Gardenia Foods announced on May 20, 2026, it will relocate its bakery production from its Pandan Loop facility in Singapore to Johor Bahru, Malaysia, ceasing production at the Singapore plant by June 30 [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9]. The shift will result in the retrenchment of 141 employees at the Pandan Loop site [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9]. Gardenia will consider eligible staff for suitable roles within its wider group operations where possible [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9].
After the retrenchment, Gardenia will retain around 250 employees in Singapore. These employees will support the company's central hub functions such as brand management, product development, quality control, regulatory oversight, supply chain, and distribution [1, 3, 4, 10, 5, 6, 8]. Singapore will remain Gardenia’s headquarters, hosting key corporate and quality oversight functions [1, 3, 4, 10, 5, 6, 8].
Gardenia informed employees about the production shift and retrenchments during an internal meeting on May 20, with the Food, Drinks and Allied Workers Union (FDAWU), affiliated with NTUC, present or informed in advance [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9]. FDAWU is providing training, job placement assistance, and supporting fair terms for affected employees, with Gardenia sponsoring one year of union membership for them [1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9].
A Gardenia spokesperson said the changes are necessary for operational efficiency and competitiveness amid challenging global conditions. "It is a strategic step in response to business continuity, labour constraints, and the need for industrial land for large-scale production," the spokesperson said [1, 2, 3, 4, 10, 5, 6, 8, 9]. They added, "The move strengthens our supply chain resilience, improves operational flexibility, and positions Gardenia for sustainable long-term growth" [10].
Gardenia was founded in 1978 as a small bakery in Bukit Timah and was acquired by QAF Ltd in 1985. The company expanded across the Asia-Pacific region, operating in Malaysia, the Philippines, and Australia [2, 5, 9]. Gardenia Singapore is fully owned by QAF Ltd, while the Malaysia operations are a 50-50 joint venture with Tradewinds [6, 7, 11]. QAF reported a 62% increase in net profit to S$35.9 million for H2 FY2025 and a 15% full year rise to S$40.3 million despite flat revenue [7, 11].
The production shift reflects a wider industry trend with other Singapore-based food and beverage companies such as Yeo Hiap Seng and Asia Pacific Breweries consolidating production in Malaysia and Vietnam, leading to job cuts [1, 4, 11]. Yeo Hiap Seng announced in March 2026 a consolidation of can manufacturing from Singapore to Malaysia with 25 layoffs, and Asia Pacific Breweries planned cuts of about 130 roles alongside production moves [1, 4, 11].
Gardenia’s Pandan Loop facility will officially stop production on June 30, 2026 [1, 3, 6, 8].
