Homegrown F&B group Creative Eateries has been acquired by Asia White Knight Group, an investment and operations group in the franchise sector.
The deal had been in the works for about a year, though financial details were not disclosed.
A staple in Singapore’s restaurant scene for over 30 years, Creative Eateries is behind popular brands like Bangkok Jam, Suki-Ya, Typhoon Café, Vineyard at HortPark, and Tanglin Cookhouse, offering a wide range of dining experiences across the island.
The acquisition, announced today (Nov 17), will see Creative Eateries bring in a new CEO and management team, while keeping all existing staff. The move comes as part of a plan to strengthen the group in a competitive F&B landscape, which has seen record business closures in recent years.
Creative Eateries was founded in 1992
Founded by Anthony Wong, Creative Eateries began as ‘Hot Stones,’ a Holland Village restaurant in 1992. Over the years, it has steadily expanded its footprint and now boasts a portfolio of 13 brands.
Creative Eateries is currently led by Anthony’s daughter, Bonnie Wong, who serves as the group’s CEO. Her sister Bernadette Giam, who was previously involved in the business, left the company in mid-2025.
Prior to the acquisition, White Knight’s leadership, led by director Adam Tan, had observed Creative Eateries for “some time,” recognising its potential in an increasingly competitive F&B landscape. The firm, which is the master franchisee for cafe chain Joe & Dough in Singapore, also saw an opportunity to expand into the full restaurant group space.
“Creative Eateries has always been about connecting people through food, and that aligns perfectly with what we believe in at White Knight—using data and systems to elevate creativity,” he said. “We see enormous potential to bring a new level of operational excellence to well-loved culinary concepts, while ensuring that every dining experience remains heartfelt, authentic, and human.
Adam noted that optimising an existing business was more practical than rebuilding from the ground up—refining Creative Eateries’ current systems offered a faster and more efficient path to growth. He cited a recent example with Joe & Dough, where the team managed to turn around an underperforming outlet within three months.
As part of the acquisition, Adam will assume the role of CEO of Creative Eateries. However, outgoing CEO Bonnie will remain with the company for a year to oversee a smooth transition and ensure business continuity. The group’s 250 employees across all brands will also remain in their roles.
“This partnership marks the start of an exciting new chapter for Creative Eateries,” said Bonnie. “We’re incredibly grateful for the love and support our customers have had for our brands and look forward to working closely with Adam and his team.”
The game plan
Post-acquisition, White Knight has outlined a three-phase growth plan designed to “optimise operations, enhance customer loyalty, and foster new culinary talent” across Singapore and beyond.
In the short term (0–6 months), its focus will be on operational improvements across all brands while reintroducing crowd favourites such as Bangkok Jam and Typhoon Cafe to reconnect with customers.
In the mid term (6–18 months), Creative Eateries will revamp its membership and loyalty ecosystem into a unified Creative Eateries Rewards Programme, offering members exclusive perks and cross-brand dining benefits.
To kick things off, they’re launching a promotion where customers can collect stamps by dining at any three Creative Eateries restaurants to receive 50% off their total bill in vouchers. This will run for three months, starting from Nov 15.
Looking further ahead, in the long term (beyond 18 months), White Knight plans to position Creative Eateries as a hub for “collaboration,” empowering chefs and F&B innovators to develop new concepts under the group’s umbrella.
The group aims to achieve an annual revenue target of S$100 million within five years.
While the F&B sector is expected to face rising competition, shifting consumer expectations, and economic uncertainties in the coming years, White Knight describes the industry as being “in a transition, not a downturn.”
According to Adam, the key to navigating this environment is adaptability, innovation, and empowerment. “We’re equipping our teams with systems and insights that enable them to react quickly, work smarter, and deliver better value,” said Adam. “Data drives our decisions, but people drive our purpose.”
- Find out more about Creative Eateries here.
- Read other articles we’ve written on Singaporean businesses here.
Featured Image Credit: Bangkok Jam/ Suki-Ya