Since 1964, Lana Cakes has served generations of Singaporeans who have grown up indulging in the well-loved chocolate cake. This was the case right up till 2016, when owner Mrs. Violet Kwan decided it was time to retire. Admiringly, her beloved son left his banking career in Tokyo and returned to continue her legacy.
With its humble roots as a small coffee shop in Ashiya, Japan, Henri Charpentier was founded in 1969 and has close to a hundred stores in Japan and Singapore today. The woman behind this roaring success is Ami Arita, CEO of Henri Charpentier. How did she transition from a 15 year-long law career to running one of the biggest Japanese patisseries in the region, and what keeps her going? Read to find out.