One of the biggest things you miss when you move abroad is being able to buy your favourite grocery brands – and that includes everything you might need. In fact, there’s a huge range of imported brands available in Hong Kong. Just get used to the idea that your groceries may have to be sourced from several different outlets and may include some online deliveries. Here’s our guide to the different supermarkets, online grocers and speciality stores in Hong Kong that will help you find your favourite brands away from home.
Supermarkets
There are two main supermarket chains in Hong Kong where you can browse the aisles to your heart’s content: Wellcome and ParknShop. Both offer online shopping and delivery (in certain areas), which is useful for the weekly shop and bulky items.
Wellcome
The end of the Second World War saw the launch of Wellcome in Hong Kong, and it now has close to 300 stores across the territory.
It also operates two other noteworthy stores: Oliver’s The Delicatessen in the Prince’s Building is an upmarket supermarket with a good selection of imported fruit and vegetables, meat and branded goods; ThreeSixty located in Elements, Kowloon, offers possibly the largest range of organic and natural products in the city.
A smaller chain, Market Place by Jason, also offers a decent range of Asian and Western products.
ParknShop
Opening its first store in Stanley in 1973, ParknShop also has a few hundred stores made up of its main chain and some sub-branches. Of the latter, Fusion, Taste and International cater more for expats, with a larger range of imported and familiar brands from the US, the UK and Australia.
ParknShop’s flagship food hall is GREAT in Pacific Place; this is a foodie paradise, with possibly the largest range of gourmet produce in HK.
Others
Beyond the big two, other supermarket options in Hong Kong include City’Super, with branches in Causeway Bay, Harbour City, Sha Tin and IFC, stocking a range of imported brands and speciality Japanese food.
For American families, many popular brands can be found at A&M stores (Central and Stanley) and Gateway. For those from the UK, U Select is operated by China Resources Vanguard in partnership with Tesco; about one-third of its stock is Tesco products. The Marks & Spencer food halls are also great for British groceries, and the M&S Hong Kong delivery app has become popular in the wake of COVID-19. Aeon is a supermarket chain offering well-priced products.
You will also see a brand called 759 Store around Hong Kong, which offers competitive prices on select products, and another called Best Mart 360.
Online Grocers & Specialty Stores
The online shopping industry was always set to grow, but the events of 2020 and 2021 have seen the market go from strength to strength. Here are 20 online grocers, speciality stores and other delivery options for filling your kitchen with goodies.
Bones & Blades Supplementing
Bones & Blades’ physical stores is an online shopping option, where you’ll find everything from grass-fed beef to Welsh lamb, homemade sausages and more. bonesandblades.com
British Essentials
This is the official online retailer of Morrison’s own label groceries in Hong Kong, but offers other popular UK brands. britishessentials.hk
Cheese Club
Founded in January 2019, Cheese Club is the biggest importer of premium European cheese in HK. Most of the suppliers are small family-owned producers. cheeseclub.hk
Deliveroo
In June 2021, it was announced that Deliveroo had partnered with ParknShop to allow its app users to order more than 1,000 different grocery items from 50 locations. deliveroo.hk
Farmer’s Market
This company ships top-quality Australian meats direct from a farm to Hong Kong and delivers them to your door. farmersmarket.com.hk
Feather & Bone
Popular for its steakhouses in several locations in Hong Kong, Feather & Bone also has a wide range of online groceries available to purchase, from meat to dairy, fresh produce, deli items, drinks and more. featherandbone.com.hk
Fresh Grower
Stocks seasonal fresh veg from Perfect Produce Farm in NZ, online and in two stores at Wan Chai and Sai Wan. freshgrower.com.hk
Green Common
This store’s mission is to empower the community with wholesome and sustainable plant-based choices. Five shops across HK and an e-shop offering delivery. greencommon.com
iHerb
This online grocery retailer from the US has a large range of natural and organic food products, as well as health and baby items. hk.iherb.com
