Hao Mart Affiliate Sues OG Over Taste Orchard Lease Termination
A company tied to Hao Mart's chairman is suing department store operator OG for alleged forced eviction from Singapore's Taste Orchard retail space before its lease expired.
Lawsuit Over Alleged Forced Eviction
Hao Open Foods, a company linked to Hao Mart chairman Tan Kim Yong, has initiated legal action against department store operator OG. The lawsuit, filed on August 5, alleges wrongful eviction from its Taste Orchard premises. Hao Open Foods operated Yole and Killiney outlets within the retail space.
The firm claims OG forced them to vacate before their tenancy agreements, which were set to expire in November 2026, had concluded. OG had reportedly issued a demand for Hao Mart to ensure all sub-tenants left the property, according to information from The Straits Times. This dispute highlights growing tensions in Singapore's retail property landscape.
Tenancy Agreement Breaches Claimed
Hao Open Foods entered into two tenancy agreements with Hao Mart in November 2023. These agreements covered two units at Taste Orchard, where it sold Yole ice cream and Killiney cooked food. The company alleges OG knew about and approved these sub-tenancies before later taking the position that they were unauthorised. OG then required sub-tenants to vacate the premises.
Hao Open Foods seeks damages for alleged misrepresentation, negligence, wrongful interference with trade, and induced breaches of contract by OG.
Taste Orchard's Closure Context
This lawsuit adds to a series of High Court disputes arising from Taste Orchard's closure. Taste Orchard opened in February 2024, with Hao Mart as the master tenant for five retail floors at 160 Orchard Road. This space previously housed OG's Orchard Point department store. OG terminated Hao Mart's master lease in September 2025.
The termination cited alleged rent arrears and unauthorised subletting of parts of the premises. OG then required Hao Mart and its sub-tenants to vacate.
Wider Operational Challenges for Hao Mart
Hao Mart faces other High Court proceedings involving OG, property agency PropNex Realty, and other companies, The Business Times reported. The retailer's final Eccellente outlet at Marina Square closed in June after its lease ended. Only six Hao Mart stores remained operational in early August.
However, Hao Mart's website continued to list 20 outlets, including several that had already closed. This series of disputes demonstrates the operational risks for retailers reliant on master leases and sub-tenancy arrangements in Singapore's competitive commercial property market.
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