The trademark record lists Mohamed Mustafa & Samsuddin Co. Pte. Ltd. as the owner and covers food categories including preserved lentils and nuts, dried, cooked, or preserved fruits and vegetables, flour, and spices.1

Origins in the Mustafa business

Understanding Uncle Cook’s requires examining the history of its parent company. The roots of the Mustafa business trace back to Haji Mohamed Mustafa, who arrived in Singapore from Uttar Pradesh, India, in the early 1950s. His family initially operated a small food business before transitioning into retail. In 1971, the family established a shop on Campbell Lane selling ready-made garments.2

The business expanded rapidly. In 1973, Mohamed Mustafa and Samsuddin established a wholesale business under the name Mohamed Mustafa & Samsuddin Co. Singapore court records confirm the establishment of this partnership in July 1973.

The company subsequently broadened its merchandise range from clothing to electronics and eventually a vast assortment of consumer goods. In 1985, it moved into Serangoon Plaza before acquiring properties along Syed Alwi Road and developing what became Mustafa Centre.

Mustafa Centre opened in 1995, becoming the company’s flagship retail destination. Singapore’s National Heritage Board describes the centre as the culmination of the family’s expansion from a small retail operation into a major department store.

Creation of Uncle Cook’s

While the specific narrative behind the creation of the Uncle Cook’s brand is not extensively documented in public corporate material, trademark records establish that the mark was first used on 15 January 1998. It was subsequently registered in the United States, with an application filed on 17 April 2000 and registration granted on 12 September 2006.12

This timeline positions Uncle Cook’s as a relatively early example of Mustafa developing its own branded grocery products rather than solely acting as a retailer for third-party food manufacturers.

A defining characteristic of Uncle Cook’s is that it is not merely an unrelated supermarket brand sold at Mustafa; it is integral to the retailer’s identity.

Trademark records identify Mohamed Mustafa & Samsuddin Co. Pte. Ltd. as the owner of the UNCLE COOK’S trademark.1 Historically, the brand has been described specifically as an in-house brand of Mustafa. For instance, a 2014 Singapore food and grocery guide identified Uncle Cook’s as a proprietary Mustafa label, particularly noting its nuts.

Today, Uncle Cook’s products remain prominently represented through ShopMustafa, the company’s online retail platform. The current catalogue lists individual products such as nuts, rice, lentils, and spices under the Uncle Cook’s brand.34

The corporate relationship can be summarised as follows:

Mohamed Mustafa & Samsuddin Co. → Mustafa retail business → Uncle Cook’s private/in-house food brand

Uncle Cook’s has evolved into a comprehensive pantry and grocery brand rather than being restricted to a single food category.

Nuts

Nuts are among the most recognisable elements of the Uncle Cook’s range. Current Mustafa listings include:

• Almonds
• Cashews
• Pistachios
• Brazil nuts
• Hazelnuts
• Various grades and preparations of cashews
• Raw and roasted varieties

For example, Mustafa retails Uncle Cook’s raw California almonds and A180 cashews, with product pages explicitly identifying the brand.349 This aligns with the brand’s historical positioning; a Singapore food blogger writing in 2014 specifically identified Uncle Cook’s as Mustafa’s in-house nut brand, noting sourcing from countries including the United States and Brazil.

Lentils and pulses

Another major category comprises Indian and South Asian pulses. The current catalogue includes:

• Toor dal
• Moong dal
• Urad dal
• Masoor dal
• Chana / Bengal gram
• Rajma
• Horse gram
• Karamani
• Broad beans
• Other regional legumes

There is also an extensive organic range, featuring organic moong, urad, Bengal gram, pigeon pea, masoor dal, rajma, and quinoa.11232425 This assortment reflects Mustafa’s strong connection to South Asian grocery retail and the culinary habits of Singapore’s Indian and South Asian communities.

Rice

Rice is a significant category for Uncle Cook’s. Retail listings feature products including basmati rice and other varieties.1528 Historical trademark information also associates the brand with rice, flour, and spices in various jurisdictions.

Spices

Uncle Cook’s retails ground and whole spices. Current listings include:

• Turmeric powder
• Coriander powder
• Whole cloves
• Himalayan pink salt
• Other cooking spices and seasonings

Mustafa’s online catalogue and official store listings confirm the availability of these items under the Uncle Cook’s label.131819

Seeds and health-oriented pantry ingredients

The brand has expanded beyond conventional Indian grocery staples to include:

• Linseed/flax
• Quinoa
• Various legumes
• Organic grains and pulses
• Jaggery powder

The current catalogue includes white, black, and tricolour quinoa under Uncle Cook’s, alongside organic pulses and jaggery powder.1422

Uncle Cook’s is broadly positioned as a value-oriented, everyday grocery brand rather than a luxury or specialist gourmet label.

