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[[File:Janice Wong logo.jpg|thumb|''The JANICE WONG logo. Photo from JANICE WONG SINGAPORE.'']]
JANICE WONG is the eponymous sweet concept brand created by dessert chef Janice Wong. Launched in November 2014,<ref>Wong, Velda. “Your World Is Your Imagination: Exclusive Interview with Singapore's Very Own Creative Chef Janice Wong.” ''Digital Senior''. N.d. Accessed September 2, 2019. Retrieved from:  https://digitalsenior.sg/chef-janice-wong/</ref><ref>JANICE WONG. “Janice Wong.” ''Janice Wong.'' n.d. Accessed September 5, 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.janicewong.com.sg/janice-wong</ref> the brand boasts “interactive, edible art” that serves as a feast for the eyes, imagination and palate.<ref>Waun, Sim Ee. “Make Art, Not Dessert, with JANICE WONG.” ''The Star Online''. January 31, 2015. Accessed September 3, 2019. Retrieved from:  https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/food/news/2015/01/31/make-art-not-dessert-with-janice-wong</ref> JANICE WONG sweets are available online ([https://www.janicewong.online/ website]) and in outlets across Singapore, Macau, Tokyo and Harrods in London.<ref>Tan, Rachel. “5 Questions With Janice Wong On Creating Unique Experiences.” ''MICHELIN Guide''. May 9, 2019. Accessed September 2, 2019. Retrieved from: https://guide.michelin.com/sg/en/article/people/5-questions-with-janice-wong</ref>

==Origins==
Janice describes her eponymous brand as a “[marriage] of four disciplines… art, pastry, fashion and design”.<ref>Zhu, Julie. “Q&A: Janice Wong, Chef: 'The Janice Wong Brand Is Something Very Unique'.” ''MACAU DAILY TIMES''. June 29, 2017. Accessed September 4, 2019. Retrieved from: https://macaudailytimes.com.mo/qa-janice-wong-chef-janice-wong-brand-something-unique.html</ref> She wanted to scale up her business thereby venturing into food manufacturing and setting up JANICE WONG.<ref>Chen, Loretta. ''Madonnas and Mavericks - Power Women in Singapore.'' Singapore: Marshall Cavendish International, 2017.</ref>


Janice’s first foray into food manufacturing was with developing new sweets, such as healthy pastilles made from bamboo shoots. However, she lacked the resources to sustain production at a large scale even with a hospital keen to order the healthy pastilles.<ref>Chen, Loretta. ''Madonnas and Mavericks - Power Women in Singapore.'' Singapore: Marshall Cavendish International, 2017.</ref> 


Janice then partnered with Manoj M. Murjani, the co-founder of TWG Tea, whom she had met at a Tom Ford event. He wanted to invest in her brand and as they shared the same vision, Janice was on board with the idea. Manoj serves as chairman for JANICE WONG.<ref>Chen, Loretta. ''Madonnas and Mavericks - Power Women in Singapore.'' Singapore: Marshall Cavendish International, 2017.</ref>
==Branding==
[[File:Janice Wong Chocolate Box.jpg|thumb|''Janice Wong's assortment of chocolates. Photo from Janice Wong's [https://www.janicewong.online/shop online store].'']]
Janice shared that using her name as the brand name was a bold move as most pastry or sweet brands had a European name and tended to be male. On the other hand, she was a woman with an Asian surname.<ref>Chen, Loretta. ''Madonnas and Mavericks - Power Women in Singapore.'' Singapore: Marshall Cavendish International, 2017.</ref>


Janice previously tinkered with other names for the brand, such as Sweet Shop, Janice Sweets, Shop JW, all with many variations and copious designs representing the different names before settling with JANICE WONG.<ref>Chen, Loretta. ''Madonnas and Mavericks - Power Women in Singapore.'' Singapore: Marshall Cavendish International, 2017.</ref>


The brand’s logo design is her signature. In an interview with Digital Senior, Janice mentions that it is meant to be organic, to symbolise how she tries to create and inspire.<ref>Wong, Velda. “Your World Is Your Imagination: Exclusive Interview with Singapore's Very Own Creative Chef Janice Wong.” ''Digital Senior''. N.d. Accessed September 2, 2019. Retrieved from:  https://digitalsenior.sg/chef-janice-wong/</ref> The font for the logo’s typeface was created especially for Janice. Created by Mark de Winne and named Imagination Sans, the font is representative of Janice’s character - 50 percent play and 50 percent consistency.<ref>Chen, Loretta. ''Madonnas and Mavericks - Power Women in Singapore.'' Singapore: Marshall Cavendish International, 2017.</ref>


The brand's products feature bright colours that are meant to exude playfulness.

