So. Twelve Cupcakes — the homegrown cupcake chain many of us treated like a harmless sugar habit — abruptly closed its doors in another SG F&B closure. The company’s last day of operations was Oct 29, and a notice on its site said it’s been placed under provisional liquidation.
This wasn’t a slow fade. It was a snap. Staff found out on the same day the public did. Roughly 80 people — shop crews, bakers, supervisors and managers — were affected. That includes rank-and-file staff who suddenly had to figure out rent, bills and their next job.
TL;DR
- Snap Closure: Twelve Cupcakes ceased operations on Oct 29 and entered provisional liquidation, with staff informed the same day.
- 80 Workers Affected: Approximately 80 staff (crews, bakers, managers) suddenly lost their jobs with zero preparation time.
- Union Outrage: The FDAWU called the zero-notice closure “unacceptable” and a breach of industrial practice; they are coordinating with the liquidator.
- Pay Claims Pending: The liquidator is gathering records and plans a creditors’ meeting in about four weeks to begin verifying claims for unpaid wages and notice pay.
What went down
First, the basics. Twelve Cupcakes posted that operations have ceased and that the business is under provisional liquidation. The company’s website notice — and an Instagram post — said Oct 29 was the last day of trade. The site later went offline.
Second, the union angle. The Food, Drinks and Allied Workers Union (FDAWU) says it only heard about the closure on the same day staff were told. The union called the sudden notice “completely unacceptable and unfair,” especially since the company was unionised and had a collective agreement in place. They’ve called for engagement with the liquidator on claims for notice pay, arrears and other entitlements.
Third, the liquidator. AAG Corporate Advisory — the appointed liquidator — told media it’s “working closely” with the union and is gathering information. It plans to hold a creditors’ meeting within the next four weeks, as required under Singapore’s insolvency law. Until the liquidator verifies records, it won’t share details about finances or the reason for liquidation.
A quick flashback: Twelve Cupcakes was founded in 2011 by Daniel Ong and Jaime Teo. The pair sold the chain to India’s Dhunseri Group in 2016. The brand grew fast and had a big presence at malls and transit hubs.
Why people are upset — and why that matters
Workers are furious. And frankly, you’d be too. Here’s why it stings:
- No time to prepare. When a business closes overnight, staff lose the buffer time needed to find alternative work. That’s stressful for anyone living paycheck-to-paycheck.
- Broken process. The union says that even though the business was unionised, management didn’t consult or try alternatives. That’s not just rude. It breaches the spirit of good industrial practice.
- Money questions. Termination letters and proof-of-debt forms were reportedly handed out so staff could file claims. But collecting unpaid wages, notice pay or other dues is a process — and it can be slow.
What the liquidator says (and the legal timeline)
AAG Corporate Advisory says it’s collecting documents and will meet creditors in about four weeks to update them. That meeting is standard procedure under the Insolvency, Restructuring and Dissolution Act 2018. Until the liquidator completes verification, the full story — finances, causes, creditor list — won’t be public. In short: there’s a lot of paperwork ahead.
Practical next steps for affected workers
If you or someone you know is affected, do the obvious things first:
- Keep ALL paperwork. Save termination letters, payslips, the proof-of-debt form and any messages from management.
- Contact the union. FDAWU says it’s on the ground helping members and non-members alike. They can guide claim filing and rights under the collective agreement.
- File a proof-of-debt. That’s how creditors (including employees) tell the liquidator what the company may owe them. It doesn’t automatically mean you’ll be paid — but it’s the formal route.
- Check government support. If needed, look into short-term financial support or job-matching services while you search for the next gig.
- Talk to colleagues. Pooling info — who has what document and who heard what from management — makes it easier to build a solid claim.
My take (yes, the opinion bit)
Companies sometimes fail. That’s business reality. But there’s basic human decency that should survive. Shutting up shop with zero notice is avoidable in most cases. If liquidation was truly the only path, why not give staff a heads-up, run consultation meetings, or coordinate with the union earlier? The silence looks like either very poor planning or very poor communication. Or both.
Also, after being a visible homegrown brand for years, Twelve Cupcakes had a reputation. Reputation isn’t just PR — it’s goodwill held by staff and customers. Closing overnight tosses that goodwill into a box and sets it on fire. Not the best legacy move.
Finally, liquidators have rules and duties. So do employers. Workers deserve clarity and speed when it comes to pay and entitlements. The faster the documents are shared and the quicker the union and liquidator coordinate, the less pain for staff.