Everyday cooking

Many products are ingredients used regularly in home cooking—rice, lentils, beans, nuts, and spices—rather than highly processed convenience foods, although some snack items like potato chips are also listed.12

South Asian orientation

A substantial portion of the range is particularly relevant to Indian, South Asian, and vegetarian cooking, especially given the extensive selection of dals and legumes.20

Bulk-oriented packaging

Many products are available in larger formats, such as 500 g, 1 kg, and 2 kg packs. This aligns with the traditional Mustafa shopping model, where consumers purchase household groceries at competitive prices.

Broad international sourcing

Although the brand is Singaporean in ownership and retail identity, ingredients are sourced internationally. For example, Mustafa describes its Uncle Cook’s almonds as California almonds and sliced almonds from the USA.926 Consequently, “Singaporean brand” refers to ownership and retail base rather than the origin of agricultural commodities.

The name “Uncle Cook’s” conveys a deliberately familiar and approachable identity. Rather than positioning itself as an elite culinary label, the name suggests an everyday cooking companion associated with household kitchens, traditional ingredients, and practical preparation.

This fits naturally with Mustafa’s overall retail identity, which has historically emphasised breadth, affordability, and accessibility. Mustafa describes its business philosophy as sourcing a wide range of products according to customer demand, utilising overseas sourcing to provide greater choice. Uncle Cook’s functions as a key component of this model.

Trademark records provide significant documentary evidence regarding the brand’s scope and ownership.

United States

The UNCLE COOK’S mark was filed in the United States on 17 April 2000 by Mohamed Mustafa & Samsuddin Co. Pte. Ltd. Registration was granted on 12 September 2006 and subsequently renewed.12 The filing covered food-related categories including preserved lentils, preserved nuts, dried/cooked/preserved fruits and vegetables, flour, spices, and certain food fillings. The record states a first-use date of 15 January 1998.

India

A separate Indian trademark record lists Uncle Cook’s under Class 29, covering preserved lentils, nuts, edible oils, dried/cooked/preserved fruits and vegetables, prepared snack foods, and related products. The proprietor is identified as Mohamed Mustafa & Samsuddin Co. Pte. Ltd.6

Australia

An Australian trademark filing connects Uncle Cook’s with Mohamed Mustafa & Samsuddin Co. Pte. Ltd. and covers Class 30 products such as chutneys, condiments, dry condiments, and sauces.7 These registrations indicate that Uncle Cook’s was conceived as a brand capable of covering a broad range of packaged food products.

The brand’s primary distribution channel remains Mustafa’s retail ecosystem in Singapore. Uncle Cook’s products are available through the company’s online shopping operation, which features dedicated collections for nuts and dried foods.349131415181920212223242526

Third-party Singapore grocery retailers also stock Uncle Cook’s products, indicating distribution beyond physical Mustafa stores. For example, 365 Grocers lists Uncle Cook’s rice, peas, and other items.5 Other local retailers such as Farm to Home and NTUC FairPrice have also listed the brand.1617

There is also evidence of sales in overseas markets, including Indonesia, where online retail platforms carry Uncle Cook’s lentils, almonds, cardamom, and other grocery products.8

Uncle Cook’s occupies a distinct position within Singapore’s food retail landscape. Singapore has a long-established Indian and South Asian grocery tradition, particularly centred around Little India. Mustafa Centre emerged as one of the area’s defining retail institutions, developing an enormous grocery assortment catering to both local residents and international shoppers.

The Uncle Cook’s portfolio—especially its dals, beans, spices, rice, and nuts—fits directly into this ecosystem. The brand is not simply a generic supermarket private label; its assortment reflects the specific ingredients for which Mustafa became renowned.

The historical progression of the brand and its parent company is summarised below:

• 1950s–1960s: Haji Mohamed Mustafa establishes a small food-related business in Singapore.
• 1971: The family moves into formal retail with a shop on Campbell Lane.
• 1973: Mohamed Mustafa and Samsuddin establish their wholesale business.
• 1985: The business moves to Serangoon Plaza and expands its merchandise range.
• 1995: Mustafa Centre opens on Syed Alwi Road.
• 1998: Documented first-use date of the Uncle Cook’s trademark.
• 2000: US trademark application filed.
• 2006: US trademark registration granted.
• Present: Uncle Cook’s remains part of Mustafa’s grocery assortment, with a substantial range available through retail channels.1027

