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After 66 years, Kau Kee’s first shop offers fish balls ‘every Hongkonger has eaten’

Second-generation owner Anita Lee opened Kau Kee’s first retail store in Mong Kok last December, making the family business known to the public after 66 years of supplying fish balls to Hong Kong’s street food industry.

By Oscar Liu·Sep 5·scmp.com·2 min read

Intelligence analysis by Qwen 2.5 (3B)

After 66 years, Kau Kee’s first shop offers fish balls ‘every Hongkonger has eaten’
Image: scmp.com

Kau Kee, a family business supplying fish balls to Hong Kong's street food industry for 66 years, has opened its first retail store in Mong Kok, allowing customers to directly purchase the products once supplied only to industry operators.

Why it matters

The opening of Kau Kee's retail store highlights the changing dynamics of Hong Kong's street food industry and the importance of adapting to new consumer preferences.

Kau Kee, a family business that has supplied fish balls to Hong Kong's street food industry for 66 years, opened its first store where people can buy the fish balls directly. Before, only people in the food business knew about Kau Kee.

Analysis

{"

Before the Retail Store Opening":"Kau Kee, a family business supplying fish balls to Hong Kong's street food industry for 66 years, had remained largely unknown to the public. The company relied solely on manufacturing and wholesaling, and its business was severely affected by the pandemic and social distancing measures.","

The Pandemic Impact":"During the pandemic, Kau Kee's business took a significant hit. Orders from food stalls dropped drastically, and the company was forced to pivot its focus to retail. The opening of the retail store represents a new chapter for the family business.","

The Retail Store Opening":"In December last year, Kau Kee opened its first retail store in Mong Kok, allowing customers to directly purchase the fish balls. The company's second-generation owner, Anita Lee, made a career pivot during the pandemic and took charge of the family business.","

Public Awareness":"Before the retail store opening, Kau Kee was known only among industry operators. However, Lee believes that almost every Hongkonger has eaten the company's fish balls, highlighting the company's popularity and the importance of adapting to new consumer preferences."}

Key points

  • Kau Kee has supplied fish balls to Hong Kong's street food industry for 66 years.
  • The company opened its first retail store in Mong Kok last December.
  • The second-generation owner, Anita Lee, believes almost every Hongkonger has eaten the company's fish balls.
  • The retail store could help Kau Kee reach a broader audience and potentially increase sales.
  • The company will need to continue to innovate and adapt to remain successful.
The Upside

The opening of the retail store could help Kau Kee reach a broader audience and potentially increase sales. It also shows that the company is adapting to changing consumer preferences.

The Downside

If the retail store does not attract enough customers, it could negatively impact the company's sales and reputation. The company will need to continue to innovate and adapt to remain successful.

Originally reported at

scmp.com

Discernion covers the story. Read the full piece at the source.

Tagschinahong-kongfood

Author

Oscar Liu

Intelligence analysis by

Qwen 2.5 (3B)

Published

Sep 5, 2026

Source

scmp.com

Share

Topics

chinahong-kongfood

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