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Singaporeans Rush to JB to Hoard Lee Pineapple Juice After Discontinuation Announced

Zhi Hao

2023-08-14 , 4:34 pm

Last Updated on 2023-08-16 , 3:51 pm

If you’re a big fan of Lee Pineapple juice, I have some horrible news:

After 92 long years, the iconic brand will be discontinuing its operations…

By end-2023, no less.

Unless, of course, you’re one of the specified Singaporeans in the headline. Because if you are…

You’ll at least be able to drown your sorrows in your newly procured pineapple juice.

Discontinuation Announced

Yes, Lee will discontinue its pineapple business by the end of 2023.

And everyone’s panicking.

When the revelation was unveiled on 8 August 2023, numerous Malaysians flocked to Lee’s factory in Skudai, Johor, to secure “supplies” of pineapple juice for themselves.

Apparently, the turnout was so huge that the factory had to limit buyers to 20 cartons each.

Everything was reportedly sold out by 3 pm in the afternoon, and the factory had to close its gates.

It then shut its doors to the public, a state it will reportedly maintain for the next two months.

Several Netizens have also documented their victories on social media, with one detailing how it has been a generational tradition to have Lee Pineapple juice.

Singaporeans Rush to JB to Hoard Lee Pineapple Juice After

As it turns out, it’s not just Malaysians.

Singaporeans have been “panic buying” too.

Apparently, Singaporeans have been scouring supermarkets and grocery stores in JB for the mystical cans.

For instance, the Giant supermarket in Taman Pelangi and Pelangi Leisure Mall has been receiving Singaporeans at night.

Each customer would reportedly snap up at least ten cans.

As a result, their warehouse stockpile has been stripped bare.

Lee Pineapple Juice

A quick check on NTUC Fairprice’s online site revealed that their stock of Lee Pineapple Juice has run out.

Their pineapple slices and cubes are, however, still in stock.

Meanwhile, Redmart still has individual cans of Lee Pineapple Juice in its stockpile.

Its cartons, however, have been wiped out.

Sites such as singaporedistillery.com also have individual cans in stock.

We can also expect to see cans of pineapple juice on platforms such as Carousell in the near future.

Scalpers unite!

Why Is It Discontinuing?

Apparently, the soil at the company’s plantation has lost its suitability for pineapple production.

As a result, they have made the difficult decision of transitioning to growing oil palm instead, which is reportedly more manageable and less labour-intensive.

Indeed, Lee has already ceased planting new seedlings and is reportedly only taking care of the ones already planted.

Over the years, Lee Pineapple products have become near-synonymous with the Chinese New Year festivities.

They would be given as gifts or consumed to mark the auspicious season.

History

Established in 1931, Lee Pineapple was founded by Singaporean businessman Lee Kong Chian, also known as the “Rubber King” and “Pineapple King”.

They export globally, with the United States, Europe, Japan and the Middle East among the affiliated places.

In 2015 alone, they managed to ship 529,470 cases of pineapple.