Foreword
Fresh markets are a cornerstone of Hong Kong life and culture. They also represent an important segment in Link’s portfolio, underlining our mission to serve people’s daily needs.
Continuous improvement and innovation of our properties, combined with thoughtful revitalisation of our fresh markets, ensures customer satisfaction. Regular maintenance and renovation help to evolve Hong Kong’s traditional market experience to one that is more attuned to modern needs – by offering greater convenience, hygiene and a sense of community.
Better accessibility, clearer visibility of goods on offer, wider passageways and barrier-free access all help to ensure a more pleasant shopping environment. After revitalising our markets, footfall has increased, with the addition of a new generation of younger customers and an increase in the number of visits by existing customers. We have also seen an increase in the number of second-generation stall vendors. In line with the rapidly changing retail landscape and shoppers’ lifestyles, we offer seamless electronic payment options to customers.
We continue to contribute to our communities by evolving the local fresh market culture and enhancing our customers’ shopping experiences to deliver our vision: Link people to a brighter future.
Fifteen years ago, if you had walked into any fresh market in Hong Kong, you might have been justified in thinking this was a sunset industry. The old markets were often wet, slippery, smelly, dimly lit and hard to navigate. They had a shrinking clientele of mostly older customers, and younger shoppers preferred to stay away.
This could not continue, and so Link embarked upon an ambitious scheme to revitalise the fresh markets and make them once again the centre of their communities.
But this was not simply a matter of renovating the existing market buildings. To truly succeed, we had to rethink the entire idea of what a market should be. We took inspiration from the best elements of traditional Hong Kong markets, and the most successful fresh markets overseas. We found out which stall designs worked best for vendors, and how better visibility and more intuitive layouts could improve the experience for shoppers. This was a trailblazing project. In many ways, we broke new ground by introducing ideas and innovations that had never been implemented before.
Today, Link’s fresh markets have regained their place as the bustling, vibrant hearts of the neighbourhoods they serve. I hope you will enjoy reading this story of revitalisation and renewal.
