Yeo Hiap Seng
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | Beverage |
| Founded | 1900 |
| Founder | Yeo Keng Lian |
| Headquarters | Singapore , Singapore |
Area served | Singapore, Malaysia, China, US, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Maldives, Mauritius, Mongolia, Pacific Islands, Hong Kong, Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia |
Key people | Robert Ng (Chairman) |
| Products | Beverages (H-Two-O, Yeo's Asian Beverages, Justea, Pink Dolphin) |
| Owner | Far East Organization (Ng Teng Fong family) |
Yeo Hiap Seng Limited (, widely recognized as Yeo's) is a Singapore-based beverage company functioning as both an investment holding company and a producer of beverages across Singapore, Malaysia, and China. The company holds a global footprint with offices and markets spanning the US, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Maldives, Mauritius, Mongolia, Pacific Islands, Mainland China, Hong Kong, Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, and Vietnam. Prominent product lines include H-Two-O, Yeo's Asian Beverages, Justea, and Pink Dolphin.
The principal shareholder is the Far East Organization of Ng Teng Fong, a leading property developer known for residential projects such as houses and condominiums. Yeo Hiap Seng’s operations extend to over 60 nations, with major markets including Thailand, China, Singapore, Malaysia, and the United States; it also holds franchise rights in Indonesia and Mauritius.
Founding
The company’s origins date back to 1900 when Yeo Keng Lian (), originally from Fujian, China, started manufacturing soy sauce at the Yeo Hiap Seng Sauce Factory () in Zhangzhou in 1901. In the 1930s, Yeo moved to Singapore and re-established the factory there in 1938. He passed away in Singapore in 1960.
The name Yeo Hiap Seng carries Christian significance: "Hiap Seng" translates to unity in Christ, reflecting Yeo’s Presbyterian faith.
Corporate Development
Though founded in 1938, the company was officially incorporated in Singapore on 20 December 1955 under the name Yeo Hiap Seng Canning and Sauce Factory Private Limited. It was publicly listed on 7 November 1968 with its name later shortened to the current version.
During the 1950s, YHS broadened its product offerings by introducing canned curry chicken, pioneering bottled soy milk, and packaging Asian drinks using Tetra Brik aseptic cartons through Ultra-high temperature processing technology.
From the 1990s Onward
In June 1995, Robert Ng assumed the role of chairman as his family increased their shareholding to 24.9%, just below the threshold requiring a mandatory takeover bid. This sparked a contest with Malaysian billionaire investor Quek Leng Chan over control of YHS and its valuable land assets in Singapore's Bukit Timah area—land that could be worth billions if converted for residential development. Ultimately, Ng and his father leveraged internal family conflicts to secure an 86% ownership stake in YHS.
This notable takeover battle was regarded as "one of the most colourful" episodes in Singapore’s corporate history and signified YHS’ strategic transformation from solely a food and beverage enterprise into an active participant in luxury real estate development.
See also
- List of food companies
- Vitasoy – Leading soy beverage producer based in Hong Kong
References