The F&B Industry Unites to Honour Everyday Service Heroes at the Excellent Service Award (EXSA) 2025

·       Collective recognition amid industry headwinds, standards held high

·       A national salute to the people behind exceptional hospitality

24 September 2025, Singapore  – The Restaurant Association of Singapore (RAS) announced today the Superstar title winner of the Excellent Service Award (EXSA) 2025, marking the Award’s 31st year of celebrating the sterling performance of outstanding service employees of Singapore’s vibrant F&B industry. Held at Nanyang Polytechnic’s (NYP) Auditorium, the national event was graced by the Guest of Honour, Ms Dilys Boey, Chief Executive Officer, Workforce Singapore (WSG), together with industry leaders, education partners, and key F&B industry players.

This year, EXSA received nominations from 75 companies representing over 200 brands and concepts including, for the first time, a cross-sector organisation from NTUC LearningHub under the RAS EXSA umbrella. In total, 2,653 recipients were honoured across four categories:

1.     EXSA Star Award: 606 recipients

2.     EXSA Gold Award: 836 recipients

3.     EXSA Silver Award: 1,211 recipients

4.     EXSA Superstar Award: 1 recipient

The EXSA Superstar Award was conferred on Pheng You Yen Evan, Assistant Manager at Seoul Garden, who distinguished himself from the pool of 2900 nominees and was named one of ten finalists representing the breadth of Singapore’s F&B industry. All nominees and finalists embody the highest standards of service excellence, bringing with them inspiring stories of dedication, resilience, and a passion for hospitality.

EXSA 2025 and Its Importance for the F&B Industry

1.     F&B frontline heroes set the benchmark

EXSA 2025 casts a national spotlight on service professionals powering Singapore’s F&B industry amid persistent manpower shortages and operational challenges. The Superstar winner represents the gold standard for service excellence, as industry partners and sponsors come together to reward top performers – a collective gesture of solidarity and celebration

2.     Marking a resilient F&B sector with broader participation

EXSA 2025 is buoyed by strong ground-up support from outlets island-wide, reflecting a community-minded ecosystem that honours everyday excellence on the restaurant floor. For the first time, various F&B partners collaborated to contribute towards rewarding the EXSA Superstar winner, building a prize pool of $2,500 in cash and vouchers – a milestone that underscores shared commitment across the sector.

3.     Building a sustainable F&B workforce

A new initiative launched this year is The F&B People Collective – a coalition of HR practitioners from diverse F&B organisations committed to addressing training, retention, and employee wellbeing. The Collective seeks to ensure that F&B employees are skilled, supported, and have clear pathways for career growth. By pooling data, sharing best practices, and collaborating with agencies, the industry is working towards a sustainable workforce that thrives even amid immediate pressures

4.     Industry & education collaboration

EXSA 2025 also highlighted collaboration between industry and education. This year’s ceremony was co-produced with a Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP) student project team under lecturer supervision, reinforcing the practical pipeline between education and industry. This collaboration underscores the shared responsibility of nurturing the next generation of service champions.

EXSA 2025: Marking 31 Years of Service Excellence

Building on more than three decades of service excellence, EXSA 2025 continues to showcase the individuals who keep Singapore’s dining experience exceptional. It is a national award that recognises those who have delivered outstanding service and demonstrated a steadfast commitment to excellence.

Launched in 1994, the RAS is one of six industry Trade Associations and Chambers (TACs) that runs the EXSA programme. This year marks the 31st edition of EXSA – underscoring the industry’s shared commitment to enduring service excellence.

RAS has achieved a new high in 2025, receiving nominations from 75 companies representing over 200 brands and concepts, including a cross-sector organisation from NTUC LearningHub, which participated for the first time under the RAS EXSA umbrella. Recognising these service champions now strengthens morale and standards across the F&B ecosystem, and celebrates the frontline professionals who make Singapore’s food culture shine.

EXSA 2025 Superstar finalists (in no particular order)