==Growth==
[[File:Janice Wong DFS art installation.jpg|thumb|''JANICE WONG's 2018 art installation in collaboration with the DFS Group. Photo from Asian Journeys.'']]
[[File:Janice Wong Changi Airport T3.jpg|thumb|''The Janice Wong counter at Changi Airport.'']]
JANICE WONG started as a roving sweets shop, starting at Gardens By The Bay’s Christmas Wonderland from 29 November 2014 to 21 December 2014. From 22 December to 14 February 2014, they moved to ION Orchard’s Level 1 Atrium for three months as a pop-up store.<ref>Tan, Annette. “Chef Janice Wong Has a New Pastry Wonderland.” ''TODAYonline.'' December 19, 2014. Accessed September 3, 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.todayonline.com/lifestyle/food/chef-janice-wong-has-new-pasty-wonderland</ref><ref>“A Sweet Pop-up by Janice Wong”. ''InSing.com.'' Accessed September 5, 2019. Retrieved from:  https://www.insing.com/events/a-sweet-pop-up-by-janice-wong/id-78910000/</ref>


In an interview with TODAY, Janice mentions that the pop-up store concept allowed her team to “do things by hand” with the quantities kept small so that she could see her customers’ reactions up close. Janice and her team also created new flavours for the pop-up store weekly.<ref>Tan, Annette. “Chef Janice Wong Has a New Pastry Wonderland”. ''TODAYonline.'' December 19, 2014. Accessed September 3, 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.todayonline.com/lifestyle/food/chef-janice-wong-has-new-pasty-wonderland</ref>

===Growth in Singapore===
{| class="wikitable"
!Date opened
!Location
!Details
|-
|August 2016
|National Museum of Singapore
|JANICE WONG Singapore's first full-fledged restaurant.<ref>Mendoza, Don. “Dessert Maestro Janice Wong to Open First Full-Fledged Restaurant in S'pore.” ''TODAYonline''. June 21, 2016. Accessed September 4, 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.todayonline.com/lifestyle/food/dessert-maestro-janice-wong-open-first-full-fledged-restaurant-spore</ref> The restaurant ceased operations after its lease expired in June 2019.<ref>Inside Retail Singapore. “Janice Wong Continues Expansion Abroad.” ''Inside Retail Singapore''. June 4, 2019. Accessed September 4, 2019. Retrieved from:  https://insideretail.sg/2019/06/04/janice-wong-continues-expansion-abroad/</ref>
|-
|May 2018
|Raffles City Shopping Centre
|The outlet at Raffles City sells JANICE WONG confectionaries and signature chocolates.<ref>Wong, Velda. “Your World Is Your Imagination: Exclusive Interview with Singapore's Very Own Creative Chef Janice Wong.” ''Digital Senior''. Accessed September 2, 2019. Retrieved:  https://digitalsenior.sg/chef-janice-wong/</ref>
|-
|February 2019
|DFS T Galleria<ref>Inside Retail Singapore. “Janice Wong Continues Expansion Abroad.” ''Inside Retail Singapore''. June 4, 2019. Accessed September 4, 2019. Retrieved from:  https://insideretail.sg/2019/06/04/janice-wong-continues-expansion-abroad/</ref>
|In 2018, JANICE WONG collaborated with the DFS Group to host an art installation, “From Singapore With Love”. It featured a bed of durian and two edible walls lined with chocolate tiles.<ref>Asian Journeys. “DFS Group Hosts 'From Singapore With Love' to Launch Global Festival of Flavour And Culture.” ''Asian Journeys.'' July 10, 2018. Accessed September 5, 2019. Retrieved from:  https://asianjourneys.com.sg/10-Jul-2018/dfs-group-hosts-from-singapore-with-love-to-launch-global-festival-of-flavour-and-culture</ref>
|-
|March 2019
|Changi Airport Terminal 3
|The Changi Airport outlet features JANICE WONG signatures and three special edition chocolate bars - Ruby Chocolate, Sea Salt and Palm Sugar - made exclusively for Changi Airport.<ref>Davitt, Dermot. “Janice Wong Opens First Airport Store at Singapore Changi T3.”''The Moodie Davitt Report''. March 28, 2019. Accessed September 3, 2019. Retrieved from:  https://www.moodiedavittreport.com/janice-wong-opens-first-airport-store-at-singapore-changi-t3/</ref>
|-
| -
|Paragon
|Showcases the Singapore Signature Series of 5 flavours - Chilli Padi, Gula Melaka Pandan, Kaffir Lime Caramel, Laksa Leaf LemonGrass, BBQ Bakkwa Pork praline poprocks.
|}

