Meet the Singaporean entrepreneur whose ant farm business has boomed during pandemic

Despite the initial obstacles setting up Just Ants, John Ye said sales have picked up since July

He hopes to collaborate with institutions such as schools, to teach children about ants and their life-cycle

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Live worms, used for ant feed, in a tray outside the Just Ants shop in Singapore. Photo: Reuters

Published: 6:00am, 15 Sep 2020Updated: 9:31am, 15 Sep 2020

For many they are simply a pest, but for Singaporean entrepreneur John Ye his personal interest in the humble ant prompted him to launch a business selling insects that he believes have a lot to offer.

Ye opened the city state’s first shop specialising in pet ants, Just Ants, in late February as lockdown measures to curb the spread of coronavirus came in. But despite the initial obstacles during the pandemic Ye said sales have picked up since July.

“The ant itself is just really amazing,” said Ye, 41, who used to sell wholesale electronics and started raising ants as a personal hobby in 2017.

John Ye, the owner and founder of Just Ants. Photo: Reuters

While ant farms are more common in some Western countries, they are a rarity in Singapore and Ye is trying to change negative connotations associated with the insects.

“They are so important in the ecosystem, they are actually here for a reason, and then if we could actually just learn from the humble ant, there are so many things that the ant could teach us, like perseverance, being headstrong,” Ye said.

He hopes to collaborate with institutions such as schools, to teach children about ants and their life-cycle.