Singapore - While companies are retrenching staff, BreadTalk Group's staff headcount is set to rise.

The increase in headcount comes as BreadTalk Group looks to expand its various eatery portfolios this year. Brands that are set for expansion in Singapore includes Breadtalk, ToastBox, Din Tai Fung,  Food Republic as well as a new Japanese noodle restaurant to be launched this year as well.
 
Goh Khon Chong, senior vice president of group HR for BreadTalk Group says the company will hire around 300 to 400 food and beverage people to add to its current headcount of 1,100 full-timers and 200 part-timers.

However, recruitment will be staggered to sync with the opening of the new eateries. On BreadTalk's sustainable success even in the downturn, Goh says, "We are considered as 'affordable food', which I believe people will still go for. The recession may affect us, but not as hard as other industries."

Good things have come out from the downturn as well. For Goh, during the good years, some people would shun away from the F&B industry due to the long working hours and weekend work. However, with the downturn, Goh says these people are less picky about what jobs they take.

But Goh describes his biggest HR challenge as retaining employees who would prefer to leave for work in other sectors. To increase its retention rates, the company rolled out initiatives such as improving benefits to extend medical and dental benefits to all employees and increasing out-patient care from $25 to $30.