Tao Heung Group to suspend restaurant operations

Restaurant group Tao Heung Holdings has announced suspending operations of all its restaurants starting Tuesday.

“Tao Heung restaurants will cease operations temporarily starting March 1, 2022 until the pandemic situation improves to ensure the health of our staff and customers,” said the announcement.

The Hong Kong caterer operates 43 outlets in Hong Kong across more than a dozen brands including Pier 88, Tao’s Kitchen, Cheers Restaurant, and Hak Ka Hut.

Tai Cheong Bakery outlets, excluding the ones at Nan Fung Plaza and Tsim Sha Tsui Star Ferry, will continue to operate as usual.

Tao Heung’s revenue from April to September last year dropped 9.5 percent from the previous six-month period. Restrictions on operating hours and social distancing measures continued to further affect its operations up to the caterer’s closure announcement.

Super Super Congee and Noodles and Cafe de Coral will stop dine-in service from Tuesday, offering only takeaways.

Cafe de Coral said the move is to reduce transmission risks from customers’ removing masks during their meal and protect customers’ and employees’ health, while also aimed to balance the wellbeing of employees with consumer and business interest.

Another catering company LH Group already suspended operations of all of its 46 outlets including Japanese barbecue and hotpot outlets , citing “poor business environment.”

Executive director Simon Wong Kit-lung explained that the suspension was to cut costs, ensure the safety of employees and minimize losses during Hong Kong’s worsening pandemic situation.