Tag: Hong Kong

Hong Kong – HSBC Credit Card has unveiled the “Red Hot Chef” reality show, marking Hong Kong’s first bank-led initiative to champion the local dining industry.

HSBC will invite submissions from eligible local restaurants for the reality cooking show, selecting eight skilled chefs through an open audition to compete in the culinary contest.

The reality show aims to crown the “Red Hot Chef” by highlighting participants’ culinary skills and creativity. Through this platform, local restaurants gain exposure, with the hope of encouraging more diners to support Hong Kong’s vibrant F&B industry.

Partnering with Chef Anh Sung-jae, head chef of Mosu Seoul and Mosu Hong Kong, and a judge on Culinary Class Wars, the reality show gives finalists the opportunity to engage with Chef Anh and compete for a HK$1 million restaurant promotional package to boost their marketing and growth.

Deeply connected to Hong Kong’s dining culture, Chef Anh draws inspiration from a character in a classic Hong Kong film. Through this collaboration, he hopes to inspire local chefs, guiding them to elevate their culinary journeys in this unique and transformative experience.

Cheuk Shum, managing director and head of marketing for wealth and personal banking at HSBC Hong Kong, said, “Dining is a key spending category for our customers, and we are dedicated to offering our customers extraordinary culinary adventures through our exclusive dining privileges. With the core vision of this campaign—Taste Red Hot, Back Your Favourite—we are excited to collaborate with Chef Anh to connect our customers with Hong Kong’s hidden culinary gems.” 

He continued, “We are not just promoting exceptional restaurants; we are igniting a passion for the distinctive tastes of our community. This campaign promises to benefit both our valued customers and local eateries. Experience the excitement, taste the difference, and savour the best of our city together! ”

HSBC is accepting applications from eligible local restaurants for the “Red Hot Chef” reality show until 30 April 2025.

Hong Kong – HSBC One has joined forces with local designer brand ‘Offgod:Tate’ to launch a limited-edition fashion collection, “HSBC One x Offgod:Tate,” set to debut exclusively at ComplexCon Hong Kong 2025. The collaboration will also introduce Asia’s first-ever Esports Zone, blending the worlds of fashion and gaming in a bold showcase.

In collaboration with Offgod:Tate, a local Gen Z artist duo consisting of Tate Mok and Andrew Mok, HSBC One’s new collection delves into the esports universe, tracing the transformation of their character ‘Skully’ into the robotic ‘Machine Skull.’ Inspired by ergonomic gaming devices, controllers, and sci-fi mechas like Gundam and Maschinen Krieger, the design embodies a bold and imaginative aesthetic.

The collection includes nine items, such as a graphic tee, esports jersey, and 3D headphone accessories. Local trendsetters Nancy Kwai and Gordon Flanders showcase the pieces’ versatility against the backdrop of the HSBC Main Building.

Designers Tate Mok and Andrew Mok expressed, “HSBC One aligns with us on our penchant for exploration in multiple disciplines. We are grateful for the creative freedom provided in this partnership, which has challenged us to think outside the box.” 

“Our headphone sculpture for this collection is designed in a newfound format, and we designed each piece of items with a lot of attention paid to the material, patchwork, silhouettes, and even the exact shade of red used. Everything has been thought out and put into the design with intention,” the designers added. 

Alongside the debut of its new collection, HSBC One aims to offer local esports fans more exclusive opportunities this year through its partnership with ComplexCon.

Building on last year’s successful collaboration with top esports names like T1 and Faker, HSBC One has announced plans to bring South Korean League of Legends esports team Gen.G to Hong Kong.

Members of the Korean LCK team Gen.G Esports—Kiin, Canyon, Chovy, Ruler, and Duro—are set to make their Hong Kong debut at the HSBC One Esports Zone. They will take part in matches and interact with fans. 

The ‘ComplexCon LoL Cup’ tournament, scheduled for March 22-23, will give local League of Legends players the chance to compete for an opportunity to challenge Gen.G, creating a platform for esports enthusiasts to experience live competitive gaming.

Funded by the Mega ACE Fund, ComplexCon Hong Kong will run from March 21 to 23, 2025, at AsiaWorld Expo, showcasing street fashion, art, music, and global pop culture. The HSBC One x Offgod:Tate collection will be sold exclusively at the Complex Marketplace. A 3-meter ‘Machine Skull’ installation at the HSBC One Esports Zone will highlight the collaboration’s design.

