SINGAPORE – Supermarket and minimart chain Hao Mart is facing a fifth High Court lawsuit, with hair and scalp care company Bio Organicare Scalp suing the retailer in what court records describe as a landlord-tenant dispute.
The matter has been fixed for a case conference on July 16. Department store operator OG has been named as a third party in the proceedings, according to the court hearing list. The hearing list does not state why OG has been joined.
Details of Bio Organicare Scalp’s claim have not been made public.
The other four lawsuits comprise OG’s lawsuit against Hao Mart over the Taste Orchard lease; Hao Mart’s lawsuit against OG and one of its lawyers; beauty salon operator Belovie’s lawsuit against Hao Mart over an alleged breach of contract; and Hao Mart’s lawsuit against PropNex Realty and one of its agents over the leasing of the Taste Orchard premises.
Hao Mart has also been grappling with widening losses and a shrinking store network. The home-grown chain recorded a loss of $49.6 million for the financial year ended March 31, 2025. This amount is up from $32.8 million in the preceding year and $23.2 million in the year before.
Checks by The Straits Times showed that only seven outlets were in operation as at March 30. However, there are still 20 store locations listed on Hao Mart’s official website as at July 8.
According to ACRA records retrieved by ST on July 8, Bio Organicare Scalp was incorporated in October 2018 and its primary business activity was listed as hairdressing salons/shops.
Hao Mart is represented in the latest proceedings by Vita Law, while Bio Organicare Scalp is represented by Nine Yards Chambers. OG, the third party in this case, is represented by Dentons Rodyk & Davidson, according to the court hearing list.
ST has contacted Nine Yards Chambers for further information.
