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Before that mouthwatering lor bak lands on your dining table, a lot happens behind the scenes – from live pig imports from Malaysia to local butchering and daily deliveries of fresh meat to FairPrice stores

FairPrice Group brings in fresh Malaysia pork via its subsidiary OJJ Foods, with live pigs arriving by sea before being butchered and packed locally for optimal quality.

PHOTO: FAIRPRICE GROUP

Published Feb 10, 2026, 04:00 AM

Updated Feb 10, 2026, 04:00 AM

Spare ribs and pork belly. These are staples that Madam Lim Ah Soi, 71, reaches for during her weekly grocery run. She then skilfully transforms them into delicious dishes that her family loves, such as watercress soup with pork ribs and lor bak (braised pork belly).

However, not any kind of pork will do. The office administrator insists on only using fresh Malaysia pork, which is sold at a FairPrice supermarket located near her home.

“My dishes are often stir-fried, braised, or soups, and Malaysia pork is well-suited for these kinds of dishes,” she says. “It is more tender, and I feel the meat is  ‘sweeter’ and has a less ‘porky’ smell because of its quality and freshness.”

Madam Lim’s preference is right on the nose, as these choice cuts are delivered fresh daily to FairPrice outlets through pork supplier OJJ Foods, a subsidiary of FairPrice Group. Live pigs arrive from Malaysia by sea to Singapore, where they are then butchered and packed locally to ensure optimal quality.

“FairPrice Group is the only supermarket retailer in Singapore that offers Malaysia pork,” says Mr David Goh, chief executive officer of FairPrice Supermarket.

He notes: “Our customers look at the colour of the meat, and even ask our butchers what arrived that morning. Many of them, especially those who cook daily, can tell immediately if the pork is fresh.

“By importing live pigs and butchering them here in Singapore, we’re able to offer pork that is noticeably fresher, with better texture and natural sweetness,” he adds. 

According to The Singapore Food Agency’s 2024 Food Statistics report

“That’s why we put so much effort into ensuring steady supply, good quality and fair prices, so families can continue to cook the dishes they are used to without worrying about accessibility or affordability,” says Mr Goh.

FairPrice Group maintains tight cold-chain control, hygiene checks and real-time logistics to ensure pork reaches chiller displays fresh and safe.

PHOTO: FAIRPRICE GROUP

The live pigs brought in are crossbred from four well-known pig breeds and farm-raised for 180 days on a clean grain diet consisting of maize, soy beans and wheat bran. The pigs are also raised without antibiotics or growth promoters, resulting in bright pink meat with an optimal lean-to-fat ratio.

“It is the right balance of lean meat and fat that is preferred by Singaporeans,” says Mr Goh.

Twice a week, pigs are imported live from Malaysia under strict veterinary controls and inspected upon arrival in Singapore. After they arrive, the animals are given time to rest to reduce stress – a step that helps produce more tender pork. They are then butchered and processed locally before being packaged. Once packed, the fresh pork is delivered to FairPrice supermarkets within the same day to ensure consistent freshness on the shelves.

“This end-to-end coordination – supported by strict cold-chain control, hygiene verification and real-time logistics planning – preserves peak freshness and food safety when the pork reaches supermarket counters and chiller displays,” says Mr Goh.

According to FairPrice Group, close to 3,000 live pigs arrive from Malaysia each week, accounting for nearly half of the retailer’s total pork sales. In total, FairPrice Group imports over 1,000 tonnes of fresh pork every month.

The additional effort of bringing in live pigs is well worth it, especially if it makes customers happy, says Mr Goh.

“Bringing in live pigs is not the easiest or most straightforward option, but it is the one that delivers the quality our customers expect. It involves strict checks, careful transport, and close coordination with farms and authorities on both sides.

“The entire process takes a lot of planning and coordination, but we believe it’s worth it. Many of our customers come to FairPrice stores for the freshest pork for their families, and we are committed to meeting this expectation by doing whatever it takes,” he adds. 

At the OJJ Foods pork processing facility, FairPrice Group has consistently introduced technological and process enhancements to ensure shoppers receive quality cuts, says Mr Goh.

For example, automated washing machines clean workers’ uniforms as well as the crates that hold pork, reducing cross-contamination risk, while an Automated Storage and Retrieval Warehouse system connects the production areas to ensure seamless transportation and storage of the meat in a temperature-controlled environment.

Mr Goh adds that digitising tasks such as cold-chain monitoring and warehouse storage further improves efficiency and temperature control for better freshness of the meat.

To help families manage costs ahead of Chinese New Year, FairPrice Group will freeze prices for all its chilled pork products. Popular seafood and vegetable items will also have their prices locked during that period.

PHOTO: FAIRPRICE GROUP

A recent change that shoppers like Madam Lim have noticed at FairPrice supermarkets is how the in-store pork butcher counters have also been given a refresh with a cleaner look and feel. FairPrice Groups says it has re-trained more than 80 butchers to improve their knowledge of different pork cuts and to upgrade their butchery skills.

With Chinese New Year (CNY) around the corner, FairPrice Group will also be keeping prices of various groceries – including chilled pork – steady between 29 Jan and 3 March

“CNY is a time when food plays a central role in family gatherings, but it is also a period when household expenses can add up quickly. The price freeze is our way of giving customers some peace of mind during a busy but incredibly meaningful season,” says Mr Goh.

To support last-minute shopping needs, FairPrice outlets across the island will have extended opening hours

Knowing this, Madam Lim is happy to shop closer to CNY. 

“I know my neighbourhood FairPrice supermarket is usually open during this festive season, so I’m not worried at all,” she adds.

Find out more about FairPrice’s fresh Malaysia pork.

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