Although hawkers and shops both sell food, there are several significant distinctions between the two.
Location: While businesses are normally found in a brick-and-mortar structure, hawkers typically operate out of pushcarts, temporary kiosks, or food trucks.
Size: Compared to retailers, hawkers normally operate on a smaller scale. They frequently employ fewer people and have a smaller crew.
A more formal environment with tables and chairs, as well as wait staff to take orders and serve food, can be found in shops. Contrarily, hawkers frequently feature a more relaxed, self-service structure in which consumers place their orders and make payments at the counter before taking their food to a nearby dining area.
Cost: Because hawkers have lesser overhead costs than retailers, their prices are frequently lower.
Food: Local street food and traditional cuisines are typically served by hawkers, but a wider variety of foods may be served by stores, some of which may specialize in a particular cuisine.
Government-issued licenses are typically required for hawkers to conduct business, though the procedures and rules they must adhere to may differ from those for businesses.
In Singapore, the government has established hawker centers and put in place laws to ensure food quality and hygienic practices, ensuring that hawkers adhere to the required levels of hygienic practices and food safety.