News - South China Morning Post
· collected 2026-09-05 · by Oscar Liu
Anita Lee, second-generation owner of Kau Kee Food Factory, has opened the company's first retail store in Mong Kok after 66 years of supplying fish balls to over 1,000 eateries and snack stalls across Hong Kong. The new shop allows customers to directly buy the products that were previously only available to industry operators. Lee, a 30-year-old politics graduate and former civil servant, took charge of the family business during the Covid-19 pandemic when orders from street food stalls dropped drastically due to social distancing rules. Kau Kee's business was severely affected by the pandemic, with Lee citing a significant drop in sales due to reduced consumer spending.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-05,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event.
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No political leaning scored for article 4472 · logged 2026-09-05
After 66 years, Kau Kee’s first shop offers fish balls ‘every Hongkonger has eaten’
asserted
Hongkonger → offer → balls
Second-generation owner Anita Lee has modernised the family business so customers can now directly buy the products once supplied only to industry
Anita Lee Yan-kwan grew up around a traditional business that supplied fish balls to Hong Kong’s street food stalls and eateries.
asserted
that → modernise → stalls
But for decades, Kau Kee Food Factory’s signature product was known only among industry operators until Lee, a second-generation owner, opened the company’s first retail store late last year.
asserted
Lee → know → store
Kau Kee has operated as a silent giant in the food industry for 66 years, supplying its fish balls to nearly 1,000 eateries and snack stalls across the city.
asserted
Kee → operate → city
But it finally opened its first bricks-and-mortar shop in Mong Kok last December.
asserted
it → open → Kok
“Before opening the retail shop, if you were to ask people about Kau Kee on the street, they would probably not know about it,” Lee said.
asserted
Lee → open → it
“Yet it’s likely almost every Hongkonger has eaten our fish balls.”
asserted
Hongkonger → ’ → balls
The 30-year-old politics graduate and former civil servant made a career pivot during the Covid-19 pandemic and took charge of the family business even as mask mandates and social distancing rules crippled the street food scene.
asserted
mandates → make → scene
It left Kau Kee, which was relying solely on manufacturing and wholesaling at the time, in a precarious position as orders from food stalls dropped drastically.
asserted
orders → leave → stalls
“Our business took a really big hit and was severely affected.
asserted
business → take → hit
Since everyone was wearing masks, they stopped eating fish balls on the street.
asserted
they → wear → street
With the economy being so poor, people were spending less money overall,” Lee said.
asserted
Lee → spend → money
