Hong Kong Food Expo Opens with Grand Prize: 1,376 Abalone Won in Three-Day Queue
HK01 · 1 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
The annual Hong Kong Food Expo opened its doors with massive crowds lining up before the venue opened, as exhibitors pulled out all the stops to attract visitors. Among the highlights was On Kee Seafood's "Flying Abalone" game, where a grandmother-grandson team queued for two to three days and emerged victorious with 1,376 snack abalone pieces and 40 servings of abalone phoenix nest noodles. Meanwhile, food vendors faced rising costs, with mango glutinous rice dumplings increasing by HK$5 per piece, while young shoppers flocked to Nissin's claw machine promotions.
Key Points
- On Kee Seafood's "Flying Abalone" game required participants to use a rocking board to bounce abalone plush toys into a basket within 30 seconds
- The winning "Jiaoxiang Malatu" (Spicy Fragrance) Red Team secured 9 abalone pieces, earning 2,064 snack abalones and 60 abalone phoenix nest noodle bowls total for their trio
- One participant using the alias "Odysseus" and his elderly family member won 1,376 snack abalones and 40 noodle bowls by taking first place
- Mr. Ho and Ms. Li arrived before 10am to beat the crowds, planning to spend up to HK$6,000 on Japanese milk, cup noodles, and hairtail products
- Mango glutinous rice dumplings increased by approximately HK$4-5 per piece due to rising ingredient and rental costs
- Nissin's claw machine game, offered with purchases over HK$50, saw success rates around 50 percent and drew young customers
Why It Matters
The Food Expo remains a bellwether for Hong Kong consumer spending and retail sentiment, with exhibitors reporting cautious optimism despite first-day foot traffic being slower than previous years. The mix of traditional promotions like the abalone game alongside modern engagement tactics such as claw machines reflects how vendors are adapting to attract both elderly customers seeking value and younger shoppers drawn to interactive experiences.
The Food Expo remains a bellwether for Hong Kong consumer spending and retail sentiment, with exhibitors reporting cautious optimism despite first-day foot traffic being slower than previous years. The mix of traditional promotions like the abalone game alongside modern engagement tactics such as claw machines reflects how vendors are adapting to attract both elderly customers seeking value and younger shoppers drawn to interactive experiences.