Customers flock to the second day of the Hong Kong Food Festival

On Boxing Day, the Hong Kong Food Festival saw a significant turnout, with merchants reporting a potential 50 percent increase in business compared to the pandemic period. The festival, which is in its 22nd year, opened its doors on December 25 (Wed) at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre and will run until December 29 (Sun).

As the afternoon progressed, the influx of customers grew, particularly around the cooked food stalls, which were noticeably crowded. Many attendees, including families with trolleys, were eager to explore the festival's offerings and hunt for deals.

Locals surnamed Lau and Leung, shared their experiences from the day. They purchased items like durian pastries and soup dumplings, noting that while the festival offered a wide variety of choices, not all prices were favorable. They emphasized the importance of comparing prices before making a purchase. Lau mentioned spending several hundred dollars and anticipated spending around HK$1,000, stating that she would only buy items that appealed to her and her family.

The festival's high foot traffic exceeded expectations, but some visitors, including Lau and Leung, found the cooked food stalls too congested, making the experience somewhat uncomfortable.

Another festival-goer, surnamed Law, arrived at around 10 am and spent approximately HK$2,000 on items such as Thai food, sake, and honey. He highlighted that his budget was flexible and that the festival's appeal lay in the opportunity to taste test products before purchasing, often with discounts on bulk buys.

Leung, a stall owner from KiWah Ginger Vinegar Limited, which offers traditional ginger vinegar along with beef shanks and tongues, noted a positive business flow over the past two days. She mentioned that many elderly customers were pleased to buy after sampling the food. During the pandemic, the inability of customers to taste the food on-site had negatively impacted sales, but the recent ability to do so increased purchases significantly.

Conversely, Tai from Kwong Tai Medicine Company Limited reported that despite a decent customer turnout, spending was lower than expected. Most of their products, like fish maw and bird's nest, were discounted and priced affordably. However, she observed that sales were 30 percent lower compared to the previous year, attributing this decline to an unsatisfactory stall location.

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