Retail News CRM

Author: Mei Ling Tan

  • Meituan Scaling down Ella Supermarket Outlets

    Meituan Scaling down Ella Supermarket Outlets

    Chinese food-delivery website Meituan has closed three of its Ella Supermarkets in Jiangsu, almost halving its network of outlets.

    The business initiative, which sells fresh supermarket produce online for fast home delivery, has just four remaining locations in Beijing and Wuxi.

    The closures were reportedly put down to mismanagement, and stand in stark contrast to the company’s stated plans to open 20 outlets within last year.

    Its shortcomings are reflected by competing brands, however, with rival groups Yonghui Super Stores, 7Fresh and SuFresh also performing under par. Alibaba’s Hema offering is an exception with reportedly strong trading.

  • Veeko buys New Territories retail store

    Veeko buys New Territories retail store

    Veeko International has sealed a deal to buy a retail property in the New Territories, with an eye to converting it into one of its own stores.

    Veeko – which owns its namesake fashion brand along with Wanko, and the Colourmix and Morimor cosmetics-store chains – has paid HK$117.5 million to acquire the ground floor of 88 San Hong Street North in the New Territories. The 833sqft space is currently occupied by Yue Fung Dispensary Co, paying $248,000 a month until its lease expires on December 31, 2020.

    The company says that while the retail space is currently tenanted, “upon the expiry of the existing tenancy agreement, the group shall evaluate the benefit of continuing leasing of the property against the benefit of using the property as the group’s store”.

    Savills has independently valued the space at $120 million.

    The transaction is scheduled to be completed by June 18.

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  • Julius Baer Starts to Serve Thai Wealthy Individuals

    Julius Baer Starts to Serve Thai Wealthy Individuals

    The Siam Commercial Bank (SCB), the first commercial bank in Thailand, and Julius Baer, the leading Swiss wealth management group and one of the four largest private banks in Asia, announced on Thursday that their joint venture company, SCB Julius Baer, has received the necessary approvals and licenses to operate in Thailand, beginning with over 50 dedicated professionals.

    SCB Julius Baer will focus on bringing best-in-class global wealth management capabilities to clients in the growing Thai wealth management market.

    Jiralawan Tangitvet joins as Chief Executive Officer to lead SCB Julius Baer. A seasoned investment specialist with over two decades of experience, both in the buy- and sell-side in the financial industry, Jiralawan has a track record of helping clients build investment strategies tailored to their financial goals as well as design business plans that accelerate growth and opportunities. Prior to joining SCB Julius Baer, she was most recently Managing Director at Kasikorn Securities.

    «We are delighted that Jiralawan has been appointed to lead this important joint venture in Thailand. Her extensive experience combined with Julius Baer and SCB’s capabilities provide our clients with a unique value proposition in Thailand,» said Jimmy Lee, Member of the Executive Board and Head Asia Pacific, Julius Baer.

    Over the last few months, concrete steps have been taken and key personnel has been hired with the leadership experience and expertise in Thailand to advise clients regarding their wealth management and wealth planning needs. Julius Baer’s international expertise and SCB’s on-the-ground experience form the foundation of these training and development programmes.

    «SCB’s strong brand name in Thailand provides the joint venture with a home-court advantage while Julius Baer contributes its comprehensive investment and advisory solutions built on global best-in-class expertise. Together, we have a winning formula for our clients in Thailand,» said Christian Cappelli, Market Head Emerging Asia, Julius Baer.

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  • UBS Quarterly Profit Down Drastically

    UBS Quarterly Profit Down Drastically

    The Zurich-based bank’s net profit for the first quarter dropped to $1.1 billion Swiss francs from $1.6 billion a year ago, it said in a statement on Thursday. A 6.5 percent cut in spending wasn’t enough to offset UBS’ 16 percent tumble in revenue. Last year’s quarter also included an 241 million franc pension credit.

    The result follows a warning last month from CEO Sergio Ermotti that the first quarter – traditionally the strongest in banking – was the toughest in years. Crosstown rival Credit Suisse on Wednesday posted an 8 percent hike in profits for the same period, following an eventful three-year restructuring.

