Food Republic, operated by Singapore's BreadTalk Group, will close its last outlet in Beijing’s Oriental Plaza on June 15, 2026, at 8 p.m. after 26 years of operation, due to the expiry of its tenancy lease [1, 2, 3].
The Oriental Plaza location opened in 2000 and has been a mainstay of Food Republic’s presence in Beijing since then [1, 2]. At its peak in 2016, Food Republic operated over 40 outlets across China, including major cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, and Chongqing [1, 2, 3].
Following the Beijing outlet’s closure, four Food Republic stores will remain in China, all located in Shanghai, with around 20 stores still active across mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan [1, 3]. Food Republic also continues operating 14 outlets in Singapore and maintains a presence in Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Taiwan [1, 2].
BreadTalk recently shrank its footprint in China beyond Food Republic. Its bakery brand closed all Chengdu stores in 2025 due to expiring franchise agreements, and shuttered its last Beijing bakery store at Oriental Plaza on March 31, 2026 [3].
BreadTalk has said the Chinese market is still a "core priority for Food Republic's long-term development," with plans to focus on nearly 20 outlets in Shanghai and Shenzhen, while diversifying into corporate partnerships and in-house cafeterias [2, 3]. A Food Republic spokesperson added the brand is “exploring operating internal cafeterias in collaboration with educational institutions and corporate headquarters” in China [3].
Senior researcher Jiang Han at Pangu Think Tank said BreadTalk’s decision to close the Beijing stores is a "strategic defense" against rising rental and labor costs, reflecting a rational adjustment of investment and returns rather than expansion [3].
Food Republic’s last Beijing store will close as scheduled on June 15, marking the end of its 26-year history in the capital [1, 2, 3].
