Industry mourns as Proof & Company Spirits ceases operations
Members of Singapore’s drinks industry have taken to social media to lament the closure of Proof & Company Spirits, dubbed “one of the darlings of the craft spirits scene”. Nimmi Malhotra reports.
Spirits distributor Proof & Company Spirits has entered provisional liquidation after 13 years in operation, citing “markedly different” market conditions.
The Singapore spirit distribution arm of Proof & Company announced it has been placed under provisional liquidation.
The company attributes the liquidation to “mounting challenges for the F&B and hospitality industry in Singapore, including the closure of some of the company’s longest-standing restaurant and bar customers.”
Founded in 2012, Proof & Company fast became one of Asia Pacific’s leading distributor of independent spirits brands and cocktail ingredients. The business also provides education and consulting services across APAC markets.
The company’s distribution network spanned four markets – Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia and New Zealand – with a global turnover of SG$34 million (£19.68m), and generated SG$7m (£4.05m) from its Singapore operations.
In April this year, Proof & Company’s Australian arm was put under voluntary administration, with the company citing “local economic downturn”. This week, the Singapore distribution arm was placed under liquidation, leaving 16 employees out of jobs.
Other parts of the business, including Proof Creative, the company’s drinks and bar consultancy arm, will continue to operate independently from its office in Hong Kong. Proof Creative is responsible for creating drinks programmes including Atlas Singapore, Argo Hong Kong and La Madonna bar in Melbourne.
Proof & Company’s Singapore cocktail bar 28 Hong Kong Street, which laid the foundation for its distribution business, will also continue to operate despite ongoing developments.
The company’s regional operations will continue in Hong Kong and New Zealand.
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Members of Singapore’s drinks industry have taken to social media platforms to proffer messages of support and reflection.
One member of the local drinks trade referred to Proof & Company as “one of the darlings of the craft spirits scene”.
William Leonard, a drinks industry consultant said: “This isn’t just another distributor shutting shop – it’s the end of an era for Singapore’s craft spirits scene.”
“For those outside our inner circle, Proof wasn’t just moving bottles. They were building culture.”
In a statement about the Singapore arm’s closure, former Proof & Company general manager Brandon Grusd warned of the challenges impacting the wider industry. “The reality is our industry is under pressure,” he said. “What’s happened here isn’t isolated. The drinks and hospitality world is going through a tough time, and now more than ever, we need to look out for one another.”
Bigger picture
Singapore’s food and beverage (F&B) industry continues to face multiple challenges, including escalating rent, rising operational costs, and a manpower crunch.
The city-state witnessed record breaking closures in 2024. According to government data, 3,047 F&B establishments closed in 2024, the highest number recorded in 15 years.
The downturn continues in 2025, with 1,404 establishment closures in the first half of the year. However, the opening of new establishments has outpaced the closures, equaling 3,793 in 2024 and 1,964 in 2025 so far. Still, the business environment remains tough.
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