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Japanese enterprise, Creative Alpha Inc. opened its first Tonkachi restaurant in Hong Kong today (December 17), as part of a strategic push to develop a new brand with 30 overseas outlets across Asia by 2017.
Creative Alpha Inc. runs a diverse range of businesses in Japan, including various and popular Japanese-style food and beverage (F&B) ventures. It aims to leverage Hong Kong's location in the heart of Asia to develop the Japanese cuisine Tonkachi restaurant brand in the region. Serving genuine Japanese cuisine, Tonkachi uses high quality ingredients including Kurobuta pork from Kagoshima and fresh fish from the Tsukiji market. Employees are dressed in Japanese style kimono uniforms and trained to offer attentive services. The first Tonkachi restaurant opened in Tsim Sha Tsui today, and a total of 15 more are planned in Hong Kong and Mainland China by 2015.
Creative Alpha, NK Corporation and Union Plan Ltd. have joint ventured to form F-Cation Ltd in Hong Kong and will manage the restaurant brand in the region. Chief Executive Officer and Director of F-Cation Ltd, Mr Tsutomu Wada, said, "Hong Kong's F&B market is booming with many opportunities for restaurateurs. Its well-established infrastructure and strong rule of law provide a very business-friendly environment for us to set up our business here."
He added, "Hong Kong is also relatively closer to Japan than any other compatible Asian cities, and hence offers unrivalled convenience when we need support from the Japanese headquarters. Moreover, we are also attracted by Hong Kong's sophisticated fund raising platform, as we have plans to list depending on business performance."
Associate Director-General of Investment Promotion, Andrew Davis, welcomed Creative Alpha Inc opening its first Tonkachi restaurant in Hong Kong and said, "I am delighted to see the ambitious plans of Creative Alpha Inc. It has definitely found the right place to start its brand here in Hong Kong, given our geographical advantage, the spending ability of our diversified customer base and most importantly the local appetite for good food. I look forward to seeing the expansion of Tonkachi restaurant in Hong Kong and the region."
About Creative Alpha Inc
Established in 1994, Creative Alpha Inc started off as an interior design business and over the subsequent 19 years expanded into a conglomerate engaged in commercial facility design, human resources and training, restaurant operations and franchise business. It now has a turnover of 5.1 billion yen (about HK$480 million) and employs over 800 people. In terms of F&B business, it owns Okinawa cuisine restaurant Churari, Motsu restaurant Donkachi, Japanese plum wine store Umetsubaki and ginger cuisine speciality Syou Ga No Kaori. For more information, please visit www.c-alpha.com.
About Invest Hong Kong
InvestHK is the department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government established in July 2000 to take responsibility for Foreign Direct Investment and support overseas and Mainland businesses to set up or expand in Hong Kong. It provides free advice and customised services to help businesses succeed in Hong Kong's vibrant economy. As at June 2012, InvestHK had completed over 2,600 investment projects, creating more than 30,000 new jobs in the first year of operation or expansion and HK$67 billion of investment. For more information, please visit www.investhk.gov.hk.
For event photos, please visit: www.flickr.com/photos/investhk/sets/72157632266562712/.
Ends/Monday, December 17, 2012
Issued at HKT 15:09
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