“I’ve been doing this for so many years, this shop is like my child,” said the owner of a four-decade-old bakery in Bedok.
Following a three-year search for a successor, he was able to sell the stall for S$4 million.
Zheng Yikang, 74, is the owner of Borobudur Snacks Shop at 537 Bedok North Street 3. They’ve been around since the 1980s when they partnered with an Indonesian-Chinese who set up the shop.
Mr Zheng took over after the founder passed away and has been selling speciality Nonya kueh ever since. They’re known for their ang ku kueh and kueh lapis.
“At our peak, we could produce nearly 1,000 cakes a day, supply at least 10 well-known hotels and deliver to many other retail shops across Singapore,” said Mr Zheng to Chinese-language newspaper Shin Min Daily News.
They switched to supplying buffet operators after competition in the wholesale market increased.
The business also began curating new flavours to innovate and set up a factory at Mandai Link in 2004 due to increasing demand.
However, it was reported that Mr Zheng has no direct successor, as their only daughter is married and lives in Canada.
He then spent three years looking for someone to continue the business and eventually found a couple who fit the bill.
“We haven’t signed the contract. We’re in the midst of discussing the details, but they’ve been learning to make kueh since April. They have to learn for a year before they’re ready,” he said.
Although the S$4 million price tag might be quite hefty for some, Mr Zheng explained that the new owners would be ready to operate from day one.
They will get the Bedok stall, the factory in Mandai, equipment, and the secret recipes, among other existing business essentials.
Although he feels sad about the decision, Mr Zheng admitted he has no other choice. He plans to retire and go on a holiday with his wife.
In April this year, a 45-year-old hawker stall announced it would be closing for good. The Ang Mo Kio Curry Rice owner, 80, is retiring and has no children willing to take over as they find the job “too tiring.” /TISG
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