    Profit before tax at UBS’ flagship private bank slid nearly 22 percent: fees dropped because the bank managed fewer assets and commissions fell because clients stopped trading, particularly in Asia. «The first quarter of 2019 was characterized by challenging market conditions, which improved towards the end of the quarter and into April», CEO Ermotti said.

    Nevertheless, clients brought $22.3 billion in fresh assets to the wealth arm, which translates to a healthy 4 percent rate of growth. The bulk came from Asia, where UBS has banked heavily on China as the region’s biggest and fastest-growing wealth market.

    Meanwhile, profits at UBS’ investment bank plummeted by nearly two-thirds, where foreign exchange trading was the only bright spot. A downturn in Europe and the Middle East as well as Asia hit stock and bond trading and advising on deals. The unit eked out a meager 7 percent return on equity in the quarter.

    UBS said it is on track with measures such as stretching out technology projects, slowing hiring, reducing contractors, and pruning travel and entertainment costs – a bid to cut another 300 million francs in spending. «Benefits from these measures should come in the second half of the year, supporting our attractive capital return plan for the year», UBS said.

    Ermotti was more measured than Thiam’s buoyancy in his outlook, saying UBS expected global growth has slowed, but that UBS stands to gain because it is so regionally and operationally diversified. UBS’ rising asset base will bolster recurring income at its private bank and asset management units, the bank said.

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  • Official Online Nintendo Store Opens Doors in Hong Kong

    Official Online Nintendo Store Opens Doors in Hong Kong

    An official Nintendo Hong Kong online store has opened this week.

    The new storefront eplaces a former Nintendo page that offered download codes which could be redeemed on WhatsMall.

    Now fans of the Japanese game platform can buy software online direct from the manufacturer.

    The Nintendo Hong Kong e-commerce site offers download codes for a range of Nintendo Switch and Nintendo 3DS games along with DLC, reports fansite NintendoSoup.

    The site features multiple languages as well, along with Chinese: American and UK English, Canadian French, French, Latin America Spanish and Spanish.

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  • Google launches its health-tracking app for Iphone Users

    Google launches its health-tracking app for Iphone Users

    Google Fit, the health-tracking app that made its debut on Android four years ago, has now been released on iOS. The app has gone through multiple overhauls since its launch back in 2014, but the last major update released last year made it extremely simply to use.

    Starting today, iOS users will be able to track their Heart Points and Move Minutes, the best way to build smarter, healthier habits throughout the day. Google Fit awards users so-called Move Minutes and Heart Points the more they move and the more intensely they move. Based on the scores, you’ll be closer to reach the recommended amount of weekly physical activity and reap the health benefits.

    It’s purely motivational, but very helpful if you’re trying to exercise but don’t find the courage to do it regularly. More importantly, Google Fit allows users to track their progress throughout the day using various apps.

    For example, app connected to Apple Health, such as Sleep Cycle, Nike Run Club and Headspace, can be synced with Google Fit to offer a more holistic view of your health. You’ll also be able to see how many Heart Points and Move Minutes you earn through other activities.

    Moreover, if own an Apple Watch as well, Google Fit will keep track of all your workout sessions too. Just don’t forget to check the app’s journal to see what you need to do to sleep better and get more active. You can download Google Fit for iOS right now via the App Store.

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  • Michael Kors launches improved Sofie Heart Rate smartwatch

    Michael Kors launches improved Sofie Heart Rate smartwatch

    Michael Kors is expanding its smartwatch offering with an improved version of Sofie, a wearable device that was launched two years ago. The new model, weirdly named Sofie Heart Rate, packs a few new features that the original model lacked, but keeps a similar price.

    The Sofie Heart Rate is available in five colors – Pave Rose Gold, Rose Gold, Silver, Pave Two-Tone, and Gold, for as low as $325. Officially unveiled early this year, Michael Kors’ new smartwatch runs Wear OS and is fully compatible with iPhone and Android phones.

    Unlike the original model, the new Sofie Heart Rate features built-in GPS, NFC (Near Field Communication) payment technology, heart rate tracking, and swimproof technology (water resistant up to 30m). Also, it comes with an AMOLED display, 4GB internal storage, and a 300 mAh battery.