Jett Foods
Online delivery of gourmet meat, fish, sausages and vegetables. It’s worth registering as you get 10 percent of your first order. jettfoods.com
Jou Sun
This website stocks groceries from quality retailers, farmers and importers all over Hong Kong, and includes household items such as sustainable cleaning products. jousun.com
Levant Foods
Limited A recent gem we’ve stumbled upon, Levant offers Greek and Middle Eastern goodies, including exceptional olive oil, as well as dips, sauces, yoghurt, cheese, wine and more. levantltd.com Live Zero We’re converts to Live Zero, for its two physical stores and its online delivery of package-free food, daily essentials and other products. livezero.hk
Mordicus
One for lovers of French food (which is pretty much all of us, right?), Mordicus efficiently delivers a wide range of competitively priced French groceries directly to the door. mordicus.hk Pacific Gourmet Specialises in fresh meat and fish from Australia, New Zealand and Norway. pacificgourmet.com.hk
Pandamart
Meal delivery providers have been branching out into grocery delivery, including Foodpanda, whose Pandamart service (accessible via the Foodpanda app) offers quick service from warehouses across Hong Kong. foodpanda.hk
Regency Spices
For all your cooking needs around herbs and spices, this company is seriously excellent, having been in the spice industry since the mid-20th century. regencyspices.hk
Slowood
Inspired by a zero waste community store in New Zealand, Slowood is one-stop shop for sustainable and organic products, with three physical stores and online ordering (free delivery for orders over HK$500). slowood.hk
South Stream Market
Stocks a great range of fresh and frozen meat, seafood, bread, dairy, baby food, pantry items and eggs. Plus organic fruit and veg. southstreammarket.com
Spicebox Organics
Find a wide range of organic products and numerous gluten-free items here, along with some traditional Eastern medicines. spiceboxorganics.com
Wet Markets
For a very local shopping experience, head to one of Hong Kong’s wet markets (gaai si). There are hundreds of these, selling fruit and vegetables as well as fresh poultry, seafood, pork and beef. Some of the markets are open-air, such as the Bowrington Road markets, on the border of Causeway Bay and Wan Chai. Others are indoors in government buildings, sometimes with a cooked food centre where you can buy cheap local food. The indoor markets often house other small businesses, such as in Happy Valley, where you’ll find a seamstress who does mending.
Flashback
The first wet market to operate in Hong Kong was the Canton Bazaar, which developed in the 1840s on Queen’s Road Central. It was moved to Des Voeux Road in the 1850s and renamed Central Market. In 1895, a Victorian-style building (pictured) replaced the existing structure; it was then replaced in the 1930s by the simple Bauhaus-style building of reinforced concrete that exists today. The Central Market Revitalisation Project (centralmarket.hk) is currently underway, with the aim of transforming the three-storey site into a “vibrant, bustling place” for meeting, eating and socialising.
Quality meat suppliers
Farmer’s Market: If you’re looking for Australian meats, this retailer sells them direct from an Aussie farm to Hong Kong and delivers them to your door. farmersmarket.com.hk
Pacific Gourmet: Specialises in fresh meat and fish from Australia, New Zealand and Norway. pacificgourmet.com.hk
Jett Foods: Online delivery of gourmet meat, fish, sausages and vegetables. jettfoods.com
South Stream Market: This brand stocks a great range of fresh and frozen meat, seafood and other groceries. You’ll find everything from bread, dairy, baby food, pantry items and eggs. It also has organic fruit and veg. southstreammarket.com
Feather & Bone: This butcher and delicatessen is hugely popular with expats because it offers premium meats, artisanal preserves, seasonal cheeses and quality kitchen wares. With locations in Central, Happy Valley, Sai Ying Pun, Wanchai and Clearwater Bay. You can even pick up grab-and-go meals. featherandbone.com.hk
Read on to find out more about the city’s food scene:
Where to eat out in Hong Kong
Best places for Sunday brunch
This article first appeared in the City Guide 2021/22 issue of Expat Living magazine. Subscribe now so you never miss an issue.
