 |
This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these template messages)
|
Entrance to the Birmingham superstore
| |||||||||||
| Company type | Private company | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Industry | Wholesale, export and real estate | ||||||||||
| Founded | Birmingham, England (1970) | ||||||||||
| Headquarters | Birmingham, England | ||||||||||
Key people | Woon Wing Yip (Chairman) | ||||||||||
| Products | Chinese groceries | ||||||||||
| Revenue |  £104.4 million (2014) | ||||||||||
| £6.8 million | |||||||||||
Number of employees | 300+[1] | ||||||||||
| Subsidiaries | W Wing Yip & Brothers Trading Group Ltd. W Wing Yip & Brothers Property and Investments Ltd. | ||||||||||
| Chinese name | |||||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 榮業行 | ||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 荣业行 | ||||||||||
| |||||||||||
| Website | wingyip | ||||||||||
Wing Yip is a Chinese supermarket chain founded by Woon Wing YipinEngland 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][2]
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 €10. 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 7 acres (2.8 ha) with the purchase and development of further land, including a public road. In 1998, Wing Yip and his brothers donated a 40-foot (12 m) granite pagoda to the City of Birmingham.
Wing Yip's online shopping site was launched in 2004; it includes recipes, cooking and dining information.[1] 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 16.3 acres (6.6 ha) and employs around 300 staff.
