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The Retail Market Overview of Hong Kong : PARKnSHOP, Wellcome, JUSCO, TASTE, city’s super

Hong Kong’s retail market is monopolized by two large retail group: PARKnSHOP and Wellcome. War-Mart and Carrefour are not popular at all in Hong Kong. Small supermarkets such as JUSCO, TASTE and city’s super are common in Hong Kong.

Focus on PARKnSHOP

PARKnSHOP is one of the two largest supermarket chains in Hong Kong. There are more than 260 outlets in Hong Kong operated by PARKnSHOP.

The first PARKnSHOP store opened in Stanley, Hong Kong since 1973. For a decade the store remained a local retailer until the mid-1980s when it began to expand outside Hong Kong. It sells both Chinese merchandise and imported goods. PARKnSHOP sells products under generic brands, both what it calls “private label” and “Best Buy” branding. Apart from the fresh vegetables, fruits and meat, there are also some processed food shops, such as China style Siu mei, Eggette and so on.

Focus on Wellcome

Wellcome is a supermarket chain owned by Jardine Matheson Holdings via its Dairy Farm subsidiary. The Wellcome supermarket chain is one of the two largest supermarket chains in Hong Kong, the other being PARKnSHOP. Wellcome supermarkets sell several products under the generic brands No Frills (特惠牌) and First Choice (首选牌). Wellcome’s first superstore was opened in 2000 and currently it has 19 superstores, spread across Hong Kong. They stock a greater variety of products, tailored to local demand.

Focus on Citysuper

Citysuper is a high-end supermarket and retail chain based in Hong Kong. The chain currently has 3 brands and 9 stores in Hong Kong. The chain started operations in 1996, but like many Asian retailers their operations are still in Asia only. It is upper-market to its main rivals Wellcome and Park’n Shop, with goods that are usually otherwise unavailable in Hong Kong and are relatively highly priced.

Written by Amy Wang from Daxue Consulting China