Lee Biscuits to close Malaysian factory after 92 years

Lee Biscuits, the manufacturer of the well-known Marie biscuit brand, is set to close its factory in Pontian, Johor, Malaysia, at the end of October 2026. This decision marks the end of 92 years of production for the company.

The closure is part of a restructuring process by the parent group, which intends to exit the snack manufacturing business to consolidate assets and focus on its core industries, specifically rubber and palm oil plantations. Suppliers and customers were reportedly notified of the production halt in September 2026.

Approximately 300 employees will remain on site until the end of the month to handle cleaning and final operational tasks. Management has conducted a two-week clearance sale, which has reportedly exhausted all remaining biscuit stock. Additionally, the company’s official website and social media pages have become inaccessible as of late October 2026.

Founded by entrepreneur and philanthropist Lee Kong Chian, the brand was originally based in Singapore before moving production to Johor Bahru in 1995 and subsequently to Pontian in 2005. Beyond Marie biscuits, the company was known for products such as saltine crackers, iced gem biscuits, and lemon sandwich biscuits.