Some customers including francophiles were taken on an interesting learning journey at a talk by teachers and authors Maxime Pilon and Danielle Weiler at Kinokuniya Singapore Main Store on Saturday, 21st January 2012, where it was revealed that the Ayam brand of canned sardines and tuna was in fact started off by a French national, Alfred Clouet in the 1890s.

During the hour-long event which attracted a mixture of French expatriates, local francophiles and even some tourists, Maxime and Danielle revealed to the audience more little known facts about French influences to Singapore’s economic, educational and cultural development. A power point presentation that included several photographs of familiar heritage sites in Singapore definitely helped to increase customers’ interest in the topic and further enticed more of them who were browsing around the events area to listen to the talk.

Injecting humour with a touch of familiar Singaporean phrases, the authors were able to keep the audience engaged throughout the session, and this engaging event resulted in several enthusiastic customers purchasing more than two copies of both the English and French editions of the book The French In Singapore.