The 58-year-old entrepreneur, who oversees a food and beverage group employing about 2,500 people and generating SGD400 million (US$313 million) in annual revenue, took over as manager of Putien’s original Kitchener Road outlet in early October, ahead of the chain’s 26th anniversary on Oct. 31.
After spending years expanding the business, Fong has resumed a hands-on role, inspecting the kitchen, welcoming diners and listening to their feedback.
He begins work at 9 a.m. in the company’s fourth-floor office before heading downstairs to oversee lunch preparations and mingle with customers.
He also pitches in with basic chores, such as sweeping floors and cleaning glass panels, acknowledging that his impatience sometimes makes him prefer doing the tasks himself rather than waiting for staff.
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Fong Chi Chung, founder and CEO of Putien Holdings. Photo courtesy of Putien |
“Coming back to the outlet where everything started is a homecoming for me. It is important to focus on diners and interact with them. I can view my business from a different perspective and make adjustments where needed,” The Straits Times quoted him as saying.
Fong traces his customer-first philosophy to his upbringing in Putian, Fujian province, China, where his grandmother would set aside eggs, a prized food at the time, for visitors, leaving the children whatever remained. “Give the best to the guests,” he recalled learning from her in a May 2025 interview with CNA.
Partnering with his brother-in-law, a chef, he launched Putien on Oct. 12, 2000, with an investment of SGD200,000.
The first outlet was a modest, non-air-conditioned eatery with eight tables accommodating 60 diners and a team of seven employees.
Since then, Putien has expanded into a regional business with around 90 outlets across Asia, including 18 in Singapore.