Ya Kun Kaya Toast (; ), often colloquially known just as Ya Kun (), is a Singaporean chain of mass-market, retro-ambience cafés selling toast products (notably kaya toast), soft-boiled eggs and coffee. Founded by Loi Ah Koon in 1944, Ya Kun remained a small family-run stall for decades, but has expanded rapidly since Loi's youngest son headed the business in 1999. The chain has over fifty outlets, mostly franchised, across 14 countries, and is a Singaporean cultural icon, known for its traditional brand identity and conservative, people-centric corporate culture.
History
In 1926, Loi Ah Koon (; HTS: ) emigrated from Hainan to Singapore, where he worked as a coffee-stall assistant. He later went on to start his own business with two other immigrants. They sold coffee, crackers and toast at Telok Ayer Basin, however, his two partners later dropped out, leaving him to run the stall alone. He married while visiting relatives in Hainan, his wife later settled down with him in Singapore. She worked alongside him and later suggested cutting each slice of bread into half and combining the toast with her homemade kaya, this became their signature kaya toast. Registered in 1944 as Ya Kun Coffeestall (Ya Kun being Ah Koon in Hanyu Pinyin), the stall gradually developed a reputation for delicious kaya toast and friendly service. As the children grew up, they began to help stir the kaya, run errands,), took over the business, in 2002 and have since expanded their menu (adding ice cream toast and the Toastwich).
Products and stores
thumb|right|Kaya toast with boiled eggs and coffee is the signature dish of Ya Kun Kaya Toast.
Ya Kun Kaya Toast has over forty Singaporean outlets, about half of which are franchised, and over thirty overseas outlets,); they plan to expand to Brunei, India, Malaysia, the Maldives, and Thailand in future. with wooden tables and stools, posters about their history, using recipes that only a few of the Loi family know.
See also
- Vegetarian Society (Singapore)