    Design-wise, the smartwatch is made of stainless steel and features interchangeable straps. According to Michael Kors, in addition to the three classic stainless steel platings and the two-tone glitz version models, the Sofie Heart Rate will also be offered in alligator-stamped silicone. Moreover, brown and plum stainless steel platings, along with grey silicone, will be made available this fall.

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  • eBay and Singapore Institute of Retail Studies come together to deliver eCommerce training

    eBay and Singapore Institute of Retail Studies come together to deliver eCommerce training

    eBay and the Singapore Institute of Retail Studies (SIRS) joined forces to deliver training to small businesses and entrepreneurs seeking new and global sales channels in the fast-growing eCommerce sector. Titled “Let’s eBay with SIRS”, the full-day workshop was held at the Lifelong Learning Institute, one of two Continuing Education and Training (CET) campuses by SkillsFuture Singapore. To offer SMEs in Singapore a holistic support system to grow their businesses globally and sustainably, eBay and SIRS signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) focused on Global e-Commerce Onboarding & Education Programs.

    Singapore’s eCommerce market is expected to grow by 48% to S$10.04 billion by 2022, and a rising number of entrepreneurial Singaporeans are capitalising on the opportunity to sell their products directly to customers all around the world on eBay.

    According to eBay Head of Southeast Asia Seller Growth Wong Mei Inn, “Singapore’s cross border trade (CBT) exports continue to grow and there is huge opportunity for more small businesses to join the ranks of eBay sellers. By listing their products on eBay’s global marketplace, Singaporean businesses can reach 180 million active buyers all around the world.”

    “Let’s eBay with SIRS was designed for the small business and entrepreneur who has little or no ecommerce experience but wants to learn directly from the source,” said Wong.

    “eBay has thousands of sellers here in Singapore and over 80% of them sell to customers overseas. eBay’s focus in Singapore this year is to enable even more SMEs to sell worldwide”, said Jenny Hui, General Manager, Cross Border Trade, eBay Hong Kong, Taiwan and Southeast Asia.

    “eCommerce has been recognised as one of the key growth opportunities under the 2020 vision of the Retail Industry Transformation Map launched by SPRING Singapore (now Enterprise Singapore),” said Nanyang Polytechnic’s Singapore Institute of Retail Studies Director Megan Ong. “By partnering eBay, we will be able to encourage retailers in Singapore to adopt eCommerce and omni-channel strategies to succeed in today’s digital context.”

    Small medium enterprises (SMEs) contribute to 72% of Singapore’s employment, and in 2018, added a nominal value of S$213.6 billion, or 48% to the economy. The government has acknowledged the importance of SMEs plugging into the digital economy as it would make a noticeable impact on Singapore’s economic growth.

    During the workshop, Let’s eBay with SIRS featured speakers from eBay, SIRS, WorldFirst, Watcheszon International, JTBC Global and DHL Express Singapore. The speakers shared case studies, advice on getting started, and introductions to payments and logistics service providers to help small businesses begin their global ecommerce journey.

    Following the workshop, eBay has launched the “eBay Onboarding Program”, a series of courses with SIRS to further enable SMEs to optimise cross-border selling and manage operations. Each course will be charged at $160, and subsidies range from 70-95%. For more information on the courses and available subsidies, visit https://www.sirsdigitalcommerce.com/ebay.html or email SIRS at courses@sirs.edu.sg

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  • SP Telecom to build alternative fiber network in Singapore

    SP Telecom to build alternative fiber network in Singapore

    Singapore-based telecommunications joint venture SP Telecom has engaged PCCW Solutions as a consultancy partner to help design and deploy the company’s planned alternative fiber network.

    The company has provided details of its plans to build an alternative to Singapore’s next-generation national broadband network (NG-NBN).

    SP Telecom, a joint venture between ST Engineering and Singapore Power Group, is deploying its network alongside the power lines operated by SP Group to create a separate fiber infrastructure to the NG-NBN.

    SP Telecom’s network will serve as the only rival to the NG-NBN common network infrastructure, offering route diversity and redundancy for enterprise customers.

    The alternative data fiber network will utilize SDN-NFV capabilities in a bid to allow users greater control, visibility and scalability of their network assets, as well as built-in cybersecurity capabilities.

