Written reply to PQ on Retail Food Establishments which Ceased Operations after Five Years or Less that have Recorded Profit

Question

Mr Foo Cexiang: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry with respect to retail food establishments that ceased operations after five years or less in 2025 to date, what is the proportion that have never recorded a profit based on any of their annual tax declarations.

Written Answer by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong:

1.       63% of retail food establishments[^1] closed between 1 January to 23 October 2025 had been registered for five years or less[^2]. Of these, 82% had never recorded a profit in their annual tax declarations.

^[1]Retail food establishments refer to the following groups in the Singapore Standard Industrial Classification (SSIC) 2020: 56111 – Restaurants, 56112 – Cafes, 56121 – Fast food outlets, 56122 – Food courts, hawker centres, coffee shops and canteens, 56123 - Food and drinks kiosks mainly for takeaway and delivery, 56130 – Pubs, 56140 - Stalls selling cooked food and prepared drinks, 56200 – Food caterers.

^[2]The Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) does not have records of businesses' actual period of operations.