Ha Ming Kee Safeguards Food Safety with Traceability on 1QR Promoting “Made in Hong Kong” and Expanding Retail Business

In recent years, consumer expectations regarding food safety, transparency of origin, and brand integrity have risen significantly. While “Made in Hong Kong” products remain a strong reputation for quality, brands must go beyond traditional retail interactions, and effectively “tell product story” to remain competitive.

Ha Ming Kee, a renowned Hong Kong heritage brand with over 40 years of history, is committed to using fresh fish ingredients and adhering to a strict “no chemical additives” principle. Its signature handmade fish balls and fried fish cakes are widely recognised not only for their distinctive texture but also for their consistent quality and safety. The brand has long been favoured by both local patrons and visitors, including notable figures across business and public sectors. In recent years, Ha Ming Kee has expanded from a single outlet into a multi-location business and is actively pursuing international opportunities.

As part of its expansion strategy, the brand introduced a homemade, additive-free signature chili oil, enabling consumers to enjoy authentic Hong Kong flavours at home. In parallel, the company has adopted sustainable practices, including the use of recyclable packaging and reduced plastic consumption.

To meet increasing market demand for transparency and sustainability, Ha Ming Kee sought a simple, user-friendly solution to provide consumers with comprehensive product information beyond packaging—such as traceability, recycling details—thereby enhancing product understanding and strengthening consumer confidence.

Ha Ming Kee adopted GS1 barcodes on its chili oil packaging to support efficient distribution and point-of-sale operations. To further enhance consumer engagement, the company adopted GS1 Hong Kong’s 1QR, a digital product platform complimentary for members. Built on GS1 standards, the QR code enables consumers to instantly access a wide range of product information on a single platform, extending far beyond what can be displayed on physical packaging.

Ensuring Food Safety Through Traceability

As the chili oil is produced locally in Hong Kong, Ha Ming Kee places strong emphasis on quality assurance and food safety. Leveraging the traceability capabilities of 1QR, the company can record up to five key supply chain stages—such as sourcing, production, and distribution, etc —thereby significantly enhancing information transparency. Simply by scanning the QR code, consumers can trace the product’s journey, including raw materials, manufacturing processes, and logistics. 

In addition, key product details such as best-before dates, country of origin are made readily accessible via the platform. This not only safeguard food safety but also reinforces the value of “Made in Hong Kong” and strengthens consumer trust.

Enhancing Consumer Engagement and O2O Commerce

Beyond traceability, Ha Ming Kee uses 1QR to create a more engaging and interactive consumer experience. The platform provides value-added content such as recipe ideas (e.g., chili oil noodles and stir-fried vegetables) and nutritional information, enhancing the overall customer journey.

The integration of direct communication channel like WhatsApp, allows consumers to make enquiries, place orders, and facilitate repeat purchases with ease. Looking ahead, Ha Ming Kee can leverage the same QR code to dynamically update promotions and content, ensuring that each scan delivers new and engaging experiences.

Furthermore, they leveraged the platform to communicate the company’s sustainability initiatives, including efforts to reduce waste and carbon emissions across production and logistics. Information on recyclable packaging and collection points is also provided, empowering consumers to make environmentally responsible choices.

As product information showcased on 1QR is provided by the brand, this ensures consistency, accuracy, and reliability. This transparency enables consumers to purchase with confidence while strengthening brand loyalty—particularly among younger, digitally engaged audiences.

• Enhances product information transparency by enabling consumers with instant access to key details including nutritional value, best before date, traceability, and recycling, etc, thereby reinforcing confidence.
• Strengthens food safety assurance through comprehensive track-and-trace
• Enhance engagement with consumers via digital platforms, supporting sales conversion and repeat purchases
• Promotes sustainability and responsible consumption
• Effectively “tells product story” and reinforces the “Made in Hong Kong” advantage

• GS1 barcodes
• 1QR（traceability function）

Ha Ming Kee is a nearly 50-year-old establishment in Hong Kong, specializing in serving high quality freshly made fish balls, fish slices and fish soup, it has become a must-try food for both locals and tourists. Branches are located throughout Kennedy Town, Fortress Hill, Sheung Wan, and Jordan, making it convenient to enjoy anytime.