Advertisement

Don Don Donki says Orchard Central landlord stopped it from selling sex toys

Tenga sex toys (lower shelves) among other sexual wellness products in the health and fitness section of Don Don Donki’s 100 AM store. (Photo: Teng Yong Ping/Yahoo Lifestyle Singapore)
Tenga sex toys (lower shelves) among other sexual wellness products in the health and fitness section of Don Don Donki’s 100 AM store. (Photo: Teng Yong Ping/Yahoo Lifestyle Singapore)

Japanese discount retailer Don Don Donki says the landlord at its Orchard Road store did not allow it to sell sex toys, which is why such products are sold at its new Tanjong Pagar outlet but not at the Orchard outlet.

Don Don Donki’s newly opened store at the 100 AM mall in Tanjong Pagar stocks Tenga brand sex toys, but the products were removed from its first Singapore store at Orchard Central mall last year shortly after it opened in December. The brand did not say then why it removed the sex toys.

Don Don Donki spokesperson Eliziel Balleta told Yahoo Lifestyle Singapore on Friday (22 June) in response to an email query, “The only reason Tenga products were pulled from our first store was because the landlord does not allow it.”

Balleta said the retailer had no issue complying with the rule by mall owner Far East Organisation.

Tenga is a popular Japanese brand of sex toys known for their sleek, minimalist designs that appear unobtrusive on shelf displays. The company produces mostly products geared towards men, but also makes some products for women.

Don Don Donki’s 100 AM mall outlet in Tanjong Pagar. (Photo: Teng Yong Ping/Yahoo Lifestyle Singapore)
Don Don Donki’s 100 AM mall outlet in Tanjong Pagar. (Photo: Teng Yong Ping/Yahoo Lifestyle Singapore)

‘Christian enterprise’

Orchard Central is owned and managed by property giant Far East Organisation, which brands itself as a “Christian enterprise”.

The company, which is the largest private property developer in Singapore, professes Christianity as the basis of its identity and business operations.

Its website says, “As a Christian enterprise, we embrace the eternal truths of God’s Word,” adding that “we operate our business on the solid foundation of our values and our rock who is Jesus Christ.”

Far East Organisation is controlled by the family of its late founder Ng Teng Fong. Ng’s sons Robert and Philip, both staunch Christians, are the richest people in Singapore with a combined net worth of US$10.8 billion (S$14.6 billion), according to financial magazine Forbes.

Yahoo Lifestyle Singapore has reached out to Far East Organisation for comment.

Don Don Donki opened its second store in Singapore at 100 AM last Thursday (14 June). 100 AM is owned and managed by Amara Hotel Properties.

The brand, whose original name in Japan is Don Quijote, had to use a different name in Singapore as there is already a restaurant by that name. The chain sells a wide variety of products at affordable prices, including groceries, electronics and cosmetics, and is popular with Japanese shoppers and tourists in Japan.

Follow Yahoo Lifestyle Singapore on Facebook.