Hao Mart Chairman's Company Sues OG Over Taste Orchard Eviction

Legal Disputes Multiply After Taste Orchard Collapse

Another legal battle has emerged from the shuttered Taste Orchard retail concept, with Hao Open Foods launching High Court proceedings against department store operator OG over what it describes as a forced early exit from premises it occupied under valid lease agreements.

The company, owned by Hao Mart chairman Tan Kim Yong, filed its claim on August 5. Court documents show Hao Open Foods held two separate tenancy agreements dated November 1, 2023, covering units where it operated Yole ice cream outlets and Killiney food stalls. Both leases were scheduled to run until November 30, 2026.

According to the statement of claim, OG compelled Hao Mart to remove all sub-tenants from the building, cutting short agreements that still had more than a year remaining. Hao Open Foods contends that OG had full knowledge of the sub-tenancy arrangements, gave approval, and raised no objections before reversing course and declaring them unauthorised.

The lawsuit seeks damages on multiple grounds: misrepresentation, negligence, wrongful interference with trade, and inducing breaches of contract.

The Taste Orchard Timeline

Taste Orchard opened in February 2024 after Hao Mart secured a 7.5-year master lease on five retail floors at 160 Orchard Road. The space previously housed OG's Orchard Point department store. The new concept combined Hao Mart's premium Eccellente supermarket with food, beverage, retail and service tenants across multiple levels.

The venture lasted less than 18 months. OG terminated the master lease in September 2025, citing unpaid rent and unauthorised subletting. The landlord ordered Hao Mart and all sub-tenants to vacate.

The closure triggered a cascade of legal actions. Hao Mart is already involved in separate High Court cases with OG, property agency PropNex Realty and one of its agents, skincare brand Belovie, and hair care company Bio Organicare Scalp. OG has obtained a consent order granting it possession of the premises.

Hao Mart's Shrinking Footprint

The retail group's troubles extend beyond Taste Orchard. Hao Mart closed its final Eccellente outlet at Marina Square in June when that lease expired. By early August, only six Hao stores remained operational, even as the company's website continued listing 20 locations, several of which had already shut.

The pattern suggests broader financial strain. Multiple court filings point to mounting losses and disputes over unpaid obligations. The Taste Orchard collapse appears to have accelerated existing pressures rather than created them.

What Comes Next

Hao Open Foods has retained law firm Wong Tan & Molly Lim to represent it in the suit. A case conference is scheduled for September 10, when the court will set timelines for evidence and hearings.

The outcome will likely hinge on documentation showing what OG knew about the sub-tenancies and when. If Hao Open Foods can demonstrate that OG explicitly approved the arrangements before declaring them invalid, it strengthens claims of misrepresentation and wrongful interference. If OG can show the sub-leases violated the master tenancy terms from the outset, its position becomes more defensible.

For Singapore's Orchard Road retail corridor, the Taste Orchard saga underscores the risks inherent in complex multi-tenant arrangements. Master lease structures can fill vacant space quickly, but they also create layers of contractual exposure when relationships sour. The legal fallout from this single failed concept now involves at least half a dozen parties across multiple proceedings, with more claims likely as sub-tenants assess their options.

The building at 160 Orchard Road remains in OG's control, but its future use is unclear. The swift rise and collapse of Taste Orchard will weigh on any future tenant negotiations for the space.