===Expansion overseas===
In 2019, JANICE WONG Japan Company has been set up as part of the brand’s long-term plan to expand into the Japanese market.<ref>Inside Retail Singapore. “Janice Wong Continues Expansion Abroad.” ''Inside Retail Singapore''. June 4, 2019. Accessed September 4, 2019. Retrieved from: https://insideretail.sg/2019/06/04/janice-wong-continues-expansion-abroad/</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
!Date opened
!Location
!Details
|-
|2017
|Regent Taipei
|JANICE WONG partnered with Regent Taipei to showcase the brand’s Christmas products at Regent Taipei. This included Christmas hampers and boxes of chocolates.<ref>Wong, Janice. “JANICE WONG chocolates available in Regent Taipei for Christmas 2017”. ''Facebook.'' December 1, 2017. Accessed September 5, 2019.</ref>
|-
|January 2018
|MGM Cotai resort, Macau<ref>Keegan, Matthew. “First Look Inside Macau's MGM Cotai Multibillion Dollar Resort.” ''The Culture Trip.'' February 14, 2018. Accessed September 4, 2019. Retrieved from: https://theculturetrip.com/asia/china/articles/first-look-inside-macaus-mgm-cotai-multibillion-dollar-resort/</ref>
|The 68-seater restaurant features a 23-foot chocolate fountain in the hotel’s pastry shop that is positioned in the middle of the lobby.<ref>Roy, Priyanka. “MGM Cotai: One of the Most Gorgeous Addresses in This Part of the World.” ''Telegraph India.'' June 24, 2019. Accessed September 4, 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.telegraphindia.com/world/mgm-cotai-one-of-the-most-gorgeous-addresses-in-this-part-of-the-world/cid/1693095</ref><ref>Keegan, Matthew. “First Look Inside Macau's MGM Cotai Multibillion Dollar Resort.” ''The Culture Trip.'' February 14, 2018. Accessed September 4, 2019. Retrieved from: https://theculturetrip.com/asia/china/articles/first-look-inside-macaus-mgm-cotai-multibillion-dollar-resort/</ref>
|-
|November 2018
|Harrods, London<ref>Yap, Wylene. “Janice Wong's Chocolates Can Be Found at Harrods Now.” ''High Net Worth.'' November 30, 2018. Accessed September 4, 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.hnworth.com/article/2018/11/30/janice-wongs-chocolates-can-be-found-at-harrods-now/</ref>
|JANICE WONG's signature 'Crayon Box' and 'The Chocolate Paint Jar' are available for purchase at the London store.<ref>Zhu, Michelle. “Sweet Success.” ''The Edge Singapore.'' February 7, 2019. Accessed September 3, 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.theedgesingapore.com/list-lifestyle/sweet-success</ref>
|-
|May 2019
|WONDERBOX, Incheon, South Korea<ref>“Store.” ''JANICE WONG SINGAPORE''. Accessed September 4, 2019. Retrieved from:  https://www.janicewong.com.sg/store</ref>
|WONDERBOX is an indoor theme park in South Korea. The JANICE WONG outlet is located on WONDERBOX’s Chocolate Street.<ref>TTG Asia. “Night-Time Theme Park Opens in Seoul.” ''TTG Asia''. April 11, 2019. Accessed September 4, 2019. Retrieved from:  https://www.ttgasia.com/2019/04/11/night-time-theme-park-opens-in-seoul/</ref>
|}

