Marie biscuits maker Lee Biscuits to close JB factory by end-October

Marie biscuits maker Lee Biscuits is shuttering its Pontian factory in Johor Bahru by end-October.

Malaysian media on Thursday (Oct 22) reported that the 92-year-old company, also known as Nam Lee, could exit snack manufacturing to consolidate its assets and focus on core holdings, including rubber and palm oil plantations.

Founded in 1934 by philanthropist Lee Kong Chian, the brand originated in Singapore before moving its production to JB's Tampoi in 1955, and later to Pontian in 2005.

Checks by AsiaOne on NTUC FairPrice's online store show that there are at least 23 Lee Biscuit products sold by the supermarket chain in Singapore.

Other than Marie biscuits, it is also known for its banana puffs, cream wafers, lemon crackers and sugar crackers.

Suppliers and customers reportedly began receiving notices about the closure last month, while the factory was also said to be laying off its employees.

China Press reported Pekan Nanas assemblyman Tan Eng Meng as saying that he had received news of the impending closure.

It is the second Lee Group food business facility in Johor to cease operation in three years.

The group closed its Lee Pineapple cannery in Skudai in November 2023, amid its focus on oil palm cultivation, New Straits Times reported.

生产玛丽饼干的李氏饼干将于10月底关闭其位于柔佛州新山笨珍的工厂。

马来西亚媒体周四（10 月 22 日）报道称，这家拥有 92 年历史的公司（又名南利）可能会退出零食制造业务，以整合其资产并专注于核心业务，包括橡胶和棕榈油种植园。

该品牌由慈善家李光前于 1934 年创立，起源于新加坡，1955 年将生产基地迁至新山淡杯，2005 年又迁至笨珍。

AsiaOne 对 NTUC FairPrice 网上商店的检查显示，该超市连锁店在新加坡销售的 Lee Biscuit 产品至少有 23 种。

除了玛丽饼干，它还以香蕉泡芙、奶油威化饼、柠檬饼干和糖饼干而闻名。

据报道，供应商和客户上个月开始收到有关工厂关闭的通知，同时该工厂也开始裁员。

据《中国报》报道，北根那那州议员陈永明表示，他已收到即将关闭的消息。

这是李氏集团在柔佛州三年内第二家停止运营的食品企业。

据《新海峡时报》报道，该集团于 2023 年 11 月关闭了位于士古来 (Skudai) 的 Lee Pineapple 罐头厂，转而专注于油棕种植。