SINGAPORE: Noticing the ice cream uncles much less typically? The acquainted ringing of their cart bells as they serve ice cream between a slice of rainbow bread might develop into a factor of the previous in 5 to 10 years, in response to ice cream provider Chip Guan Heng’s admin and operations supervisor often known as “Greg”—though he mentioned, “we’ve to see how the economic system evolves as effectively”.
Mr Greg described the normal ice cream commerce as a “sundown trade”. Chip Guan Heng director Kenneth Goh equally informed Mothership that the commerce has been in “gradual decline”, with many ice cream uncles ageing and retiring.
Mr Goh defined one of many greatest challenges is that no new road hawking licences are being issued. As older hawkers retire, the commerce has naturally shrunk.
The Road Hawking Scheme was designed as short-term assist for unemployed people dealing with monetary difficulties, fairly than a everlasting livelihood, the Singapore Meals Company (SFA) mentioned. Road hawking licences are issued to particular person holders and can’t be transferred to another person. As of January 2026, 135 road hawkers had been licensed to promote ice cream.
With no licences being issued anymore, Mr Greg mentioned the remaining ice cream uncles would probably proceed working till they’re not capable of.
Some ice cream uncles Mothership spoke to had been 61, 72, and even 80 years previous, with the 72-year-old uncle having held his licence since 1974. The 80-year-old uncle additionally mentioned he plans to promote ice cream for so long as he can, though he was uncertain how lengthy he might hold working the enterprise.
Nonetheless, conserving the enterprise going might develop into tougher as they age. Moreover promoting ice cream, they need to restock provides similar to wafers and bread, which Mr Greg mentioned might develop into tougher to move. It additionally doesn’t assist that their margins are paper skinny.
Ice cream uncles are a supply of nostalgia for a lot of Singaporeans. On-line, some had been saddened by the commerce disappearing. One commenter mentioned it might be “unhappy to see one other aspect of Singapore tradition being relegated to nostalgia bait with no cultural relevance to newer generations.”
A senior commenter added, “So unhappy. I want I might do that as a retirement job.”
A 3rd mentioned, “Go away the ice cream vendor alone.” /TISG
Learn additionally: Singaporeans must cease ‘pwn-ing’ their fellow locals’ companies, netizen says as residents lament fading neighborhood and familiarity in heartlands
