KUALA LUMPUR (May 20): Gardenia Foods Pte Ltd on Wednesday announced that it will relocate its bakery production operations from Singapore to Johor Bahru, resulting in the retrenchment of 141 employees at its manufacturing facility in Pandan Loop.

The company in a statement said the move is part of ongoing efforts to improve operational efficiency and remain competitive amid a challenging global business environment. Production at the Pandan Loop facility will cease on June 30.

Gardenia informed employees of the decision during an internal meeting on Wednesday morning. Affected staff will receive notice and support in accordance with local regulations and employment guidelines. The company added that eligible employees may be considered for suitable roles within the group’s wider operations network where possible.

The Food, Drinks and Allied Workers Union (FDAWU), an affiliate of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC), said it was informed early of the restructuring and is supporting affected workers with training, job placement and retrenchment assistance. Gardenia will also provide fair compensation and sponsor one year of union membership, while the Employment and Employability Institute (e2i) will offer career and job matching support.

Singapore stock exchange-listed QAF Ltd acquired Gardenia in 1985. The group has steadily expanded its footprint across the Asia-Pacific region, with bakery operations in countries such as Malaysia, the Philippines, and Australia.