Singapore's artisanal chocolate pioneer Laurent Cafe & Chocolate Bar to close after 20 years

Laurent Cafe & Chocolate Bar, a pioneer of artisanal chocolate in Singapore, will close after 20 years of operation. The cafe, founded by French pastry chef Laurent Bernard and his wife Iveta in 2006, was known for its handmade chocolate bonbons, soufflés, and cakes. Bernard revealed on Facebook that the business could no longer manage the financial strain of operating the cafe after being given only seven days to vacate the premises due to unpaid rent.

The new landlord demanded 12 months' rent in advance, which the cafe could not afford. Bernard acknowledged that the emotional loss of his beloved cafe was the most significant aspect, as it meant a great deal to many residents of the neighborhood. Despite the closure on Aug. 10, the Laurent Bernard Chocolatier brand will remain active online, allowing customers to order products for delivery or self-pickup from their central kitchen on MacTaggart Road.

Bernard has no immediate plans to open another cafe and intends to focus on expanding the online business. The closure of Laurent Cafe & Chocolate Bar follows the announcement of Pantler, a River Valley patisserie, which will close on Aug. 30 unless a new owner takes over, citing rising operating costs and a challenging business environment.

These closures highlight the broader pressures facing Singapore's food and beverage sector, with restaurants and cafes increasingly facing higher costs and weaker consumer spending. Singapore recorded 1,267 food business closures between January and April of this year, nearly half the total number of closures from the previous year.