Fong Chi Chung

Fong Chi Chung (Chinese: 方志忠; pinyin: Fāng Zhì Zhōng; born 1968) is the founder,^[1] owner^[2] and current chief executive officer of Putien Holdings Singapore,^[3][4][5] the parent company behind the successful and popular Putien restaurant branches, which serves authentic Heng Hwa cuisine.^[6]

Biography

Early life

Fong was born in 1968 in the Fujian province of the People's Republic of China, to two local primary school educators. In his youth, Fong studied at schools in China, pursuing a diploma in the arts prior to moving to Singapore with his family in the year 2000, originally to set up a factory selling electronic parts with his brothers.

Education

Fong has a China diploma in Arts. In 2010, he enrolled in the National University of Singapore's Asia Pacific Executive Master's in Business Administration course.^[7] He is set to graduate in July, 2012.

Career

Fong established an electronics parts-selling business in Singapore in 2000 with his brothers, but after a few months, he left the business behind to set up a small coffee shop named "Putien" in Kitchener Road, Jalan Besar, Singapore.^[8][9] The reason for his decision was that he had started to miss the home-style cuisine from his hometown in Putian, Fujian. In an interview with Singapore newspaper my paper, Fong stated, "I could not find a place that could satisfy my cravings and revive my memories of home."^[10] Putien now has nine outlets nationwide in Singapore, six in Jakarta and one in Malaysia.^[9][11] Fong now has plans to further expand to Mainland China, Republic of China, Japan and to set up 15 new restaurants in Singapore.^[9]

Personal life

Citizenship

Fong was once a Chinese citizen, but was granted Singapore citizenship in 2008.^[10] In 2009, Fong was featured in a public event for new immigrants with then Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew at the launch of Lianhe Zaobao's new feature section, Crossroads.^[12]

Marital status

Fong is married to Lau Ying, who is now the director of Putien. They have two children, Fong Chak Wai, 18, and Fong Chak Ka, 20.^[10]

References

1. Hui Fen, Chen (December 29, 2010) SMEs fear cost crunch after a good year 2011-01-04 at the Wayback Machine AsiaOne. Retrieved June 27, 2012.
2. $75m fund to raise F&B productivity 2012-10-18 at the Wayback Machine Spring. Retrieved June 27, 2012.
3. Charting a growth path March 3, 2016, at the Wayback Machine Times Directories. Retrieved June 27, 2012.
4. Tan, Mindy (June 26, 2012). "Central kitchens are a boon to restaurants - the key is using the best equipment and an efficient workflow". The Business Times. Retrieved June 27, 2012.
5. Choo, Evelyn (April 6, 2011) SPRING Singapore rolls out S$75m plan in food services sector 2011-08-31 at the Wayback Machine Channel News Asia. Retrieved June 27, 2012.
6. The Exquisite Branding of PUTIEN 2012-04-24 at the Wayback Machine Putien Restaurant. Retrieved June 27, 2012.
7. School news 2012-03-09 at the Wayback Machine NUS. Retrieved June 27, 2012.
8. SMG: Chinese New Year Networking at PUTIEN 2010-02-10 at the Wayback Machine Singapore Institute of Management. Retrieved June 27, 2012.
9. Jing Wen, Chen (April 23, 2012) Pu Tien's coastal cuisine is awash with delicious flavours 2011-04-07 at the Wayback Machine So Shiok. Retrieved June 27, 2012.
10. Victoria Barker (June 26, 2012) "Craving for home-style food pays off" my paper, pg A14. Retrieved June 27, 2012.
11. Teo Cheng, Wee (April 30, 2012). . Asia News Network. Archived from the original on June 27, 2012. Retrieved June 27, 2012.
12. Thank you, Mr Lee, say new immigrants Archived 2013-04-18 at archive.today The Straits Times. Retrieved January 28, 2013.