At 1000 customers an hour McDonald’s Hong Kong flagship is set to become the busiest on the planet, F&B is coming back in the city!

Recently reopened after a massive refurbishment, the Admiralty Centre store has long been McDonald’s innovation and testing hub in Hong Kong, used for automation, new concepts like McCafe and different menu items.

The completely redesigned premises include increased seating (and table service) plus the city’s first “smart food locker” for third-party delivery. McDonald’s also plans to renovate and upgrade other outlets across Hong Kong; a signal of confidence in their bit of the city’s food and beverage sector, showing global players see real potential here.

Sadly, though many are still struggling or even shutting down, whilst we’re seeing something of a pivot point, as the number of outlets opening is now almost matching those that are closing, and data backs this up.

Just last week, my clients acquired new premises as they enter expansion phases, but at the same time, another client, with a gem of an unlimited hours liquor license, had to shut down; it remains a mixed landscape with some momentum.

Vacant units sitting empty for months, even one of them on my radar for a potential venture, are being snapped up; it’s kind of encouraging to see my offer beaten, providing the best first-hand evidence there can be of an upswing in demand.

So, to those who fought hard but were ultimately overwhelmed by Covid and its lingering effects on consumer sentiment, you have my deep sympathy. You are probably exhausted, so rest and re-group, and you will be able to come back soon. Right now, for every exit, there seems to be a new arrival, a new business, a new attempt to make it work; but there’s new property capacity coming on-stream, new space to come.

Hong Kong continues to evolve, and I hope we are finally returning to the “can-do” city we always have been; if Hong Kong was a person, it can reasonably say:

“The reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated.”

If you need specific input regarding a strategic Hong Kong challenge or related legal matters in the HKSAR you can always DM me and check out my profile at https://www.ajhalkes.com

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