==Product innovation==
[[File:Toffee Popcorn Tea.jpg|thumb|''The packaging for Janice Wong's Toffee Popcorn tea. Photo from Janice Wong's [https://www.janicewong.online/shop online store].'']]
Each JANICE WONG outlet features newly innovated products that are designed especially for each outlet. JANICE WONG also launches limited edition products during festive seasons. The brand also sells teas with unconventional flavours.
{| class="wikitable"
!Product
!Image
!Notes
|-
|Chocolate Crayons
|[[File:Chocolate Crayons Janice Wong.jpg|frameless]]''Photo from Janice Wong's [https://www.janicewong.online/shop online store].''
|The chocolate crayons come with edible rice paper.
|-
|Chocolate Paint Jar
|[[File:Chocolate Paint Jars Janice Wong.jpg|frameless]]''Photo from Janice Wong's [https://www.janicewong.online/shop online store].''
|The chocolate paint jar set comes with lollipop sticks for the melted chocolate.
|-
|Box of 9. Signature Singapore series
|[[File:Janice Wong Signature Singapore series.jpg|frameless]]''Photo from Janice Wong's [https://www.janicewong.online/shop online store].''
|The 9 flavours are as such - Chilli Padi, Gula Melaka Pandan, Kaffir Lime Caramel, Laksa Leaf LemonGrass, BBQ Bakkwa Pork praline poprocks, Jasmine Milk Tea, GingerFlower, Mango Curry, Kopi. Coffee.
|}

===Chinese New Year===
[[File:Janice Wong Chocolate Piggy Bank.jpg|thumb|''JANICE WONG's chocolate piggy bank. Photo from Nookmag.'']]
{| class="wikitable"
!Year
!Festive items
|-
|2019
|Peanut cookies<ref>Tan, Rebecca Lynne. “Food Picks: Modern Sushi Bar and Highball Den in Stanley Street.” ''The Straits Times''. January 18, 2019. Accessed September 4, 2019. Retrieved from:  https://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/food/food-picks-modern-sushi-bar-and-highball-den-in-stanley-street</ref> 

Strawberry chocolate love letters<ref>Tan, Rebecca Lynne. “Food Picks: Modern Sushi Bar and Highball Den in Stanley Street.” ''The Straits Times''. January 18, 2019. Accessed September 4, 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/food/food-picks-modern-sushi-bar-and-highball-den-in-stanley-street</ref>

Chocolate piggy bank<ref>Quek, Eunice. “The Year to Pig out: 20 Dishes to Try.” ''The Straits Times''. January 13, 2019. Accessed September 4, 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/food/the-year-to-pig-out</ref>
|-
|2018
|Pineapple tarts (traditional and dark chocolate coated) and caramel popcorn cookies<ref>@janicewong2am. “Chinese New Year cookies”. ''Instagram.'' February 17, 2018. Accessed September 4, 2019. Retrieved from:  https://www.instagram.com/p/BfSeTxthj9M/</ref><ref>Wong, Janice. “CNY Special dark chocolate coated pineapple tarts”. ''Facebook.'' February 4, 2018. Accessed September 5, 2019. Retrieved from:  https://www.facebook.com/chefjanicewong/posts/753675291494982</ref>
|-
|2017<ref>Devi, Reena. “Impress Your Guests with These Novel Chinese New Year Snacks.” ''TODAYonline''. January 6, 2017. Accessed September 4, 2019. Retrieved from:   https://www.todayonline.com/entertainment/arts/impress-your-guests-these-novel-chinese-new-year-snacks</ref>
|Pineapple tarts with a salted caramel pineapple paste. Comes in two flavours - traditional pineapple and banana pineapple. 

Pineapple tarts dipped in 70 per cent dark chocolate.

Bak Kwa Chocolate Chip Crispy Cookies.
|-
|2016<ref>“Chinese New Year 2016: Growing appetite for unconventional food”. ''Channel NewsAsia.'' February 7, 2016. Accessed September 5, 2019. Retrieved from Factiva. </ref>
|Salted caramel pineapple tarts shaped like macarons.

Kueh Bangkit with dark chocolate.

Banana pineapple tarts.

Chinese Sweet Collection box set, featuring flavours such as white truffle with mung bean.<ref>Mendoza, Don. “Novel Takeaways for Chinese New Year.” ''TODAYonline''. January 27, 2016. Accessed September 5, 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.todayonline.com/lifestyle/food/novel-takeaways-chinese-new-year</ref>
|}

