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 has a portfolio of 13 brands, including Suki-Ya and Bangkok Jam./ Image Credit: Suki-Ya/ Bangkok Jam
The group 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.
(L to R): Adam Tan, Director of Asia White Knight; Bonnie Wong, CEO of Creative Eateries; and Andie Chen, CMO of Asia White Knight who will join as the CMO of Creative Eateries./ Image Credit: Creative Eateries
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.”
Moving on from a family-led business
Reflecting on the company’s evolution over the past 33 years, Creative Eateries founder Anthony told Vulcan Post that Singapore’s small but dynamic economy demands constant adaptation.
“We’ve managed to overcome challenges and adapt over the last three decades. I’d say we’re in a pretty sweet spot today,” he said.
(L to R): Anthony Wong’s daughters, Bonnie Wong and Bernadette Giam./ Image Credit: Bonnie Wong
His daughters, who joined the business 12 years ago, have faced two major hurdles head-on throughout their journey in the company. The first was a manpower crunch from 2013 to 2018, which required reorganising systems and processes.
Soon after, the company had to navigate through the COVID-19 pandemic, yet Bonnie managed to steer the business through the crisis while keeping it attractive for future investors.
Anthony also highlighted the group’s Malaysia operations—notably its Suki‑Ya outlets in Malaysia, which were run under Createries Consultancy Sdn. Bhd. The business did “very well” in the two years after COVID-19 and was sold to Skylark Holdings in Jan 2025, leaving Creative Eateries to refocus on Singapore.
“What remained… [required] a clear direction, and we were offered a wonderful opportunity,” he added. “We like [White Knight]. The price was right. You know, it was a private sale. I think everyone is happy.”
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 long term, the firm 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, Bonnie described the industry as being “in a transition, not a downturn.”
She noted that today’s F&B industry demands higher productivity and multitasking, but that doesn’t mean compromising the customer experience. “It’s not just about… QR codes or kiosks. That’s not what customers want in a nice restaurant,” she said.
Instead, White Knight will bring systems, data, and operational know-how that will enable Creative Eateries to run more efficiently.
“The network effect of having investors and partners is a more sustainable business model than a family-run business for the F&B industry.”
Find out more about Creative Eateries here.
Read other articles we’ve written on Singaporean businesses here.
Featured Image Credit: Bangkok Jam/ Suki-Ya
