FairPrice Group (FPG) has partnered with Ant International to expand international payment acceptance for global travellers across its outlets and launch the new Cheers Mini App on Alipay.
The new Mini App is a dedicated virtual concierge for Chinese tourists in Singapore, designed to guide and support them throughout their visit from pre-arrival to pre-departure.
The partnership supports the needs of mobile-savvy travellers, who are increasingly travelling more independently and spending more at local supermarkets, convenience stores and local F&B.
More than 500 FPG outlets, which include supermarkets, convenience stores, pharmacies and local food courts, will now be able to accept cross-border mobile payments from 18 Alipay+ international partners, enabling more seamless experiences for travellers visiting Singapore.
With the launch of the Cheers mini-app on Alipay, it will also enhance travel and retail experiences for Chinese visitors by helping them discover, navigate, and enjoy local finds at over 180 Cheers stores across the island.
Cheers is the convenience store arm of FPG, and the first convenience store in Singapore to collaborate with Alipay+ to launch a dedicated mini app on its partner’s payment platform.
Vipul Chawla, Group CEO, FairPrice Group said that Alipay’s existing availability in Singapore (Alipay SG) and standing as a platform that Chinese consumers know and trust enables Cheers to seamlessly deliver discovery, transactions, and rewards to tourists.
“As the nation’s largest retailer, FPG is deeply committed to making every day a little better for those we serve. Our convenience banner Cheers is key to how we keep things easy on the experience for our customers, and we are incredibly excited to kick off this first-in-Singapore partnership with Alipay+ to redefine retail for Chinese tourists.”
Peng Yang, CEO of Ant International, said AI-powered digitisation tools of Alipay+ will help their partners obtain and engage consumers in richer, more imaginative and safer ways.
The app supports tourists through all key stages of their trip. The Cheers Mini App can be found on the Alipay Singapore homepage, and provides recommendations by category, popularity, and availability in stores so travellers can plan shopping lists even before boarding their plane to Singapore.
Visitors can get an in-app voucher for a complimentary bottle of FairPrice Coconut Water (330ml) upon completing simple in-app tasks after arrival.
During their stay, tourists will receive location-based recommendations throughout their stay for products available in nearby Cheers outlets, and can participate in exclusive challenges to unlock special deals and win prizes.
Also, a curated catalog of over 500 products, including popular snacks and souvenirs, is available with a wishlist function and store mapping for convenient gift purchases and pick up before the journey home.
Cheers has also provided training in basic Mandarin to staff at 30 selected Cheers stores. Staff in these outlets will be able to deliver Mandarin greetings and essential phrases to Chinese tourists, ensuring a more familiar and easy shopping experience.
To elevate every visitor’s stay, 30 Cheers stores — located near Singapore’s most popular tourist spots — have been stocked with travel essentials and a dedicated Singapore souvenir shelf featuring local favourites like chilli crab paste, salted egg, fish skin, durian candy, and bak kwa.
