“Founder of Hup Lee Fried Bee Hoon Chain Passes Away at 51 “

Tan Boon Hai, the entrepreneur behind the popular Hup Lee Fried Bee Hoon chain, passed away from heart failure on May 2 at the age of 51. Tan, who transformed his parents’ small hawker stall into a thriving business with 90 outlets across Singapore, was diagnosed with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) in early 2022 after noticing weakness in his left hand.

Tan’s entrepreneurial journey began in Yishun, where he learned to cook and run the stall with his mother. With his secondary school education, Tan’s ambition led him to open his first Hup Lee stall in Woodlands, using savings from his family business. Within a decade, he scaled up quickly, establishing a factory to produce chili sauce, condiments, and bee hoon to support his expanding chain.

According to Tan’s partner, Huang Suling, Tan experienced a loss of appetite and began coughing just days before his passing. En route to the hospital for a check-up, he suffered heart failure. Though doctors briefly revived him, his condition remained critical, and he passed away soon after.

Tan’s legacy lives on in Hup Lee Fried Bee Hoon’s widespread presence and in the memories of friends, family, and customers who knew him for his passion and drive.