Wing Yip Explained

Wing Yip Group
Type:Private company
Foundation:Birmingham, England (1970)
Location:Birmingham, England
Key People:Woon Wing Yip (Chairman)
Industry:Wholesale, export and real estate
Products:Chinese groceries
Revenue: £104.4 million (2014)
Net Income: £6.8 million
Num Employees:300+[1]
Subsid:W Wing Yip & Brothers Trading Group Ltd.
W Wing Yip & Brothers Property and Investments Ltd.

Wing Yip is a Chinese supermarket chain founded by Woon Wing Yip in England in 1970.[2] The original Birmingham store also serves as its headquarters and national distribution centre. The company has superstore branches in Manchester, Croydon and Cricklewood.[3]

In addition, the company has expanded into wholesale and export (international trade) and real estate development and management by situating its stores within larger commercial centres.[4] Its tofu-based meat substitutes have been popular due to vegan diets since the 2010s.[5]

Founder

The founder, Woon Wing Yip, was a Hakka born in Dongguan County, Guangdong, China, in 1937. He arrived in the United Kingdom from Hong Kong in 1959 by boat with . He later opened a restaurant in a former tea shop in Clacton-on-Sea, followed by three restaurants and two takeaways in the East Anglia region. In 1968, he was joined by his brother, Sammy Yap. In 1970, Wing Yip and Sammy opened a specialist Chinese grocery in Digbeth, Birmingham.

In 1977, Lee Sing Yap joined Wing Yip and Sammy. Together, they open a Manchester store on Faulkner Street, and a second Manchester store opens on Addington Street in 1978. In 1996, the Birmingham site grew to 7acres with the purchase and development of further land, including a public road. In 1998, Wing Yip and his brothers donated a 40feet granite pagoda to the City of Birmingham.

Wing Yip's online shopping site was launched in 2004; it includes recipes, cooking and dining information. It primarily served UK consumers.

In 2005, Wing Yip was exhibited at the International Food Exhibition in London.

The Wing Yip Group operates from four freehold sites covering 16.3acres and employs around 300 staff.

Awards

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: About Wing Yip: Company History. 11 July 2006.
  2. News: Cloake . Felicity . 2017-01-27 . How Wing Yip became Britain’s biggest Chinese supermarket . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230730060240/https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/jan/27/wing-yip-britains-biggest-chinese-supermarket-new-year . July 30, 2023 . 2024-05-29 . The Guardian . en-GB . 0261-3077.
  3. Web site: Our stores . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20200910195759/https://www.wingyip.com/our-stores/ . 10 September 2020 . Wing Yip.
  4. Web site: Leyland, Adam. Interview: I'll have what Wing Yip is having. https://archive.today/20100225015459/http://www.realbusiness.co.uk/TIMPO/Ill-have-what-Wing-Yip-is-having/1559.aspx. dead. 2010-02-25. Real Business Online. 26 March 2007.
  5. Web site: Mitsu . May 7, 2011 . Wing Yip, Staples Corner Part 2 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20201027050141/http://www.tohappyvegans.com/2011/05/07/wing-yip-staples-corner-part-2/ . 27 October 2020 . To Happy Vegans.
  6. Web site: Wing Yip on Visible Chinese . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090903133419/http://www.visiblechinese.com/website/profile/wing_yip/ . 3 September 2009 . 19 May 2009.
  7. Web site: Wing Yip - Wing Yip News . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131111064507/http://www.wingyip.com/news.html . 11 November 2013 . 19 May 2009.

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