Hong Kong Food Festival kicks off in Wan Chai with eager crowds and bargain hunts

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The five-day Hong Kong Food Festival opened at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre on Thursday morning, drawing crowds who arrived early with shopping trolleys ready to stock up on festive treats.

Many shoppers queued before opening to avoid peak crowds. One visitor spent around HK$1,000 mainly on dried fruits like walnuts and nuts, arriving right at opening time to beat the rush.

He found prices reasonable this year, especially for dried fruits, and preferred healthier options over traditional items like Chinese sausages, noting the product range remains largely similar annually with occasional new additions.

Another early attendee purchased preserved meats and snacks shortly after doors opened, setting no budget limit and buying whatever appealed.

She attends every year, viewing prices as comparable to regular stores unless buying in bulk, and sees the event as a holiday outing to support local spending.

A third shopper targeted a cough remedy, securing three boxes for HK$100 after easier haggling, while also picking up items like mulberries.

With no fixed budget, she bought what seemed fresh and affordable, arriving at opening to enjoy lighter morning crowds during the holiday season.

Seafood vendor Lin has participated for years, offering promotions like one-dollar sea cucumbers or canned abalone to draw first-day tasters.

She expects footfall to grow after a typically quiet opening and relies on affordable, high-quality deals to counter subdued consumer sentiment, e-commerce competition, and rising costs.

Despite higher expenses this year, she kept prices steady to prioritize volume over margins, content if sales match last year's.

Cookie vendor Leung, in his second year, expanded his stall and stock after strong results previously, maintaining the four-boxes-for-HK$100 deal in hopes of doubling business. He aims primarily to boost brand awareness.

While acknowledging potential impact from low consumer confidence, he proceeded with the larger setup and will decide on future participation based on this year's performance.