Le Pain Quotidien Hong Kong on par with New York City
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Belgian-founded bakery Le Pain Quotidien’s Hong Kong outlet is trading as well as the chain’s best stores, surprising the founder.
“We knew we would make it [in Hong Kong] but we did not expect sales to be so high, comparable to our best stores in New York,” the bakery’s founder Alain Coumont divulged in an interview with the ‘Hungry Lawyer’ Marc Rubinstein.
Le Pain Quotidien Hong Kong was brought to the city by Dining Concepts, and recently opened its second store at Pacific Place. The city is the 18th market for the brand which now numbers 235 stores globally.
“There are plans for a third store in Central but I can’t say where because it’s still a secret,” Coumont said. “The idea is to have at least four or five shops in Hong Kong by the end of 2017. We are also thinking of expanding to other parts of the Asia Pacific region with Dining Concepts like Singapore or Malaysia, as well as China. We are expanding naturally as we make money, not because we must.”
He said the core of the menu was the same in Hong Kong as elsewhere in the world.
“We have some local dishes on the menu. Originally, we had congee on the breakfast menu. We update the menu seasonally so now we have a tofu scramble instead, but the basic structure of the menu is the same as in other markets.”
Le Pain Quotidien, which means “daily bread”, was founded in 1990 when Coumont, working as a chef, was dissatisfied with the bread served before meals.
“There are plans for a third store in Central but I can’t say where because it’s still a secret,”
“So I decided to start making it myself as a hobby. I didn’t have space for the equipment so I rented 36 sqm next to the stock exchange in Belgium, bought a big table at a flea market, started baking two kinds of bread, and added coffee and sandwiches to help pay the rent. With the big communal table leaving nowhere for customers to hide and our two kilo sourdough loafs, the shop looked like the dining room of a monastery. Then the magic happened.”
He had no idea his ‘hobby’ would evolve into a global brand.
“There was no business plan. It was a hobby. I started with US$10,000 that I didn’t have, but it was an overnight success.”
Coumont said rent was key in Hong Kong, as in New York and London – “and you need a great location”.
“High rent creates opportunity for expensive mistakes if you pick the wrong location. But, like London and New York, Hong Kong is also a diverse city which means our staff and our customers are diverse and include cosmopolitan travellers and business people. We could just as easily be in Dubai or New York except that Hong Kong is less hot than Dubai and warmer than New York.”
In the interview, Coumont also talks about his experiences launching the brand in New York, his passion for Chinese food and his thoughts on Hong Kong as a city.
Questions & Answers
Q.How many Le Pain Quotidien stores currently operate globally, and in how many countries?
How many Le Pain Quotidien stores currently operate globally, and in how many countries?
The brand has 235 stores worldwide. Hong Kong is its 18th market. The founder was surprised by the Hong Kong outlet's high sales, comparable to their best New York stores.
Q.What are Le Pain Quotidien's future expansion plans for Hong Kong and the wider Asia Pacific region?
What are Le Pain Quotidien's future expansion plans for Hong Kong and the wider Asia Pacific region?
There are plans for a third store in Central, aiming for four or five shops in Hong Kong by the end of 2017. They also consider expanding to Singapore, Malaysia, and China with Dining Concepts.
Q.What factors does the founder consider crucial for success in cities like Hong Kong?
What factors does the founder consider crucial for success in cities like Hong Kong?
The founder states that rent and a great location are key for success in cities such as Hong Kong, New York, and London. High rent can lead to expensive mistakes if locations are poorly chosen.
Reader pulse
LPQ's Hong Kong performance:
23,858 votes so far