    These capabilities will allow for the deployment of network functions as a service on demand without the need for costly hardware investment.

    SP Telecom plans to offer services including access to an IoT-as-a-Service platform, edge cloud resources, and bandwidth provision on demand.

    “An increasing number of businesses rely on their communications systems for mission-critical applications. They can no longer afford any downtime that can cause major problems and significant losses in terms of costs, productivity and reputation,” SP Telecom CEO Titus Yong said.

    “As SP Telecom forges forward towards providing an advanced solution that supports Smart City developments, we are confident that the consultancy partnership with PCCW Solutions will enable our plans of becoming an advanced network provider to meet fast-evolving digital needs globally.”

  • LG Aledgly stopping flagship smartphone production in Korea

    LG Aledgly stopping flagship smartphone production in Korea

    LG’s smartphone business has been struggling for quite some time, but the company is still hopeful of turning a profit. At this point, a sudden uptake in smartphone sales seems unlikely so LG has recently focused on cost-cutting measures, one of which seems to be suspending smartphone production in its home country.

    LG is planning to shift its current Korean smartphone production over to a plant in Vietnam with the objective of helping “turn around the money-losing smartphones division.”

    Currently, LG’s smartphone production plan in South Korea focuses primarily on the production of flagship smartphones. It’s unclear if mid-range and low-end smartphones are also made at the plant, but the production output currently accounts for between 10% and 20% of LG’s total smartphone production.

    LG still has production bases in Brazil, China, India, and Vietnam so this latest development certainly doesn’t mean it’s the end of the road for the South Korean brand. Nevertheless, the company continues to experience declining sales and could soon lose its third-place position in the US to Motorola. And as history has shown us with Sony, it’s almost impossible to achieve profitability without some sort of growth, not matter how much effort is put into cost-cutting.

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  • United Kingdom said to reject calls for Huawei 5G ban

    United Kingdom said to reject calls for Huawei 5G ban

    The UK government has reportedly approved Huawei supplying some 5G equipment for operators in the nation despite warnings from intelligence agencies and the US government of a potential security risk.

    Leaked discussions believed to have been held at the UK government’s National Security Council meeting from Tuesday indicate that Huawei will be able to supply non-core 5G network components including antennas.

    According to the leaked details, the UK’s prime minister Teresa May ignored warnings from some senior ministers to make the decision.

    Approval would also put the UK government at odds with its Five Eyes allies the US and Australia, which have made moves to ban Huawei from providing 5G equipment in their respective markets.

    While the UK government has denied that a final decision has been made, government ministers are also calling for a full investigation into the leak of the National Security Council discussions about Huawei.

    Huawei has repeatedly denied concerns from the US and some other nations that its equipment could be used to facilitate espionage by the Chinese government.

  • Vietnam is fastest growing market for m-payments

    Vietnam is fastest growing market for m-payments

    Vietnam has seen the highest growth in mobile payments in the past year, according to the Global Consumer Insights Survey 2019 conducted by PwC.

    The survey, which covered more than 21,000 respondents from 27 territories, showed that the percentage of consumers using these services in Vietnam increased to 61%, up from 37% in 2018. The 24 percentage point increase was also the largest in the six Southeast Asian countries that took part in the survey.

    In Singapore, mobile payments climbed 12 percentage points from 34% in 2018 to 46% in 2019. Since the government began encouraging digital payments in late 2017, the latest results indicate a payoff in the efforts by the government and other mobile payments players.

    The rest of Southeast Asia also saw increases in mobile payments with Thailand up 19 percentage points to 67%, Malaysia up 17 percentage points to 40%, and Philippines up 14 percentage points to 45%, respectively. Indonesia reflected the slowest increase in the usage of mobile payments at just 9 percentage points to 47%.

    In the Middle East, which was the second fastest growing in mobile payments adoption globally after Vietnam, the percentage increased by 20 percentage points to 45%. China remains unchanged at 86%. Across all territories, 34% of consumers paid for purchases using mobile payments, up from 24% a year earlier.

