About Us - History of Kee Wah

Kee Wah - the Legend of a 60-year Old Bakery Story
That is Growing from Strength to Strength

Mr. Wong Yip-wing The founder

The History 1998 marks the 60th anniversary of Kee Wah Bakery.

The Company is well known in Hong Kong and overseas for its signature products - Chinese Bridal Cakes and Mooncakes - though a wide range of Chinese and Western delicacies is equally popular.

The history of this multi-national bakery can be traced back to the pre-World Wall II period. The founder, Mr. Wong Yip-wing started the business as a humble tuck shop in the late 1930s with three staff selling candies and loaning comic books to youngsters. The shop then took on a very enlightening trade mark - "The Chamber of Dreams".

Business continued not without difficulties during the post World War II period in the 1940s and 1950s. With limited supply of ingredients and equipment, Mr. Wong and his dedicated staff started the business of making traditional Chinese pastry. Demand and expectation from customers were quite easy to meet those days when most people had to work hard to make their ends meet. Life in general was without much excessive. Kee Wah was then already a household name selling limited selection of bakery products. Chinese Almond Cookies and 'Chicken Biscuits' were among the favorite choices. [Almond Cookies are made of grounded almonds and green beans while Chicken Biscuits is an old time Chinese snack made of nuts, sesame and some meat, and nobody can tell why it is called Chicken Biscuits].

Kee Wah in its earlier decades was operating as a neighborhood business. Nevertheless, Mr. Wong determined not only to make the business a success, he wanted to run it well and with honor. He introduced the 'Money Back' policy as a guarantee of his product quality. His vision raised many eyebrows as "Goods sold are not returnable" as the general consumer policy.

Business took on a new turn in the 1970s and 1980s when Hong Kong economy began to take off.Kee Wah not only endeavored to broaden and enhance the quality and the product lines, but also started branching out to overseas markets patronized by Chinese communities. Today, the Company has opened five shops in United States, and nine in Taiwan.

The Company celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1988 with the opening of its industrial building in Cheung Sha Wan, Kowloon. The purpose-built production headquarters made it possible for Kee Wah to further modernize its operation by importing the latest production and packaging technologies. The production center at the headquarters now produces more than 150 kinds of products daily serving 23 shops over the territory.

The Signature Products

Kee Wah is moving with time despite its renowned products - Chinese Bridal Cakes and Mooncakes - are very much part of Chinese heritage. Apparently, it has become increasingly popular for families of the brides-to-be to announce the wedding by presenting the Bridal Cakes to close friends and relatives. As a time honored tradition, the Bridal Cakes are sent together with other auspicious goods by the family of the groom-to-be as engagement gifts. The superbly beautiful packing of the Kee Wah Bridal Cakes adds grandeur to the colorful celebrations of weddings in the modern days of Hong Kong.

The Company's another famous product - Mooncakes - comes in eight flavors. The most popular ones are those made of sweet lotus paste baked with either one, two, three or even four salted egg yolks. First time alien customers have to taste it to appreciate this wonderful recipe of the old time.

Our Commitment

Kee Wah has served and grown with Hong Kong in the past 60 years. To carry forward our founder's policy, the Company is committed to provide the local and overseas customers with more choices of quality products. After all, Kee Wah products are viewed by many as part of the fine Chinese heritage.