The history of Bake King is closely tied to its parent company, Gim Hin Lee Pte Ltd. Established in 1952 by Tan Yee Wan, the business initially operated as a convenience store before evolving into a specialist supplier of baking ingredients, equipment, and accessories. Bake King was subsequently developed as the company’s in-house consumer brand.

The brand has grown alongside Singapore’s home-baking and professional baking culture. A 2025 publication by Singapore’s Housing & Development Board describes Bake King as Gim Hin Lee’s house brand, with products manufactured at the company’s factory located at Kampong Ampat.

Bake King’s catalogue extends significantly beyond its most recognizable items, such as vanilla essence and baking powder. The official online store categorizes hundreds of products across ingredients, bakeware, tools, display/storage solutions, and other baking supplies. 2

Major product categories include:

• Flours: Plain/all-purpose flour, bread flour, self-raising flour, Hong Kong flour, and specialty flours.
• Premixes: Ready mixes including the Bake King Optima Sponge Mix, which is produced in Singapore.
• Flavourings and essences: Vanilla, lemon, orange, banana, and other flavours.
• Food colours: Liquid colours, paste colours, and other colouring agents.
• Leavening ingredients: Baking powder, double-acting baking powder, baking soda, and instant yeast.
• Fruits and nuts: Almonds, pumpkin seeds, coconut, dried fruits, and other baking additions.
• Pastes: Pandan paste and various flavour pastes.
• Toppings and decorations: Sprinkles, chocolate rice, nonpareils, and cake-decoration items.
• Specialty ingredients: Gelatine, cream of tartar, syrups, sugars, and other additives.
• Bakeware and tools: Cake moulds, decorating tools, equipment, and accessories available through Bake King retail outlets.

The breadth of this range positions Bake King not just as an ingredient brand, but as part of a broader baking-supply ecosystem operated by Gim Hin Lee.

Signature products

Certain products are particularly associated with the brand in Singapore, including Bake King Vanilla Essence, baking powder, baking soda, flour, pandan paste, and food colouring.

For instance, Bake King Vanilla Essence is currently sold in various sizes, ranging from small household bottles to larger formats, and is marketed for use in cakes, desserts, and frostings.

Another example of the brand’s convenience-oriented offerings is the Optima Sponge Mix. This ready flour mix is designed for sponge cakes and cupcakes and is listed as originating from Singapore.

Bake King products are also carried by major retailers such as NTUC FairPrice, where the range includes flour, baking powder, vanilla essence, baking soda, yeast, nuts, gelatine, food colouring, and other baking essentials. 4

Bake King products are manufactured and supplied through Gim Hin Lee’s operations in Singapore. Historical and current sources link the company’s manufacturing activities to Kampong Ampat, with HDB publications noting that Bake King products are made in the company’s factory there. 3

Some products explicitly state Singapore as their country of origin. For example, the Optima Sponge Mix is identified as Singapore-origin, while current retail listings indicate that several core products are both Singapore-origin and Halal.

The company has emphasized adherence to food-safety standards. Historical retail information notes that its factory operated under HACCP guidelines and that the company obtained HACCP certification in 2004.

Halal suitability is a key component of Bake King’s positioning in the Singapore market. Numerous current products are explicitly listed as Halal, including vanilla essence, banana essence, orange colouring, baking powder, and flour. 5

The brand’s website features a special-diet classification system that includes Halal, alongside other categories such as Kosher and Gluten Free.

Bake King has historically maintained a physical retail presence at Block 10 Haig Road in Singapore’s Geylang area. This outlet, associated with Gim Hin Lee, offers a substantially broader selection than typically found in supermarket baking aisles, carrying ingredients, cake moulds, decorating equipment, cake stands, and less-common items.

Today, Bake King products are widely available through mainstream Singapore grocery retail. NTUC FairPrice’s brand listing contains dozens of Bake King products. Additionally, the brand operates its own online store, providing access to ingredients, tools, bakeware, classes, and baking-related content. 6

Bake King occupies a distinct position in Singapore’s baking market, serving multiple roles:

• A consumer baking brand found in supermarkets.
• A specialist ingredient supplier for serious home bakers.
• Part of a professional baking-supply business via Gim Hin Lee.
• A source of baking education and recipes through classes and online content.

Its accessible pricing and extensive range allow it to cater to both beginners and experienced bakers. Small bottles of essence or food colouring appeal to occasional home bakers, while larger-volume ingredients and specialist supplies suit frequent or commercial users.

Bake King is a familiar name in Singapore’s baking-ingredient market. Its products appear in supermarket baking aisles alongside international and local brands, while the Haig Road shop serves customers seeking a wider specialist selection. Time Out Singapore has described it as a long-standing fixture in supermarket baking aisles, highlighting the breadth of its physical-store range.

The brand is particularly recognized for everyday baking staples such as flour, vanilla essence, baking powder, baking soda, food colouring, and pandan paste. Current listings confirm these products continue to be sold to Singapore consumers.

1. Bake King official website
2. All | Bake King
3. Bake King | Shopping in Geylang, Singapore
4. Bake King
5. Bake King Baking Powder
6. Buy Bake king Full Product Range | Brand Selection – Lazada Singapore