SINGAPORE - In a stunning turn of events, British health and wellness giant Holland & Barrett has shuttered all 12 of its locations in Singapore, signaling the brand's exit after over 15 years in the market.

The official announcement was made on their Instagram account on March 10, but reports suggest that stores began closing as early as March 6. A visit by The Straits Times to several outlets—Takashimaya Shopping Centre, 313@somerset, Isetan Scotts, Suntec City, and Nex—revealed shelves either stripped bare or workers hastily packing up merchandise.

By March 7, the Nex outlet was boarded up, and at AMK Hub, customers found a sign stating the store was 'currently closed,' redirecting them to hollandandbarrett.com for updates. Employees were reportedly taken by surprise; one staff member, who had worked with the brand for 12 years, expressed feeling unprepared for the abrupt closure. 'Everything happened so quickly—it feels like a nightmare,' she shared.

This sudden closure left many regular customers in disbelief, particularly one, who had recently renewed a $88 membership and obtained two vouchers worth $150 each—only to find their favorite wellness outlet closing down. He voiced his complaints in Facebook groups, suggesting that the company should have stopped new membership sign-ups if they planned to wind down operations.

Concerns over the closure are compounded by unanswered queries sent to Holland & Barrett regarding employee layoffs and customer notifications. The local franchise partner, MA Supplements, declared its inability to continue business due to financial liabilities, officially signaling the start of the wind-down process. Meetings with creditors are scheduled for March 18 as part of the liquidation procedure.

Despite these closures, a Holland & Barrett spokesperson noted that they do not directly manage operations in Singapore, emphasizing that the outlets were run by the franchise partner, now rebranded as MA Supplements. 'We understand that all stores are currently closed and share in our customers’ disappointment,' the spokesperson stated, adding that Holland & Barrett is exploring new opportunities to serve Singaporean consumers.

At its height, Holland & Barrett boasted 27 stores in Singapore, with a diverse product range from vitamins to organic snacks and toiletries. Established in 1870, the retailer has expanded globally, with 1,368 stores across 16 countries.

As Singapore reflects on the implications of this closure, the health and wellness landscape in the city-state faces an uncertain future—leaving consumers and employees alike in search of alternative options. What does this mean for the local wellness market? Stay tuned as developments unfold!