===Mid-Autumn Festival===
[[File:Janice Wong mooncakes.jpg|thumb|''JANICE WONG's hand-painted chocolate shell mooncakes. Photo from Janice Wong's Instagram.'']]
{| class="wikitable"
!Year
!Festive items
|-
|2019
|Snow skin mooncakes inspired by the nine prefectures of Japan, featuring flavours like kinako (roasted soy flour) from Hokkaido, ume (Asian plum) from Wakayama, hojicha (roasted Japanese green tea) from Kyoto and chestnut from Kumamoto.
|-
|2018
|Snow skin mooncakes with hand-painted chocolate shells.<ref>@janicewong2am. “Snowskin mooncakes encasing hand-painted chocolate shells”. ''Instagram.'' August 1, 2018. Accessed September 4, 2019. Retrieved from:  https://www.instagram.com/p/Bl7QI4HBTwV/</ref>
|-
|2017
|Snow skin mooncakes featuring flavours like Gula Melaka Pandan, Salted Caramel, White Truffle, Salted egg, Jasmine Tea, Champagne, Praline Poprocks, Yuzu Citrus and Strawberry Shortbread.<ref>epicure. “5 Last-Minute Mooncakes to Buy in Singapore: Epicure - Life's Refinements.” ''epicure''. September 14, 2017. Accessed September 4, 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.epicureasia.com/food/3049/5-last-minute-mooncakes-to-buy-in-singapore/</ref>
|-
|2016
|Four-layered mooncake featuring flavours like BahKwa Poprocks, Ginger Flower Rojak, Gula Melaka Pandan Mochi.<ref>Mendoza, Don. “6 New Mooncakes That Impress.” ''TODAYonline.'' September 2, 2016. Accessed September 4, 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.todayonline.com/lifestyle/food/6-new-mooncakes-impress</ref>
|-
|2015
|Mini lotus paste snow skin mooncakes featuring flavours like Laksa Leaf Lemongrass, Bah Kwa Praline Poprocks, Gula Melaka Pandan Kaya, Chendol Red Bean, Soya Sauce Ginger and Condense Milk Truffle.<ref>Mendoza, Don. “Soya Sauce or Ginger Flower Flavoured Mooncakes, Anyone?” ''TODAYonline''. September 3, 2015. Accessed September 5, 2019. Retrieved from:  https://www.todayonline.com/lifestyle/food/soya-sauce-or-ginger-flower-flavoured-mooncakes-anyone</ref>
|}

===Christmas===
[[File:Janice Wong Christmas Ornaments.jpg|thumb|''JANICE WONG's 2018 Christmas cakes.'']]
{| class="wikitable"
!Year
!Festive items
|-
|2018
|Christmas log cake<ref>@janicewong2am. “Christmas Log Cake”. ''Instagram.'' December 23, 2018. Accessed September 4, 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.instagram.com/p/BrucfyVni47/</ref>

Christmas Chestnut Swiss Roll<ref>@janicewong2am. “Christmas Chestnut Swiss Roll”. ''Instagram.'' December 24, 2018. Accessed September 4, 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.instagram.com/p/BrxiunnHPbH/</ref>

Christmas Cakes inspired by ornaments<ref>@janicewong2am. “Janice Wong cakes. Inspired by Christmas tree ornaments JW team SINGAPORE have created four different and unique cakes for the holiday season.” ''Instagram.'' December 4, 2018. Accessed September 4, 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.instagram.com/p/Bq95wouHeEv/</ref>
|-
|2017
|Christmas Surprise Chocolate Balls<ref>@janicewong2am. “Christmas Surprise Chocolate Balls”. ''Instagram.'' December 24, 2018. Accessed September 4, 2019. Retrieved from:  https://www.instagram.com/p/Bc6UuXBhOsy/</ref>
|-
|2016
|Macallan Special Whisky Cake<ref>@janicewong2am. “MacAllan special whisky cakes”. ''Instagram.'' December 19, 2016. Accessed September 4, 2019. Retrieved from:  https://www.instagram.com/p/BOMvATLDtPc/</ref> and Chocolate Art<ref>@janicewong2am. “Chocolate art”. ''Instagram.'' December 17, 2016. Accessed September 4, 2019. Retrieved from:  https://www.instagram.com/p/BOHsQ2CjZF2/</ref>
|-
|2015
|Classic candy cane lollipop

Spherical shapes in seasonal flavours like oraline Christmas ruby and green mistletoe.<ref>Sim, Ee Waun. “Make Art, Not Dessert, with JANICE WONG.” ''The Star Online''. January 31, 2015. Accessed September 3, 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/food/news/2015/01/31/make-art-not-dessert-with-janice-wong</ref>
|}

==References / Citations==
[[Category:Singapore Brands]]
<references />