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.”

Hong Kong – DFI Retail Group has appointed retail veteran Yoep Man as the new chief executive officer of 7-Eleven for South China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Singapore, effective immediately.

Yoep brings over 20 years of retail leadership in food and FMCG across Asia Pacific. Most recently, as Managing Director of Food in Singapore for DFI Retail Group, he led brands like Giant, Cold Storage, CS Fresh, and Jason’s Deli, driving financial growth, operational efficiencies, and stronger market positioning despite a challenging retail landscape.

Throughout his career, Yoep also played key roles in advancing business growth and operational success, including supporting the growth of Sam’s Club business at Walmart China and the expansion of Dutch-based retailer SPAR into China, Indonesia, Thailand and Mongolia.

In his new role at the Group, Yoep will steer the strategic direction and operations of 7-Eleven across the four key markets, driving innovation and growth to meet changing customer needs.

Additionally, Yoep will also join the Group’s Management Committee, contributing to the organisation’s broader leadership.

Commenting on his appointment, Yoep said, “I am excited to have the privilege to support 7-Eleven’s growth and ambitions in the markets we serve. I look forward to working with our teams and partners to deliver greater convenience, value and innovative experiences for our customers.”

Yoep’s appointment comes as 7-Eleven experiences robust growth, driven by the expanding ready-to-eat market and ongoing digital advancements to enhance customer experiences.

Scott Price, chief executive officer of DFI Retail Group, commented, “We are pleased to appoint Yoep as CEO of 7-Eleven for South China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Singapore. His appointment aligns perfectly with our customer-first approach, given his proven ability to enhance customer experiences and drive innovation.” 

Price continues, “Yoep’s success in leading our food business in Singapore, coupled with his deep understanding of the Asian retail landscape, positions him well to accelerate 7-Eleven’s growth. His expertise in digital transformation and operational excellence will be crucial in evolving our convenience retail offerings to meet and exceed customer expectations across these key markets.”

Hong Kong – Local health and beauty chain Mannings has launched a new campaign alongside DDB Group Hong Kong promoting its wide range of products and professional health services, to help Hong Kongers sleep better. Said campaign focuses on the fact that sleep quality is a major issue in Hong Kong, ranking among the top 3 health concerns of Hong Kong people.

The ‘Take Sleep Seriously campaign,’ as well as raising awareness of the importance of sleep, demonstrates Mannings’ dedication to improving Hong Kongers’ sleep quality with specialty products and tips, through an online video. The video showcases a variety of ways and means people can ensure a better night’s sleep and features a reworked version of Brahm’s lullaby, with specially written lyrics. 

In the campaign, the Mannings Cat sweetly sings along as it kindly inspires people to improve sleep quality in different ways. The video concludes with the lullaby slowing, as people gently fall asleep with the help of Mannings products.

For Mannings, healthy sleep is essential for physical, mental and social wellbeing, and depth, duration, continuity and timing of sleep are all critical aspects for overall sleep quality. The good news is that Hong Kong people can turn to a variety of sleep remedies and Mannings boasts an extensive range of products that help reduce stress and enhance sleep quality. 

These include health supplements rich in key ingredients such as melatonin, GABA, and herbal extracts, and skincare, hair care and bathing products infused with relaxing fragrances and able to be incorporated into a self-care routine in support of optimising sleep. Expert advice on product usage, as well as healthy sleep habits, are also all part of the services at Mannings.

Kayley Hui, marketing director of health and beauty for Hong Kong, Macau & China at DFI Retail Group, said, “Our ‘Take Sleep Seriously’ campaign aims to raise awareness about the importance of quality sleep for overall health and well-being. By offering products and services that enhance sleep and relaxation, we hope to encourage our customers to prioritize sleep and make informed choices for a healthier lifestyle.”

Meanwhile, Frankie Fung, chief creative officer at DDB Group Hong Kong, commented, “We’re thrilled to partner with Mannings on their ‘Take Sleep Seriously’ campaign, which addresses a significant health concern in Hong Kong. Our collaboration allowed us to create an engaging thematic video that captures the importance of quality sleep, featuring a unique twist on the iconic Brahms’ lullaby. We hope this campaign inspires Hong Kongers to invest in some sleep self-care, and not only have one less health concern, but also experience all the many benefits of regularly getting a good night’s sleep.”

The campaign will run online, across social media, outdoor and in-store for the month of October.

Hong Kong – Asian retailer DFI Retail Group has announced the launch of a new e-commerce platform called ‘yuu to me’, which is an expansion of their existing rewards club ‘yuu rewards’.

The new platform features Hong Kong’s favourite brands and enables 4 million yuu members to easily shop online, have their order delivered and earn yuu points all in one app, highlighting DFI’s commitment to offer service, convenience and value under one platform.

Members can now order fresh produce and groceries from Wellcome and Market Place, health and beauty products from Mannings, and a selection of convenience store favourites from 7-Eleven. Over 30,000 items are available at launch, while yuu to me will also rapidly expand the number of categories and items available. 

In addition, the platform is directly connected with the e-commerce platforms of IKEA, KFC, Pizza Hut, Maxim’s Cakes and Arome Bakery, making popular homeware and ready-to-eat foods available through the all-inclusive app. 

Johnny Wong, CEO of DFI Digital, said, “The launch of yuu to me marks another important milestone in DFI Retail Group’s digital transformation journey, as we continue to enhance our O2O experience in different areas. In order to best meet our customers’ needs, we will therefore continue to expand the ‘yuuinverse’ with our trusted partners, and provide the freshest possible items with unprecedented convenience, enabling members to shop whenever and however they want.”

It has also worked closely with Wellcome, Market Place and 7-Eleven to transform over 150 physical stores into O2O shops, fully leveraging yuu partners’ local network. Dispatching from these strategic O2O shops allows yuu to me to bring the freshest possible items to people’s doors, including fresh produce, dairy, snacks, beverages, frozen foods and more. 

In select areas, customers will also enjoy a rapid one-hour delivery option on 7-Eleven, Wellcome and Market Place orders for 15 items or less, which is not only perfect for Hong Kong’s fast-paced lifestyle – it also generates the least carbon emissions as yuu to me dispatches from the closest O2O shops to ensure the shortest travelling distances possible. 

Meanwhile, Danni Peirce, CEO of yuu Rewards, commented, “We are excited to launch the next evolution of the ‘yuuniverse’ and today’s upgrade shows the endless possibilities our platform can deliver for our partners and members.”