Sands China Hosts ‘Food Fest of Awarded SMEs for Rua das Estalagens’
Two editions of food festival attract 11,000 team members in support of local SMEs
(Macao, May 4, 2026) – Sands China Ltd. has been working hand-in-hand with the Macao SAR government and all sectors of society to drive revitalisation projects and stimulate the community economy through diverse initiatives. With the launch of the Community Revitalisation Series – Entrepreneurship Recruitment Programme for Rua das Estalagens in April 2024, the company has provided financial support and a series of practical, multifaceted support measures to local SMEs for establishment in Rua das Estalagens. By actively leveraging its corporate resource advantages, Sands China has created diverse promotional and sales platforms to consistently market the brands of these businesses and help enhance their visibility.
From April 22 to 28 this year, Sands China held the “Food Fest of Awarded SMEs for Rua das Estalagens” for the second consecutive year. This edition brought awarded SMEs from the programme to the back-of-house area of The Londoner® Macao to showcase their signature delicacies, providing a promotional platform targeting the large-scale workforce of the integrated resort, boosting brand exposure and business opportunities. The response from team members was enthusiastic. Combined, the two editions of food fest attracted 11,000 team members who showed their support for local SMEs through practical actions, continuing the company’s business philosophy of growing with SMEs.
The shops offered a variety of signature treats during the event: Café Fantart’s flaky egg tarts in original and curry beef varieties, Voyage Thai Kitchen’s handmade pandan layer cakes and bottled Thai milk tea, PANPAN’s savoury pistachio chocolate buns, and Catfee’s fragrant Ethiopia natural ice drip coffee. The atmosphere on-site was vibrant.
“Sands China remains fully committed to supporting the Macao SAR government’s direction of promoting the community economy and the sustainable development of local SMEs,” said Dr. Wilfred Wong, executive vice chairman of Sands China Ltd. “In the revitalisation of Rua das Estalagens, we consistently monitor the progress of the businesses and provide various promotional and sales platforms for their participation. Last year, the response to the first food fest at The Venetian Macao was overwhelming, and we are pleased to hear that the SMEs valued the promotional results. This year, we are delighted to bring the event to the back-of-house area of The Londoner Macao. Across both editions, 11,000 portions of food and drinks have been distributed, providing a broad platform for SMEs while allowing our team members to experience the craftsmanship and creative cuisine of local SMEs. Two years since the launch of the entrepreneurship recruitment competition, we are gratified to see these businesses growing steadily and demonstrating maturity, which validates the effectiveness of ‘large businesses leading small businesses’ and highlights the adaptability of Macao SMEs.”
In addition to the food fest, Sands China has also distributed the shops’ discount vouchers to runners in the Sands China Macao International 10K for two consecutive years and provided free booths at Macao’s largest sales event, the Sands Shopping Carnival. These initiatives allow local SMEs to step beyond the neighbourhood and reach a broader audience of residents and tourists, thereby strengthening their brand promotion and market competitiveness.
Chan Iat Seng, owner of Café Fantart, said: “Through the recruitment programme, Sands China integrated the resources of the government, banks, and public utilities to provide comprehensive support, easing the challenges we faced in the early stages of our business. The extended activities, such as the briefing session and professional training, allowed us to better refine our positioning, while the ongoing promotional opportunities after opening have helped us steadily develop.”
Lau Fong Hoi, founder of Voyage Thai Kitchen, said: “In addition to providing startup capital to relieve financial pressure, Sands China offered professional advice to keep our opening on track. On the promotional front, they have worked hard to build platforms for us, such as this food fest and inclusion in the Sands China Macao International 10K promotions. This transforms the high traffic of major events into actual foot traffic for our shop, strengthening our confidence in operating on Rua das Estalagens.”
Wong Chun Fai, operations manager of PANPAN, said: “Sands China provided a diverse range of support to help us face the various challenges of starting up. Beyond promotion, they have even included our shop as a vendor of their corporate procurement and offered team member discounts. Collaborating with a large integrated resort gives us stable promotional channels, allowing us to focus on product innovation to stand out in a competitive market.”
Agostinho Jesus, owner of Catfee Macau, said: “The support has been very comprehensive. Beyond the promotional opportunities, the entrepreneurial training courses covering social media marketing and business plan writing were particularly beneficial. These helped us optimise operations and lay a foundation for long-term growth. We’ve used this support to bring an innovative concept – combining the rescue of stray cats with a café – to this historic street.”
As a vital component of Sands China’s community revitalisation efforts, the Entrepreneurship Recruitment Programme for Rua das Estalagens is an extension of two successful Sands China programmes: the F.I.T. programme and the Sands Resorts Incubation Centre. Since the April 2024 launch of the Entrepreneurship Recruitment Programme, Sands China has utilised precise support measures to encourage Macao businesses to establish themselves on Rua das Estalagens and drive the area’s economic vitality. The inaugural phase received an enthusiastic response with 128 applications, resulting in seven successful entrepreneurship proposals that have since injected innovative elements into this historic district to help restore its traditional charm and prosperity.
Photo caption: Sands China hosts the “Food Fest of Awarded SMEs for Rua das Estalagens” for the second consecutive year between April 22 and April 28. This edition brought awarded SMEs from the programme to the back-of-house area of The Londoner Macao to showcase their signature delicacies, providing a promotional platform targeting the large-scale workforce of the integrated resort, boosting brand exposure and business opportunities. The two editions of food fest have attracted 11,000 team members to date.
Photo caption: Local SMEs offered a variety of signature treats during Sands China’s “Food Fest of Awarded SMEs for Rua das Estalagens” at The Londoner Macao: Café Fantart’s flaky egg tarts in original and curry beef varieties, Voyage Thai Kitchen’s handmade pandan layer cakes and bottled Thai milk tea, PANPAN’s savoury pistachio chocolate buns, and Catfee’s fragrant Ethiopia natural ice drip coffee.