By the WahLiao desk · Last verified 28 September 2026
Singapore’s premium supermarkets are FairPrice Finest, Cold Storage and its CS Gold and Jasons Deli formats, the Japanese specialist Meidi-Ya, and a handful of independent gourmet grocers. What they charge more for is real: imported and air-flown produce, a proper cheese and deli counter, butchery, a serious wine section and a calmer room. What they do not do is make a packet of rice or a bottle of detergent any better.
So use a premium supermarket the way you would use a specialist. Buy the cheese, the wine, the good steak and the fruit that was picked last week in another hemisphere there. Buy the pillars of the household somewhere else. Mix the two and you pay a premium for things that were never premium.
Premium supermarkets: quick facts
| The main premium formats | FairPrice Finest and Finest Gourmet; Cold Storage, CS Gold and Jasons Deli; Meidi-Ya; independent gourmet grocers |
| What you pay extra for | Imported and air-flown range, deli and cheese counters, butchery, wine, store environment |
| Discount days at Finest | FairPrice’s 2026 senior, Pioneer, Merdeka and CHAS schemes apply at FairPrice Finest outlets too |
| CDC supermarket vouchers | Accepted at FairPrice (including Finest) and Cold Storage; not at independent grocers unless listed |
| Carrier bags | The large operators, including Finest, Cold Storage and Jasons Deli, charge at least 5 cents per bag |
| The rule | Buy speciality items here; buy staples where they are cheapest |
The WahLiao Verdict
| Cost | A premium on specialities that is often worth it, and a premium on staples that rarely is. |
| What you get | Range you cannot find in a neighbourhood supermarket, staff at the counters who know the product, and a quieter shop. |
| The alternative | A neighbourhood supermarket for the pillars, and one premium stop a month for the things that deserve it. |
| Worth it for | Hosting, cooking a particular cuisine properly, wine, cheese and cuts of meat you care about. |
| Skip it if | Your list is rice, oil, eggs, milk and detergent. The marble floor adds nothing to them. |
| Last verified | 28 September 2026, against FairPrice Group, NEA and published store information. |
Which are the premium supermarkets in Singapore?
| Format | Owner | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| FairPrice Finest | FairPrice Group | FairPrice’s upmarket format since 2007, when the first store opened at Bukit Timah Plaza; imported groceries, deli, premium meat and a larger wine range, including The Finest Cellar at Thomson Plaza |
| Finest Gourmet | FairPrice Group | A further step up within the FairPrice family |
| Cold Storage and CS Gold | Macrovalue (since the 2025 deal) | The oldest name in Singapore groceries; imported produce and Western pantry, with CS Gold at the top of the range |
| Jasons Deli | Macrovalue (since the 2025 deal) | Deli, cheese and ready-to-eat, in central locations |
| Meidi-Ya | Japanese-owned | Japanese produce, meat and seafood; a two-storey flagship at Millenia Walk with a bakery, food hall and a Hokkaido specialty section |
| Independent gourmet grocers | Independent | Cheese, charcuterie and wine; LPB Market, formerly La Petite Boutique, at Kensington Park Road is one example |
Our history of how Cold Storage brought imported food and modern supermarket shopping to Singapore explains why the premium tier looks the way it does: it grew out of the business of keeping imported food cold.
What are you actually paying for?
- Range. Imported brands, speciality ingredients and produce from countries a neighbourhood supermarket does not source from. Range costs money because low-volume items take shelf space and expire more often.
- Air freight. Soft fruit, some seafood and fresh herbs arrive by plane. Speed is expensive, and it shows on the label.
- Counters and people. Staffed deli, cheese and butchery counters cost wages. You are paying for someone who can cut to order and tell you which cheese to serve.
- Wine. Premium formats carry deeper wine ranges, with more choice at the price you want.
- The room. Wider aisles, better lighting, fewer queues. Pleasant, and paid for in rent.
None of these apply to a packet of rice. A premium supermarket that sells the same national-brand staple as the neighbourhood store is selling you the same product in a nicer room.
The specialist test: when is premium worth it?
Ask one question at the shelf: can I get this, at this quality, anywhere cheaper?
- If the answer is no, because it is a particular cheese, a cut of meat, a wine or an imported ingredient your recipe depends on, the premium is the price of access. Pay it.
- If the answer is yes, because it is a staple on every shelf in Singapore, the premium is the price of the room. Walk on, or accept that you are paying for the room.
Most households who find premium supermarkets expensive are not buying the wrong specialities. They are buying their staples in the wrong shop.
Which everyday benefits still apply?
More than people assume. FairPrice’s 2026 discount schemes for seniors, Pioneer and Merdeka Generation, CHAS Blue and CHAS Orange cardholders apply at FairPrice Finest outlets, as well as at its ordinary supermarkets and Xtra hypermarkets. NTUC Union and Link members earn Linkpoints there too. CDC supermarket vouchers are accepted at FairPrice, including Finest, and at Cold Storage. The day-by-day details are in senior citizen discounts at Singapore supermarkets and CDC vouchers at supermarkets.
Independent gourmet grocers generally run their own membership schemes instead, and are not among the chains listed for CDC supermarket vouchers.
How to shop the premium tier well
- Split the list. Pillars at your cheapest supermarket; specialities at the premium one.
- Use the counter. Ask for the cut, the portion and the advice. That service is part of what you are paying for; use it.
- Watch the fairs. Premium formats run themed events, such as Australian, Japanese and Korean fairs, where imported ranges widen and some prices sharpen.
- Check the date on imports. Slow-moving specialities can sit longer. Read the label, and the date format; our guide to supermarket date labels explains how.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most premium supermarket in Singapore?
There is no single answer; it depends on the category. FairPrice Finest and Cold Storage’s CS Gold lead among the chains, Jasons Deli and independent grocers for deli and cheese, and Meidi-Ya for Japanese produce.
Is FairPrice Finest more expensive than FairPrice?
It carries a wider range of imported and premium products, which cost more. Everyday items may be priced similarly or higher; compare unit prices for the specific items you buy.
Do senior discounts apply at FairPrice Finest?
Yes. FairPrice’s 2026 senior, Pioneer, Merdeka and CHAS discount schemes apply at FairPrice Finest outlets.
Can I use CDC vouchers at Cold Storage?
Yes. Cold Storage is among the participating supermarkets for the supermarket portion of the CDC vouchers.
Are premium supermarkets worth it?
For speciality items you cannot get elsewhere at the same quality, often yes. For staples available everywhere, rarely.
Read next
This page belongs to How Supermarket Works, our series on the grocery network behind the shelf. Continue with Japanese and Korean supermarkets in Singapore and every supermarket chain in Singapore, explained.
Sources checked 28 September 2026: FairPrice Group on its 2026 discount schemes and its annual report timeline; FairPrice store event listings; NEA, Disposable Carrier Bag Charge; the CDC Vouchers Scheme; published store information for Meidi-Ya and LPB Market. Last updated 28 September 2026.
