Dignity Kitchen's S'porean founder looking for 'kind-hearted' & 'experienced' business partner to save HK outlet

Singaporean social entrepreneur and founder of Dignity Kitchen eatery Koh Seng Choon is appealing for a suitable business partner to revive the company's eatery in Hong Kong.

In several Facebook posts shared on Nov. 8, the 65-year-old said that the outlet located at 618 Shanghai Street in the Mong Kok district has been struggling since the Covid-19 pandemic and the 2024 fire which had affected the Singapore food court.

According to South China Morning Post (SCMP), he is also reportedly contemplating to dilute his stake in the Singapore-based company, if no other options are viable.

HK outlet suffered "one crisis after another"

In one post on Nov. 8, Koh shared the challenges his company has faced over the past six years, citing a series of crises that have strained cashflow, operations, and growth.

Dignity Kitchen focuses on training and employing persons with disabilities (PWDs) while providing meals for the elderly and needy.

The brand operates on multiple revenue streams including food sales, delivery, corporate social responsibility events, public and PWD training, and function space rentals.

While Koh noted that both eateries in Singapore and Hong Kong have the "same revenue sources", the Singapore restaurant at 69 Boon Keng Road benefits from subsidies and local support such as the SkillsFuture training initiatives.

The Hong Kong eatery is not a "recognised training centre" and does not receive similar subsidies.

According to Koh, the food court suffered since the social unrest in 2019, escalating renovation costs, Covid-19 restrictions, the loss of three managers who left Hong Kong, and more.

It's losses currently amount to HK$25 million (S$4.19 million), SCMP wrote.

"The problem is ME. I refused to give up when I saw the poverty and sadness in HK," Koh wrote in another post.

He added that he had taken up several loans from friends and the bank to cover costs across six years.

Koh said: "It is one crisis after another."

Koh did consider closing the Mong Kok outlet at one point, but changed his mind after flying there and seeing the employees hard at work, SCMP reported.

The Hong Kong outlet currently employs 78 people, 80 per cent of whom are disabled.

Support for HK restaurant "weakened" after fire in Singapore outlet

In a later post on the same day, Koh said that "Singapore did well during the pandemic but Hong Kong did not".

"Whatever we earned in Singapore went to the startup in Hong Kong until 2024," he said.

However, operations in the Hong Kong eatery were affected following the fire that occurred at the Singapore outlet in February 2024.

Koh said that the Singapore business was affected after losing revenue "for a few months".

"Singapore has been supporting Hong Kong all these time, since the start. With the impact of the fire in Singapore, the support for Hong Kong was weakened."

Needs HK local partner to contribute S$330,000

Koh had appealed for a partner in Hong Kong to assist with the eatery there in June 2025, reported SCMP.

He is looking for a "kind-hearted" and "experienced" partner who can also contribute HK$2 million (S$334,620) in the first year to the Hong Kong food court.

On Oct. 12, Koh shared in a video post on Facebook that he had received over 40 inquiries about the partnership.

He said that he was "in discussion" with two potential parties and was still "open to meeting more Hong Kong organisations".

If he is unable to find a partner by the first quarter of next year, Koh plans to “dilute” his shares in Singapore to raise S$4 million to support the branch, SCMP reported.

However, this means that he will continue to be heavily involved in the Hong Kong business in future.

With the money raised, Koh plans to restart the training centre, which closed earlier in 2025 due to deep losses, as well as obtain accreditation so it can receive government funding.

Top photos via Quest Alumni Singapore & Seng Choon Koh/Facebook