Morozoff coming back after 14 years

Making a comeback after 14 years, Japanese confectionery and chocolatier Morozoff has opened a stand-alone boutique at Plaza Singapura.

It sells 90 per cent of Morozoff’s full range including chocolates, cookies and packaged baked goods such as madeleines.

Founded in Kobe in 1931, the brand had been previously available in Singapore from 1984 at the Japanese department store Daimaru at Liang Court. After Daimaru closed in 2003, Morozoff left the market as well.

This time round, Morozoff has been brought in by Uptron, the first foray into F&B by the electronics and gaming company that distributes across South-east Asia.

Morozoff’s return is past of a new wave of Japanese food brands setting up in Singapore, including Maple Mania and Tokyo Milk Cheese Factory. The chocolatier has more than 1000 shops and 33 cafes in Japan and is also available in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. The Singapore shop is its 19th overseas outlet.

Uptron plans to open about 10 Morozoff shops and cafes in Singapore over the next few years. It also wants to take the brand to other Southeast Asian countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines.

Director/COO Girish Pradeep Tewani’s link with Morozoff goes back to his childhood when his father, Uptron’s founder Pradeep Kumar Tewani would bring its products home from his business trips to Japan.

Uptron will be looking into setting up a central kitchen when it opens its cafes so it can produce Morozoff’s signature desserts Denmark Cream Cheese Cake and Custard Pudding.

Many Japanese people live in Singapore, says Morozoff president Shinji Yamaguchi. “We recognise that our products may be more high end, but we see potential in Singapore because of the standard of living .”

The company’s products are flown to Singapore at least once a week.