Our Story

Before the beginning

Chip Guan Heng was founded by the late Goh Sing Yam. At the age of 8, alone, he came over from China on a cargo ship. With neither fortune nor a formal education, he started taking on odd jobs right away.

Goh Sing Yam opened a provision shop in the 1960s. At the same time, he sold local brands of traditional ice cream to hawkers. The number of hawkers that bought supplies from the small provision shop gradually increased, until eventually, he approached Cold Storage to obtain a Magnolia ice cream distribution license. At the time, Magnolia was a sub-brand of Cold Storage.

The next step was to then get a delivery truck! It would go on countless journeys to distribute ice cream to supermarkets, provision shops, and the likes. Cold Storage eventually sold Magnolia to F&N, and that was how Chip Guan Heng became a primary local F&N distributor.

From Fathers to Sons

Business was booming, and we opened a brand new warehouse in 1980, located in Joo Chiat Place. Street hawkers would visit Chip Guan Heng every day to get their supplies for traditional ice cream. Seeing his father work relentlessly every day, Mr Goh Soo Khin felt a sense of duty as a son to help out. He joined his father at Chip Guan Heng and years later, took over the wholesale ice cream business. Mr Goh Soo Khin has been Chip Guan Heng’s owner ever since.

Today, we have yet another generation joining in the ranks, with Mr Goh Soo Khin’s son, Kenneth, set on continuing the legacy built by his forefathers. At Chip Guan Heng, Mr Goh Soo Khin and Kenneth are ever-ready with anything and everything to do with traditional ice cream. Aside from supplying traditional ice cream to street hawkers, we’ve branched out into event and catering services, as well as distributing wholesale gelato supplies to local shops like Apiary, Sweet Cheeks, Udders and Jollibean.

A Fading Local Culture

The future of Singapore’s traditional ice cream culture is under threat. The government is intent on phasing out ice cream street hawkers. Since 2004, no new licenses have been issued. With ice cream cart licenses being non-transferable, the number of street hawkers in Singapore diminishes every day. The tradition is gradually disappearing, and what used to be a common sight in every neighbourhood is now a rare encounter.

Following the rainbow

Traditional ice cream and street hawkers are part of our Singapore identity. We are resolved to not only preserve the legacy, but to make it flourish once more.

Before, Chip Guan Heng led the way in ice cream distribution.

Now, we will open a new chapter. To pass on the joy of traditional ice cream to everyone, including future generations.