Hong Kong – DHL Express has been named the official partner of the newly opened Kai Tak Sports Park (KTSP), a collaboration aimed at attracting large-scale sports and entertainment events to Hong Kong and bolstering the city’s reputation as a leading hub for mega events in Asia.

Under the partnership, DHL will assist KTSP in hosting a diverse range of international sports and entertainment events in Hong Kong. The collaboration also boosts DHL’s brand presence both locally and globally.

This partnership strengthens DHL’s commitment to the sports and entertainment industry, both locally and globally. With experience supporting events like Formula 1, Formula E, and Manchester United, DHL connects fans worldwide. In Hong Kong, it partners with Hong Kong China Rugby to nurture local talent for the global stage.

“We are delighted that DHL Express is our official partner. We look forward to enhancing the experience of our world-class mega events together. With KTSP as Hong Kong’s home venue, we are committed to bringing more international sports, cultural, and entertainment events to Hong Kong, further transforming the city into an event capital and creating new growth opportunities,” said John Sharkey, CEO of KTSP.

KTSP will host Coldplay’s ‘Music Of The Spheres’ World Tour in April, one of the venue’s key events for 2025. As the official logistics partner, DHL will support the band’s sustainability model by helping reduce transport emissions through initiatives that cut carbon emissions, minimise consumption, and promote green technology.

Andy Chiang, senior vice president and managing director at DHL Express Hong Kong and Macau, said, “DHL Express is honoured to be the Official Partner of KTSP. This underscores our long-term commitment to Hong Kong’s development.” 

Chiang continued, “In line with our purpose of ‘Connecting People, Improving Lives,’ we are excited to support KTSP in hosting world-class, large-scale events. Through our shared values of innovation and mission to promote Hong Kong as a hub for live events, we will connect local and international audiences with their favourite sports teams, athletes, and artists. We believe we can better position Hong Kong as an attractive destination for the sports, cultural, arts, and music lovers.” 

Officially opened on 1 March 2025, Kai Tak Sports Park is Hong Kong’s largest integrated sports and entertainment landmark. In addition to DHL Express, KTSP has partnered with major brands like CTF Life, Carlsberg, and Cathay Pacific.

Hong Kong – Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com is reportedly set to expand into the Hong Kong market with the launch of its offline flagship store, ‘JD Mall,’ offering an immersive retail experience.

According to a report by local media Ming Pao, JD Mall in Hong Kong is expected to mirror its mainland China counterpart, with a primary focus on home appliances.

Ming Pao also cited sources revealing that since the fourth quarter of last year, JD.com has been actively recruiting employees, offering high salaries to attract talent from Hong Kong’s electrical appliance retail industry as part of its plan to establish physical stores in the city.

Additionally, the report stated that JD Property Development, a subsidiary of JD.com, acquired the entire Li Fung Centre in Sha Tin last year. Meanwhile, related companies have moved into Jardine House in Central, signalling preparations for JD.com’s entry into the Hong Kong market.

Ming Pao also reported that JD.com’s subsidiary, Beijing Jingdong 360 Electronic Commerce Co., Ltd., applied for the trademarks of its instant delivery brands in Hong Kong last December. However, JD.com stated to the local media that there are currently no plans to develop ‘Dada,’ ‘Seconds Delivery,’ or related food delivery services in Hong Kong.

JD.com’s reported entry into Hong Kong comes after Alibaba’s Taobao Hong Kong launched its first furniture and home goods store in Tsim Sha Tsui, signalling a growing push by major mainland e-commerce giants into the city’s market.

Hong Kong – Hearts & Science, an Omnicom Media Group agency, has secured the media business for AS Watson in Hong Kong following a competitive pitch, MARKETECH APAC learnt.

Effective 1 March 2025, Hearts & Science assumed responsibility for all media duties, covering both online and offline channels.

The pitch, reportedly held in the second half of 2024, saw participation from multiple agencies, including incumbent dentsu.

This appointment comes on the heels of the agency’s recent win with Warner Bros. Discovery, where it was named the media agency of record for WBD’s Theatrical and Streaming divisions across multiple Asia Pacific markets.

Earlier this year, OMG also appointed Rochelle Chhaya as APAC CEO of Hearts & Science, leading its regional expansion, including launches in Malaysia and Taiwan in Q1 2025.

Hong Kong – British food delivery platform Deliveroo is exiting the Hong Kong market after serving Hongkongers for over nine years. In a recent disclosure, Deliveroo has confirmed the market exit, and is selling several of its corporate assets to rival platform foodpanda, while the rest of the assets will be closed.

