Gardenia restructuring to impact 141 workers in Singapore

Gardenia Foods will retrench 141 employees after deciding to cease production at its Pandan Loop manufacturing facility and relocate bakery operations to Johor Bahru, Malaysia, as reported by NTUC.

The company confirmed that production at the Singapore plant will officially stop on June 30 2026. The move forms part of Gardenia’s wider push to improve operational efficiency and stay competitive amid a difficult global business climate.

Employees were informed during an internal meeting on 20 May 2026. The company said affected workers will receive support and notice in line with local employment regulations and guidelines.

Union support

Food, Drinks and Allied Workers Union and National Trades Union Congress have stepped in to support impacted workers through job placement services, career coaching and skills training.

The union said it was informed of the restructuring plans early, allowing discussions with Gardenia on fair retrenchment terms before the public announcement.

Sankaradass S Chami, General Secretary, FDAWU said, “Retrenchment is never easy for workers and their families, but we appreciate that Gardenia engaged FDAWU early before the announcement. This early and constructive engagement gave the union time to work with the company on fair retrenchment terms, identify suitable vacancies and prepare support such as job matching, career coaching and skills training.

He added, “As more companies restructure to stay competitive, we urge employers to take a similarly responsible approach: engage unions early, treat workers with dignity, and put practical support in place before decisions are made public. For the affected union members, FDAWU’s immediate priority is to help them move quickly into new opportunities.”

Career assistance

Affected Singaporeans and permanent residents will be connected to services from NTUC’s e2i, including job matching, career guidance and skills-upgrading support.

FDAWU will also organise on-site training sessions covering CV writing, interview preparation and job placement opportunities. The union is working with its network of companies to identify suitable vacancies for displaced employees.

Gardenia added that eligible workers could also be considered for alternative roles within the wider Gardenia group where possible.

Existing union members affected by the retrenchment will receive one year of sponsored union membership to continue accessing financial and career support services.

Singapore hub

Despite shifting production to Malaysia, Gardenia said Singapore will remain a key regional business hub.

The company expects to retain around 250 employees in Singapore across areas including brand management, innovation, product development, regulatory oversight, customer engagement and supply chain operations.

The Singapore team will also continue overseeing quality governance and compliance with standards set by the Singapore Food Agency and the Health Promotion Board.

Rising layoffs

Gardenia’s retrenchment exercise adds to a growing list of restructuring-driven job cuts in Singapore’s food and manufacturing sectors.

Earlier this year, Asia Pacific Breweries Singapore announced plans to cut about 130 jobs as brewing operations move to Malaysia and Vietnam.

Yeo Hiap Seng also laid off 25 employees after shifting can manufacturing operations to Malaysia.

Recent restructuring exercises have also affected companies including DHL Global Forwarding Singapore, JLL Singapore and Amazon Singapore.