Lee Biscuits Closes Pontian Factory After 92 Years
Legendary biscuit manufacturer Lee Biscuits will shutter its manufacturing plant in Pontian, Johor, Malaysia, at the end of October 2026, ending a 92-year production run famous for its Marie biscuits. The company is consolidating its assets to concentrate strictly on core business operations, primarily rubber and oil palm plantations.
Production Phase-Out and Workforce Reduction
Suppliers and customers received formal cessation notices in September, signaling the beginning of the end for the historic factory. Malaysian media outlet China Press reported that roughly 300 employees remain on site through the end of October to handle cleaning and shutdown tasks. Senior management told China Press that the company hosted a two-week clearance sale prior to halting operations, which successfully emptied all remaining biscuit inventory.
Corporate Shift From Confectionery to Plantations
Founded by entrepreneur and philanthropist Lee Kong Chian, the brand originally operated out of Singapore before moving production to Tampoi, Johor Bahru, in 1995. Operations shifted again to Pontian in 2005, where the company manufactured saltine crackers, iced gem biscuits with colorful sugar toppings, and lemon sandwich biscuits alongside its flagship Marie line. This exit from food manufacturing follows a playbook established in 2023, when the parent group closed its decades-old pineapple canning factory in Skudai to pivot toward oil palm cultivation. Singaporean outlet CNA noted that the company’s official website and social media pages went completely offline as the shutdown progressed.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Lee Biscuits Closure
Why is Lee Biscuits shutting down its Pontian factory?
The parent group is executing a corporate restructuring to exit the snack manufacturing business entirely. The company intends to consolidate its assets and focus exclusively on core industries like rubber and oil palm plantations.
What happened to the remaining stock of biscuits?
Management ran a two-week clearance sale after deciding to halt operations, and the entire inventory of Marie biscuits, saltine crackers, iced gems, and lemon sandwich biscuits sold out.
How many workers are affected by the October 2026 shutdown?
Approximately 300 employees remained on the payroll through the end of October 2026 to handle clean-up and closing duties at the Pontian facility.
Where was Lee Biscuits originally founded?
The brand originated in Singapore under the leadership of businessman and philanthropist Lee Kong Chian before moving its production lines to Johor Bahru in 1995 and later to Pontian in 2005.
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