Deliveroo Hong Kong has nominated liquidators to manage the closure of the Hong Kong business and the remainder of its assets in the most efficient way possible. In a report from SCMP, Deliveroo has nominated Cosimo Borrelli and Kroll’s Jocelyn Chi to manage the closure of its business locally.

The platform noted that in 2024, Hong Kong represented 5% of Group GTV and had a 5 percentage point negative impact on International GTV growth.

“There are several dynamics specific to the Hong Kong market which led the Board to consider strategic options and, given the Group’s commitment to disciplined capital allocation, determine that it would not serve shareholders’ best interests to continue to operate in Hong Kong,” the company said in a press statement.

Meanwhile, Eric French, chief operating officer at Deliveroo, commented, “We want to thank all our employees, consumers, riders and restaurant and grocery partners who have been involved in our operations in Hong Kong. We have been proud to serve so many people such amazing food over the past nine years.”

Deliveroo Hong Kong will remain live up until April 7 this year.

Meanwhile, Delivery Hero, foodpanda’s parent company, has confirmed that it is acquiring select assets from Deliveroo. 

Following this, Deliveroo customers and couriers in Hong Kong will be redirected, and certain vendors will be onboarded to the foodpanda platform. This will expand foodpanda’s offering, providing customers with access to a broader selection of restaurants and grocery businesses, including some previously only available on the Deliveroo platform. Vendors will also benefit from access to a larger customer base.

“Delivery Hero’s decision to further invest in Hong Kong reflects its commitment to maintain a sustainable delivery ecosystem that provides the best value for its foodpanda customers, couriers, and business partners,” the parent company said.

Competition in the food delivery space in APAC continues to be demanding, with Uber recently showing interest to buy foodpanda’s Taiwan business for $950m, only to be blocked by the country’s competition watchdog. On another note, there were several media reports as well that Grab is reportedly acquiring rival Indonesian platform GoTo, to which the latter has denied.

Hong Kong – CTF Life has been named the sole diamond sponsor of the Kai Tak Sports Park (KTSP) Grand Opening Ceremony, solidifying its role as the exclusive founding insurance partner of the sports and entertainment venue.

CTF Life marked the occasion at the main stadium, joined by its customers, life planners, partners, staff, and their families. The company’s branding was prominently visible throughout the event, reaching attendees at the venue as well as television and online audiences.

The partnership with KTSP reflects CTF Life’s ongoing support for local culture, sports, and tourism initiatives in alignment with the Hong Kong SAR Government’s efforts to promote community engagement beyond sports.

Man Kit IP, executive director and chief executive officer of CTF Life, said, “As the exclusive Founding Insurance Partner of KTSP and the proud Diamond Sponsor of its opening ceremony, we are truly making history with this significant milestone for both Hong Kong and CTF Life.” 

“Our collaboration with KTSP across multiple areas empowers local athletes and performers to unlock their full potential at Hong Kong’s largest integrated sports and entertainment landmark. The partnership will not only bring in world-class international events but also champion the ‘Sports for All’ culture, thus delivering exceptional and diverse experiences for our customers, fulfilling our promise to create value beyond insurance,” he added.

Earlier, the company announced its title sponsorship of the ‘Fencing Plus’ Training Programme by the Kai Tak Sports Initiative, which aims to support the development of young fencing athletes in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong – Carlsberg has signed a partnership agreement with Kai Tak Sports Park (KTSP), securing the rights as the venue’s official beer provider. 

As the official partner, Carlsberg will provide its beverages to visitors at the venue, aiming to enhance the overall event experience at KTSP. Beyond supplying beer, the partnership seeks to contribute to the atmosphere of the sports and entertainment hub.

Kai Tak Stadium will feature an advanced beer keg storage system and 266 taps across various beverage outlets, ensuring spectators have access to freshly poured Carlsberg beverages. The setup is part of the venue’s efforts to enhance the overall event experience.

Located on the second floor of the East Concourse, ‘THE CHAMPION’ is a standout feature of Kai Tak Stadium. Spanning 100 meters, it ranks among Asia’s longest sports bars and houses a quarter of the venue’s taps. Visitors can enjoy a range of draught options, including Carlsberg, 1664, Somersby, and Carlsberg 0.0, catering to diverse preferences.

Nathaniel Moxom, managing director of Carlsberg Hong Kong and Taiwan, said, “We are delighted to announce Carlsberg’s partnership with KTSP. By joining forces with KTSP, we are poised to enhance our brand presence and provide probably the best beer experiences for our international clientele.” 

