No Surprises from Ding Tai Fung and Why that is Good...

During our dinner in Ding Tai Fung, I was amused to hear some of the friends complain, "This feels exactly like Ding Tai Fung in Singapore. What's so special?".

Just yesterday, Mr Chang was explaining why Formosa Chang had chosen to close down their franchise operations and focus on slowly expanding their DOS in order to ensure consistency. Today, a successful example exhibits itself in Ding Tai Fung.

Everywhere I went, be it in Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand or Hong Kong, Ding Tai Fung practiced consistency to perfection. The menu, the uniforms, the restaurant decorations, the service and the food quality is a replica of the first outlet in Xinyi District. A fact that is illustrated perfectly in my friends' complaint. 

When I see a waitress from Ding Tai Fung, with her standard smile, in that black and white uniform, serving up a basket of all too familiar xiao long bao, my mind wonders. How much effort had been poured into building SOP, training, sourcing and the strength of mind that insists on 18-folds to deliver a consistent bite of xiao long bao - every time, everywhere.

Just how do they do it?