Taipan Bread & Cakes, a time-honored local bakery chain with approximately 40 years of operation, announced on Tuesday the closure of all its retail outlets across the city.
Notices have been posted to the exterior of the branches, indicating that the decision was prompted by "unpredictable" and "irresistible" challenges faced by the company and it was forced to close down.
This came after the company found itself embroiled in multiple legal disputes with landlords regarding the overdue rent for several branches and factories.
The bakery chain recently closed down three of its branches at Choi Hung, Tai Wai and Whampoa MTR stations on Sunday (Jun 22). An employee claimed that the three outlets have been in rent arrears for over three months, amounting to a total of HK$1 million.
The Hotels, Food, and Beverage Employees Association has recently received numerous requests for assistance from employees of Taipan who have encountered delays in the payment of wages and food entitlements.
Furthermore, the Labour Department has also acknowledged inquiries from affected employees and has emphasized its vigilant monitoring of the situation.
