PARKnSHOP introduces more products from mainland China as HKers head north

The PARKnSHOP supermarket chain is bringing in more goods from Mainland China as more Hongkongers head north to snap up cheap deals. 

This comes as retail division of CK Hutchison, including health and beauty chain Watsons and ParknShop supermarket, is adjusting the product mix of stores in response to the changing travel trend among Hong Kong consumers, Victor Li, CK Hutchison chairman said during the company's annual general meeting.

CK Hutchison is one of the flagship companies owned by Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-shing. As of now, the company has 250 outlets in Hong Kong and Macau, as well as other supermarkets such as Taste and Fusion.

As part of the readjustment, the company has launched a new delivery service, "Super Direct", which looks to introduce the best-selling products from mainland China and overseas supermarket chains and retail brands. 

In addition, PARKnSHOP is providing discounts to Hong Kong consumers to keep prices accessible and eliminate the need to travel elsewhere to find the desired products, added Li. 

PARKnSHOP’s shift in product selection can be seen as a response to the “weak store footfall of PARKnSHOP Hong Kong”, according to CK Hutchison’s latest annual report. 

Don’t miss: Survey: HK consumers travel to China more often, shift towards longer stays

In fact, mainland China has emerged as a popular travel destination among Hong Kong consumers recently, as they are increasingly opting for overnight trips, with a focus on dining and cuisine-related activities during their visits, according to a recent OMG report. 

Compared to the third quarter of 2023, the proportion of respondents who had travelled to mainland China within the past six months rose from 53% to 61%. Similarly, the percentage who had done so within the past week climbed from 10% to 16%.

In terms of activities in mainland China, the study found that dining and shopping for food and beverages were one of the most popular 73% engaged in dining, up from 66% in Q3 2023, while shopping and F&B purchases also increased notably.

Interestingly, the study found that while the awareness of retail stores Sam’s Club and Costco are very high, their subscription of membership is substantial. Despite 47% and 48% of respondents being aware of Sam's Club and Costco memberships respectively, they had not yet planned to subscribe to them.

Join us this coming 26 June for Content360 Hong Kong, a one-day-two-streams extravaganza under the theme of "Content that captivates". Get together with our fellow marketers to learn about AI in content creation, integration of content with commerce and cross-border targeting, and find the recipe for success within the content marketing world!

Related articles:

PARKnSHOP unveils 2 new mascots to appeal to younger audience
AS Watson’s PARKnSHOP names new MD for HK and Macau