Recent social unrest and the COVID-19 pandemic have accelerated
the emergence of a new "stay-at-home economy" for
groceries and fresh produce in Hong Kong.
In the first half of 2020, sales from supermarkets, livestock,
poultry and frozen products experienced double digit year-on-year
growth, while overall retail sales declined by over 33% compared
with 2019 (Source: Census and Statistics Department).
In Hong Kong, close proximity between supermarkets and retail
outlets with residential estates has traditionally limited the
demand for online grocery shopping. However, since the
implementation of social distancing measures and flexible work
arrangements, a substantial part of retail sales, including
groceries, is now being conducted online. In order to capitalise on
this consumer shift, grocery retailers had two choices: either
invest heavily to expand their own digital platforms and build a
logistics network from the ground-up, or form new partnerships
