There is a reason why manufacturers pricing products is a good thing; to stop retail gouging.

By HK Lawyer AJ Halkes Barrister-at-Law

AJ Halkes
December 1, 2025
10:55 am

We made these crisps ourselves in the 70s.. but why are they £1.76 (30% more) in Hong Kong? There is a reason why manufacturers’ pricing products is a good thing: to stop retail gouging.

People say Hong Kong is expensive, and if you have a weakness for crisps, that is true. Interestingly, I was listening to a story about pricing on products first appearing and why a manufacturer would do that. Apparently, an American brand decided to print the price directly on the packaging to stop retailers from gouging customers. It ensured a basic level of fairness in the consumer marketplace and a decent return for the retailers; now there is a truly great idea for our Hong Kong competition watchdog; now they have had a bit of a go at food delivery practices.

It’s rare to see overseas prices on products in Hong Kong, so we can immediately see how much we are paying extra for the privilege of buying something in a retail marketplace, one that seems to enrich some major food vendors beyond their wildest dreams as they make our city “over-priced”.

I am not saying the crisps were not good, they were great!

I am not saying the teenage version of me in a 1970s pub, putting Worcestershire sauce into a packet of plain crisps, shaking them and urgently eating them before they got soggy, was a perfect substitute for what Walkers now produces.

I am not even saying that with rents being expensive in Hong Kong compared to the UK, pricing things up (a bit) is not acceptable. But market dynamics and rarity, and all the other factors perplex me.

30% more: HK$18 vs HK$13.80 (the effective UK marked price)… for a packet of crisps in Hong Kong feels like one heck of a “markup” to me.

I am sure some of you, like me, were brought up on a diet of crisps and beer in pubs and have an opinion about a packet of crisps nearing 2 Pounds Sterling; but as a positive, it’s good for my waistline that these are an over-priced luxury item.

hashtagHongKongLife hashtagCostOfLiving hashtagHKBusiness hashtagRetailInsights hashtagEverydayEconomics hashtagFoodForThought hashtagMarketplaceDynamics hashtagHongKongCommunity hashtagFNBInsights hashtagConsumerBehaviour hashtagWalkersCrisps hashtagCompetitionLaw hashtag70sHabits hashtagIconicBrands
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

There is a reason why manufacturers pricing products is a good thing; to stop retail gouging.

By HK Lawyer AJ Halkes Barrister-at-Law

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