Hundreds flock to Fortnum & Masons Hong Kong branch closing sale
Hundreds of eager shoppers flocked to Fortnum & Mason’s Hong Kong outlet on Saturday for discounted products before the store closed, with staff cutting off the queue two hours after opening. By 2pm, the Post observed a queue of about 100 people stretching along the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront. Staff began turning customers away from…
Hundreds of eager shoppers flocked to Fortnum & Mason’s Hong Kong outlet on Saturday for discounted products before the store closed, with staff cutting off the queue two hours after opening.
By 2pm, the Post observed a queue of about 100 people stretching along the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront. Staff began turning customers away from 1pm, advising them to check the shop’s social media platforms for updates.
Fortnum & Mason, known as the “king’s grocer” in Britain, announced on Friday that it would close its Hong Kong store on January 26.
It made waves in 2019 when it chose the city for its first stand-alone shop in Asia since the closure of its overseas outlet in Dubai in 2017.
Hongkonger Alvin Chan arrived at 11am with his wife, hoping to buy tea and biscuits as Lunar New Year gifts for family and friends. The couple queued for two hours before making it inside.
“We got here a bit late, a lot of the tea bags were gone,” said the logistics professional in his thirties, who spent about HK$2,500 (US$321) on items including Countess Grey loose tea leaves, stem ginger biscuits and prosecco.
“There were discounts upon discounts. The brand’s own sparkling tea was a steal at just over HK$100. Our bags are now very heavy. It was very orderly in the shop, and it wasn’t chaotic at all.”
