Singapore Sauce Maker Offers Bespoke Vats with Two-Year Waiting List
Nanyang Sauce turns traditional fermentation into a luxury service for high-end clientele.
1Luxury Bespoke Sauce Service
Nanyang Sauce in Singapore offers a unique service allowing customers to commission their own vat of soya sauce. Prices for this bespoke experience range from S$10,000 to S$20,000 per vat. This high-end offering has attracted significant interest from bankers, businesspeople, and celebrities seeking a personalized culinary product for gifts or households.
2Origins of the Concept
The idea emerged during the pandemic when a customer requested a custom vat bearing her family name. Owner Ken Koh initially rejected the request due to the labor-intensive nature of traditional fermentation. However, a later agreement involving upfront payment helped solve cash flow challenges, prompting Koh to formalize the bespoke service.
3Customization and Brewing Process
Clients can customize every aspect of their sauce, including flavor profiles, specific soya beans, and water sources. Some customers have requested exotic ingredients like Himalayan salt or water sourced from Hawaii. The team produces a trial batch for adjustment before the final vat undergoes a nine-month traditional sun fermentation process.
4Production Capacity and Yield
Each vat typically yields between 50 and 70 liters of sauce, filling approximately 100 to 140 bottles of 500ml each. The final volume is influenced by weather conditions and evaporation rates during the long ageing period. Currently, fewer than 10 percent of the factory's 300 earthenware vats are dedicated to these orders.
5Strategic Business Rejuvenation
Ken Koh, the third-generation owner, has invested a low six-figure sum to modernize the family business founded in 1959. After touring large-scale factories in Asia, he realized he could not compete on volume. He pivoted to a strategy of being the slowest producer, focusing on traditional quality rather than industrial scale.
6Diversified Revenue Streams
Beyond bespoke vats, Nanyang Sauce operates the Sauce Academy to conduct workshops. The company also sells premium products like Virgin Brew, extracted after nine months, and Aged 12 sauce, which undergoes additional maturation. These products are available at select retailers, complementing the high-margin revenue generated by the exclusive, long-term bespoke service.
7The Rise of Soya Salt
The company successfully launched Nanyang Soy Salt, known as black diamonds, following a 2019 Kickstarter campaign that raised S$73,964. These crystals form naturally as sauce evaporates in vats over a decade. Originally considered a byproduct, the salt is now marketed as an umami-rich seasoning for gourmet applications like steak or hot chocolate.
8Long-Term Market Outlook
With a waiting list stretching over two and a half years, the bespoke service demonstrates strong demand for artisanal, heritage-based food products. Koh manages this queue by contacting clients only when a vat becomes available. This model ensures the business remains sustainable while maintaining the integrity of century-old traditional fermentation techniques.