Honestbee Taiwan Stops Delivery Services
In this article (5)
Ailing Singaporean grocery-delivery service Honestbee is “temporarily closing” its Taiwan operations as it continues to focus on its core Southeast Asian markets to ensure survival.
“Thank you for your support and affirmation for Honestbee during these days,” the company’s Taiwanese team posted on Facebook at the weekend.
“Unfortunately, the Taiwan operations team received instructions from Singapore headquarters that will temporarily stop all operations in Taiwan.”
The post said services would resume when “the operation problems in Taiwan can improve and be resolved”.
In February Honestbee owed nearly 300 local restaurants NT$7.79 million (US$250,000) in outstanding payments for food bought by consumers, collected and delivered but never paid for by Honestbee. Some payments were settled by May, but the newspaper reports “some eateries are still due hundreds of thousands of NT dollars”.
Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs has opened an investigation into the company, and Honestbee decided on June 26 to suspend operations effective last Friday (28th).
Honestbee marketing manager Lee Wen-feng refused to confirm or deny that the business was shutting down in Taiwan.
Honestbee’s problems came to a head in Singapore in early May when its co founder and CEO stepped down and the company suspended or closed down operations in five markets. Since then it suspended food deliveries in Singapore as well.
Questions & Answers
Q.Why has Honestbee decided to cease its operations in Taiwan?
Why has Honestbee decided to cease its operations in Taiwan?
Honestbee is temporarily closing its Taiwan operations to focus on its core Southeast Asian markets, aiming for survival. The company also faces an investigation by Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs regarding outstanding payments to local restaurants.
Q.What issues did Honestbee encounter regarding payments in Taiwan?
What issues did Honestbee encounter regarding payments in Taiwan?
In February, Honestbee owed nearly 300 local restaurants NT$7.79 million for food. While some payments were settled by May, newspaper reports indicate that some eateries are still owed significant amounts of hundreds of thousands of NT dollars.
Q.Are there plans for Honestbee to resume services in Taiwan?
Are there plans for Honestbee to resume services in Taiwan?
The company’s Taiwanese team posted on Facebook that services would resume when 'the operation problems in Taiwan can improve and be resolved'. Honestbee's marketing manager refused to confirm or deny a permanent shutdown.
Q.What other significant problems has Honestbee faced recently?
What other significant problems has Honestbee faced recently?
Honestbee's problems escalated in early May in Singapore when its co-founder and CEO stepped down. The company subsequently suspended or closed operations in five markets and later suspended food deliveries in Singapore.
Reader pulse
Honestbee's Taiwan exit:
22,505 votes so far