Why BIG BIG RICE reflects what the market wants, and Pret a Manger is delivering
By HK Lawyer AJ Halkes Barrister-at-Law
Why BIG BIG RICE reflects what the market wants, and Pret a Manger is delivering. A survival strategy for a coffee shop, if ever I saw one. You should take note.
Evolution in F&B works both ways. You can take an old product and innovate, shedding its stigma and narrow customer base by giving it a fresh spin. Or you can take a modern product and embrace something local that carries deep market demand and tradition.
The media often highlights stories of local food chains that sold traditional products and have now failed because they did not evolve to meet market demand; sometimes forgetting that last bit. Here we see the opposite. An international brand like Pret a Manger in Hong Kong is adapting its global model and adding a distinctly local twist. The Classic Hong Kong Rice Box for lunch. A smart move that shows vision for sure, and they are going BIG.
Kudos to Pret A Manger for moving in this direction, especially a ‘local’ one. The lunch market in Hong Kong is one of the most competitive around, and at its very heart is the rice box. It has always been that way. I do not know how fast this product will sell, how much it will add to profits, or how much debate (inside Pret) went into its launch. But it certainly makes sense; Pret is clearly not so precious as to ignore local desires and try a ‘back to basics’ product that will probably serve it well, not only for in-house dining but also fit the huge office lunch delivery market.
This city is truly dynamic and a place of opportunity, but if you fail to adapt and innovate constantly, you probably won’t survive in Hong Kong.
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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