    Buying through social media

    According to the survey, consumers in Asia are more socially engaged online than those in Europe and the Americas. Respondents in Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam led the pack globally in making purchases directly through social media posts on platforms like Instagram and Facebook, with 50%, 49% and 48% of survey respondents indicating they do so, respectively.

    Globally, only 21% of respondents made purchases directly through social media. Among product and service categories, the survey found that social media is most likely to affect purchasing decisions related to fashion.

    Charles Loh, Southeast Asia Consumer and Industrial Products Consulting Leader, PwC, said: “Social media platforms are already mature in Southeast Asia. The trend in online shopping, moving forward, is the consolidation of e-commerce players with fewer big players providing that gateway. There seems to be a consolidator present in every market.”

    Voice technology

    In the survey, 9% of global consumers said they use voice technology to shop online weekly or more frequently. As shopping by voice continues to catch on, companies should be thinking beyond mobile to consider how voice technology in homes, cars, and elsewhere will affect customer experience. The bar for brand leadership will continue to shift as organizations launch increasingly consumer-friendly technologies.

    Charles Loh, Southeast Asia Consumer and Industrial Products Consulting Leader, PwC, said:

    “Voice technology is widely used in instant messaging communication platforms. It’s only a matter of time that we see adoption here in Southeast Asia”

    Shirish Jain, payments director, Strategy, said: “Asia remains the powerhouse in leading the customer shift to mobile payments with the report reflecting eight Asian nations in the top 10, and six are in Southeast Asia, as the results show. Vietnam, with its relatively low penetration in 2018, has registered the highest growth as mobile platforms demonstrate a significant increase in convenience over traditional means of commerce.

    “This contrasts with Singapore that also shows strong gains. However, the sophisticated and established traditional ecosystem, as well as abundant and potentially confusing number of choices in mobile payments can also slow down adoption.

    “This finding highlights a timely confluence of four principal factors: stages of economic growth cycles driving affluence and disposable income; the availability of platforms that address local demographic needs including support for cash-on-delivery; the lower cost for retailers and providers; and a marked increase in convenience.”

  • Vive Cake Boutique Welcomes Mother’s Day with Artisan Cakes

    Vive Cake Boutique Welcomes Mother’s Day with Artisan Cakes

    In celebration of Mother’s Day, celebrity-loved Vive Cake Boutique welcomes the special day with an exclusive collaboration with Israel’s premium Body Care brand Sabon, to create a special cake to join two whimsical cakes true to Founder Vivien Lau’s aesthetic creation.

    “Mother’s Day is one of the most important occasions for my team and I to honour and celebrate,” shares Ms Vivien Lau, Founder of Vive Cake Boutique. “Inspired by the strength, patience, grace, and beauty of women all around the world, we have created a line of exquisite treats to be gifted and shared with mothers all over Hong Kong.”

    Inspired by Sabon’s Green Rose collection, ‘Supermom’ (HK$680, 1lb), the cake is tiered cake dressed with a green and pink buttercream frosting signifying appreciation of the beloved mothers and elegance of women. A bouquet of roses and daisies sit atop the cake, further fine tuning its perfection. Apart from its stunning aesthetic, this delicious cake is heaven-sent for chocolate lovers as it is made with chocolate sponge cake with chocolate mousse and raspberry agar. Customers who purchase this cake will get a free Sabon Signature Green Rose Silky Body Milk sample and an invitation to join the Soap Delicatessen workshop to DIY your own soap at a discounted price of HK$600 for 2 people (originally HK$800). Those who complete the workshop will receive an additional HK$50 shopping discount upon a HK$300 purchase.

    Let the special woman in one’s life know there is no one like her with the all-new ‘Mother Like No Other’ (HK$880, 1lb), a multi-tiered pastel pink cake, adorned with flower-shaped marzipan and edible gold leafs. The cake topped with a bouquet of fresh eustoma, Kenya roses and lilies, on which the message ‘mother like no other’ float, in golden letters. Coming in three flavour favourites, including  vanilla sponge cake with white chocolate mousse, passion fruit mousse, and passion fruit jam; chocolate sponge cake, chocolate mousse, and raspberry agar; and red velvet butter cake with cream cheese, this cake is sure to satisfy the special women in one’s life.