Moxon added, “This partnership underscores our dedication to quality and innovation, reinforcing Carlsberg as the beer of choice for every occasion. We are excited about the potential brought by this collaboration and look forward to setting new benchmarks at KTSP with Carlsberg.”

John Sharkey, CEO of Kai Tak Sports Park, also shared, “Kai Tak Sports Park is delighted to announce our partnership with Hong Kong’s pre-eminent beer supplier, Carlsberg. Their commitment to the sports and entertainment sector is well-established and fits with reinforcing our home venue ambitions. We look forward to seeing the happy faces on our guests when they get a chance to enjoy Carlsberg’s products at KTSP in the years to come.”

Kai Tak Sports Park (KTSP) will open on 1 March 2025, hosting a range of major sports and entertainment events. The venue will welcome the Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens from 28 to 30 March, along with other international sports and music events. In November, KTSP will be one of the locations for the 15th National Games, marking the first time Hong Kong hosts competitions for the event.

Hong Kong – Hongkong Land, a property investment, management, and development group, has partnered with branding agency DNCO to refresh its corporate identity, highlighting its core strengths and long-standing presence in city centre developments.

As part of its brand refresh, DNCO updated Hongkong Land’s identity to emphasise its core values of excellence, innovation, and hospitality. Centered around the theme “experience is central,” the new branding reflects the company’s long-standing presence in Hong Kong’s Central district and its focus on customer experience and urban development.

DNCO introduced three core values for the team: “Always Forward” emphasises continuous innovation, “Think in Generations” highlights craftsmanship and sustainability, and “Be a Bridge” reflects a commitment to building connections, inspired by Hongkong Land’s pioneering walkway system.

The agency also updated Hongkong Land’s iconic ‘H’ symbol, originally designed by Henry Steiner, to align with digital advancements, introducing a three-dimensional design with motion while preserving its original intent.

The updated symbol features added depth and dimension, incorporating textures, overlays, and perspective shifts inspired by Hongkong Land’s bridges and elevated walkways. Combined with reportage-style photography, the design aims to reflect the dynamic nature of city centre spaces.

Meanwhile, DNCO selected ‘Univers’ for its historical connection to the company and ‘Noto’ for its global reach, supporting over 1,000 languages. The typography features a classic neutral base, complemented by accent colours to add energy and modernity to the corporate brand.

Michael Smith, chief executive at Hongkong Land, said, “DNCO has given us a brand language to elegantly articulate our strategy, alongside a visual identity that reflects the premium quality at the heart of everything we do.”

Founded in 1889, Hongkong Land has played a key role in shaping city centre destinations, from reclaiming land for Hong Kong’s Central district to establishing the first Mandarin Oriental. Under new leadership, the company refreshed its brand to reflect a more forward-looking approach. 

Hongkong Land’s brand refresh is being introduced through a campaign across Hong Kong, Vietnam, Singapore, and Shanghai. DNCO also conducted brand masterclasses for over 800 employees. A new brand tool and redesigned website are in development.

Hong Kong – DFI Retail Group (DFI) has unveiled key leadership appointments to strengthen its strategic direction and digital capabilities. Ella Chan has been named group chief strategy officer, while Wee Lee Loh will expand his role as group chief digital and yuu Rewards officer.

Starting 1 April 2025, Chan will lead corporate strategy, mergers and acquisitions, investor relations, and customer insights as group chief strategy officer.

Chan has over 20 years of experience in global strategy, transformation, and innovation within the retail and consumer sectors. She has held roles at Walmart in the US, China, and Hong Kong, focusing on business growth and operational improvements.

Chan has also led initiatives focused on driving sales growth, introducing digital innovations, and developing retail formats adapted to changing consumer preferences.

Meanwhile, in his expanded role as group chief digital and yuu Rewards officer, Loh will oversee yuu Rewards, retail analytics, and retail media.

Loh, who joined DFI in September 2023, has a background in digital transformation and e-commerce. In his expanded role, he will focus on utilising data-driven insights and digital tools to support customer engagement.

The appointments of Chan and Loh reflect DFI Retail Group’s focus on strengthening its leadership team to support strategic growth and operational development in the evolving retail sector.

Scott Price, group chief executive at DFI Retail Group, said, “We are pleased to welcome Ella to our leadership team and to expand Wee Lee’s responsibilities. I’m confident their leadership will further strengthen our ability to respond to evolving customer needs, empower our people, and deliver sustained value for our shareholders as we continue driving growth and innovation across the business.”