The corporate entity behind the brand is Mohamed Mustafa & Samsuddin Co. Pte. Ltd. The company identifies Mustafa Centre at 145 Syed Alwi Road, Singapore 207704 as its main shop. Official corporate information lists the company’s registration number as 198900680Z.10

Current official information describes a large-scale retail operation offering more than 300,000 product types. Uncle Cook’s is accurately described as a brand within the Mustafa/Mohamed Mustafa & Samsuddin retail business rather than an independent food company.27

Several factors distinguish Uncle Cook’s in the Singapore market:

1. Ties to an iconic retailer: Unlike many private labels, it has a strong association with Mustafa Centre and Little India’s retail culture.
2. Longevity: With documented first use in 1998, the brand has been active for over two decades.12
3. Ingredient focus: The portfolio emphasises cooking ingredients over snacks or ready-to-eat products.
4. Prominence of nuts: Both current collections and historical references highlight nuts as a core category.349
5. South Asian profile: The extensive selection of dals, beans, and spices caters specifically to Indian and South Asian cooking.
6. International footprint: Trademark registrations and retail listings indicate activity in India, Australia, and Indonesia.678

As of 2026, Uncle Cook’s remains an active food brand sold through Mustafa’s retail ecosystem. ShopMustafa listings show a continuing assortment across nuts, pulses, rice, spices, and organic foods.3491112131415181920212223242526

The brand is best characterised as a Singapore-based, Mustafa-owned private-label grocery brand with a strong South Asian pantry orientation. However, there is no comprehensive official corporate history devoted specifically to Uncle Cook’s. Details such as the creator of the brand name, original marketing strategy, specific manufacturing partners, or revenue figures are not reliably established in public sources.

1. UNCLE COOK’S – Mohamed Mustafa & Samsuddin Co. Pte. Ltd. Trademark Registration
2. UNCLE COOK’S Trademark | Trademarkia
3. Uncle Cook’s Cashew Nut A180 500g – ShopMustafa
4. Uncle Cook’s Raw Almond 1kg – ShopMustafa
5. Uncle Cooks
6. UNCLE COOKS | Trademark Application 915504
7. UNCLE COOK’S Australia Trademark Filing & Registration | Australia Trademark Search
8. Uncle Cook’s ✅ April 2026 100% Original – Official Store Indonesia
9. Uncle Cook’s Raw Brazil Nuts 250g – ShopMustafa
10. MOHAMED MUSTAFA & SAMSUDDIN CO. PTE LTD – LEI: 984500ED3CD57E3DBC31
11. Uncle Cook’s Organic Urad Black Gram Whole 1000g – ShopMustafa
12. Uncle Cooks Potato Chips Original 160g – ShopMustafa
13. Uncle Cook’s Coriander Powder 500g – ShopMustafa
14. Uncle Cook’s Organic Jaggery Powder 400g – ShopMustafa
15. Uncle Cook’s Classic XXXL Basmati Rice 1000g – ShopMustafa
16. UNCLE COOK’S PRODUCTS – FARM TO HOME
17. Uncle Cook’s | All The Latest Products | NTUC FairPrice
18. Uncle Cook’s Himalayan Pink Salt 500g – Buy Online at Official Mustafa Centre Store | Must.sg — Must.sg
19. Uncle Cook’s Spices Whole Cloves 100g – Buy Online at Official Mustafa Centre Store | Must.sg — Must.sg
20. Uncle Cook’s TATTAPAYAR Black Eyed Peas – Buy Online at Official Mustafa Centre Store | Must.sg — Must.sg
21. Uncle Cook’s Dried Persimmon 250g – Buy Online at Official Mustafa Centre Store | Must.sg — Must.sg
22. Uncle Cook’s Organic Jaggery Powder 400g – Buy Online at Official Mustafa Centre Store | Must.sg — Must.sg
23. Uncle Cook’s MASOOR WHOLE MALKA 1KG – Buy Online at Official Mustafa Centre Store | Must.sg — Must.sg
24. Uncle Cook’s Black Urad Dal Broken 1KG – Buy Online at Official Mustafa Centre Store | Must.sg — Must.sg
25. Uncle Cook’s Horse Gram 1KG – Buy Online at Official Mustafa Centre Store | Must.sg — Must.sg
26. Uncle Cook’s Sliced Almond 250G USA – Buy Online at Official Mustafa Centre Store | Must.sg — Must.sg
27. Mohamed Mustafa & Samsuddin Co. Pte. Ltd. Trademarks Page 1 :: Justia Trademarks
28. Uncle Cook’s Parboiled Ponni Rice – 5 kg