlaoLlao’s Sudden Uplorry Could Be Due to Something Else?

For the entirety of last night, I’ve been browsing the internet, scurrying around different forums like a rat.

Why? Well, because I was certain that I’ll have to write an article regarding the departure of llaollao from the local market and its replacement, Yole.

From what I have observed so far, most netizens shared one common opinion.

“Aiya, it’s because no one eats at llaollao any more lah!”

You get the idea. If we were to take a look at the queue at a llaollao store…

…oh, wait. Sorry. There is no queue.

At least, the queues weren’t as crazy as they used to be.

In the past, the queues were like snakes. Now? Just visit any store today and you’ll see people eating snakes instead of queuing like snakes.

There are also people who agree that llaollao stores are not as popular as before, like the post below.

“trend die down already. Llao llao hardly got any queue”, said the forumer.

However, is the business really bad enough to warrant a full retreat for llaollao? It’s not as if their business is horrible either.

Admittedly, the queues were a lot shorter than before. However, sometimes, I do see a short queue of 4 to 5 people in front of their stores every now and then.

Which is why the following comment (and a few other similar ones) caught my attention.

For those of you who can’t read the comment:

“It’s franchiser-franchisee disagreement la. Wait a few months, the franchiser will come Singapore and open their own shops. Just like Gong Cha like that and Sinkies will queue overnight to be first in line.”

Hmm, could this be another Gong Cha incident?

To refresh your memories, RTG Holdings, which manages Gong Cha in Singapore, decided to break away from Unison Capital, a Japanese private equity firm which owns the parent company of Gong Cha due to a change in contractual terms.

Basically, yeah. They probably couldn’t agree on something.

According to Channel NewsAsia, D+1 Holding, the master franchisee of llaollao in Singapore, did not reveal why they will not be continuing the franchise.

As such, we could only speculate for now(if they decide to ever reveal the reasons, that is).

“Objectively, we believe Yole is a better product and has a wider menu. We also firmly believe that Yole will suit the Singapore market with exciting flavour innovations and well-known toppings from Spain and Italy,” said a spokesperson from D+1 Holdings.

Well, he did outrightly say that Yole is a better product. Geez, if that’s not a great way to declare war on a franchise, I don’t know what is.

Perhaps it is true that something has happened between the companies.

Perhaps when llaollao decides to make an epic come back (like 6 months later, maybe?), people will start queueing up for llaollao again, just like Gong Cha.

Anyway, let’s hope that Yole will be a good enough replacement for llaollao. I am looking forward to their coconut soft-serve ice cream TBH.

And if this is a new marketing tactic called “absence makes the heart fonder”, which is founded by Gong Cha, all I can say is that it’s working.

Since you’re here, why not watch a video about an NTU student who went all out to impress his crush, only to end up in…tragedy? Here, watch it and do remember to share it (and also subscribe to Goody Feed YouTube channel)!

This article was first published on goodyfeed.com

Read Also

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Image: channelnewsasia.com