Ocean Nutrition's director business development Asia Frank Sing says Hong Kong is the perfect test bed for new products as it is a concentrated market and a showcase for China

Canadian company Ocean Nutrition knew that the fastest way to market its products in one of the world's largest markets was to have a Hong Kong partner with China expertise.

Ocean Nutrition's director for business development Asia, Frank Sing, said in a Webcast interview that partnering with Hong Kong company Trappist Dairy Limited had helped him launch a new line of functional foods beginning with a low fat dairy product containing Omega 3 supplements. He considers Hong Kong a testing ground for marketing his company's innovative nutritional products.

"Hong Kong is a dynamic city and one of the great key commercial centres," Mr Sing said. "It is also a concentrated and dense market - a good test bed for marketing our functional food which is a new concept in the food market. With our Hong Kong contacts and experience, we hope to launch into the Chinese mainland and South-East Asia."

Perfect match

Mr Sing approached the Trade Development Council (TDC) to help him source a reliable Hong Kong partner with a good image for nutritional products and a sound working knowledge of the mainland market. Through the council's Business Matching Services, this resulted in a joint venture with Trappist Dairy Limited.

"Hong Kong is certainly the platform to the mainland and we chose to enter this vast market with a Hong Kong partner," he said.

Mr Sing was in Hong Kong recently for the TDC-organised Food Expo (August 11-15) where the International Conference & Exhibition of the Modernization of Chinese Medicine & Health Products was held.

"The conference provided a single venue and meeting place for stakeholders, regulators and consumers. It was very important for us to get to know the key contacts and the right people with marketing experience," said Mr Sing.

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