    For those who would like to thank their mothers for all the wonderful things they have done for them, but don’t quite know how to say it, VIVE’s ‘Voted Best Mom’ (HK$580, 1lb; HK$400, 0.5lbs) shares the message for you. The vanilla sponge cake with white chocolate mousse, passion fruit mousse, and passion fruit jam, gets a new look with lavender cream, a colour which signifies love and trust.

    The special Mother’s Day cakes are available from 29 April to 31 May. To capture the convivial occasion of appreciation and sharing, a special promotional period will be introduced from 29 April to 5 May, where guests are invited to enjoy a special limited time offer of a 20% discount, applicable in both Central and Harbour City pop-up stores. Orders must be placed three days in advance.

    Vive Cake Boutique has proved a roaring success story since being launched with online orders in 2014 by founder and creative director Vivien Lau, who discovered her passion and talent by chance, making her first cake for a friend’s birthday.

    Her signature ‘handmade with love’, cupcakes, macarons, cookies, confectioneries and tailor-made cakes for weddings and special occasions, are all made from scratch with less sugar and finest ingredients sourced from all over the world.

    VIVE’s widespread acclaim includes Time Out’s listing among the “crème de la crème of Hong Kong’s bespoke dessert makers” – with a massive celebrity and socialite following including Aaron Kwok, Charlene Choi, Gillian Chung, Niki Chow, Sharon Chan, Miki Yeung, Ella Koon, Myolie Wu and more.

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  • Relax, Eat and Enjoy Special Discounts with Mastercard

    Relax, Eat and Enjoy Special Discounts with Mastercard

    Want to stay away from the coming summer heat while filling yourself up with your favorite food and drinks? Satisfy your cravings in the comfort of your own home! You can now enjoy special offers and discounts when ordering from Deliveroo, with Mastercard!

    From May 1 to December 31, 2019, Mastercard cardholders can enjoy exclusive discounts when they order from the Deliveroo website or mobile app with their Mastercard cards.

    New Deliveroo Customers

    First-time Deliveroo customers can enjoy a HK$20 discount on their first three orders worth HK$100 or more (excluding delivery fees) when paying with Mastercard by simply registering and using the promo code “MC2019NEW” before checkout.

    Current Deliveroo Customers

    Current Deliveroo customers who use their Mastercard cards can enjoy a HK$25 discount twice a month on orders of HK$250 or more (excluding delivery fees)1 by applying the corresponding monthly promo codes2 before checkout. Order now to avail of this exclusive treat.

    Treat your taste buds and fill yourself up! Tap on your mobile phones or devices now with Mastercard!

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  • Asia’s Leading Food & Hospitality Tradeshow HOFEX returns to Hong Kong 7-10 May

    Asia’s Leading Food & Hospitality Tradeshow HOFEX returns to Hong Kong 7-10 May

    HOFEX, Asia’s Leading Food & Hospitality Tradeshow will return to Hong Kong for its biggest year yet 7-10 May at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC), where the biennial show will occupy almost every available exhibition space. Expecting more than 2,800 international exhibitors and 42,000+ trade buyers, HOFEX 2019 will cement its position as the region’s largest and most important meeting place for the hospitality industry. Occupying an exhibition space of over 70,000 m2 across 3 levels of HKCEC, trade visitors will be able to sample and source everything for the food and hotel industry. The show’s opening ceremony, which will take place on 7 May 2019 will be attended by The Honourable Paul CHAN Mo-po, GBM, GBS, MH, JP Financial Secretary, The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. HOFEX is organised by UBM Asia and is co-located with ProWine Asia and Retail Asia Conference & Expo.

    74 exhibiting countries and regions and 48 national and regional groups and pavilions make the 2019 edition of HOFEX the most international year yet. In addition to long-supporting exhibitors including Japan, Australia, UK, USA, Germany, Austria and Spain, this year will welcome newcomers AANA – Agence de l’Alimentation Nouvelle-Aquitaine France, AREI Latvia, Association PorkColumbia, British Columbia, Ministry of Agriculture Czech Republic, Spanish Beef, VLAM Belgium and more. 

    Prolific business opportunities 
    This year’s tradeshow has been strategically organised to optimise buyers’ experiences with the aim of maximising networking potential across the vast space.

    Hall 1 will house Bakery & Confectionery @ HOFEX, where global and local manufacturers can meet with buyers from the ever-growing Asia-Pacific bread, cakes, pastries and confectionery markets; Bean2Cup @ HOFEX, where baristas, café owners, coffee producers and suppliers will find everything from coffee beans to espresso machines; Foodservice Equipment & Catering Supplies, where state-of-the-art international catering equipment will be showcased; and Tableware & Hospitality Supplies, Hospitality Technology and Hospitality Design, where hospitality professionals from restaurants, resorts, hotels, spas and more will find ideas and inspiration to build  a more streamlined business – from manufacturing and production to packaging, design and facilities.

    Food and Drinks is in Hall 3 & 5 where visitors can enjoy local as well as exotic offerings from the many international pavilions, ranging from frozen and chilled seafood to cured and fresh meat, snacks and beverages, baked goods, confectionery, ice cream, canned foods and more; co-located show ProWine Asia, the region’s leading wine and spirits trade fair showcasing premium wine, beers, professional wine equipment and accessories from around the world; and Meat @ HOFEX, dedicated to the surging demand for prime meats across APAC and featuring the world’s leading meat purveyors from Colombia, Germany, Ireland, South Africa, the UK and more. Meat @ HOFEX will also be home to a new star of the show, HOFEX’ first food truck, sponsored by the Butcher’s Club. This mobile kitchen will roam the exhibition floor preparing and delivering meat from the Butchery Skills Challenge to visitors adjacent to Beer Street, serving up a match made in heaven.

    Hall 5 will house the co-located Retail Asia Conference & Expo (RACE). Presenting the latest catering and hospitality innovations, retail technologies and solutions including everything from floor-cleaning robots with 3D cameras to revolutionary Point of Sale systems and internet retailing. RACE provides trade professionals at HOFEX with an unrivalled opportunity to enhance operational performance. 

    On-site Events – Hong Kong International Culinary Classic and Mixed Barista Arts

    The culinary heart of the fair, the Hong Kong International Culinary Classic (HKICC) will see over 900 chefs, cooks, pastry chefs and apprentices from across the globe hone their culinary skills at this esteemed competition. This year, CLP Power Hong Kong Limited will be the Platinum Sponsor of the event, showcasing its latest ‘All-Electric Kitchen’ concept. Endorsed by the World Association of Chefs’ Societies (WACS), the competitions include a Live Afternoon Tea Set Competition, the Gourmet Team Challenge and for the first time a Gelato competition sponsored by Bonny Foodservice Products, which provides a unique chance to mingle with the world’s best Gelato makers. The HKICC is also home to the impressive Butchery Skills Challenge sponsored by Sutherlands Gastronomy, where international teams of talented butchers will show off their passion, precision and power in a bid to be the best.

    Meanwhile, baristas from across the region will battle it out during the popular Mixed Barista Arts. Taking on a brand-new competition format this year, the 4-in-1 challenge will be comprised of 4-barista arts, namely single origin coffee knowledge and tasting ability, grinder skills and knowledge, latte art and ability to work as a team.

     “This is the 32nd year we are hosting HOFEX and we are proud to say that 2019 will be bigger and better than ever”, says Mr. Daniel Cheung, General Manager of UBM Asia. “For four days, the HKCEC will once again be transformed into a launchpad for new products and brands, a platform for like-minded professionals to connect and do business as well as providing an unmatched opportunity to gather industry knowledge.” 

    HOFEX is organised by UBM Asia, the largest tradeshow organiser in Asia with over 290 events, combining local expertise with a global industry network to provide high-quality events and the best customer experience for event attendees from all over the world. 

    Pre-registration for HOFEX 2019 is now open until 18 April on the website. Walk-ins are available on-site, and visitors may register and pick up a pass outside Hall 1. The show is open to trade professionals and media only and visitors must be aged 18 or above. Pre-registration passes include a complimentary 4-day show admission badge to HOFEX, ProWine Asia and Retail Asia Conference & Expo, as well as an electronic Advance Buyer’s Guide and access to the tradeshow’s complimentary business matching services.

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