Milestones
1926
Aware of the growing popularity of western cakes and biscuits in Hong Kong, Mr. T. F. Cheung and his cousin, Mr. W. O. Wong decided to open a bakery in Sham Shui Po.
1927
The first retail and wholesale branch opened on Des Voeux Road, Central
1931
The retail and wholesale branch was relocated to a larger, three-storey store on Ap Liu Street, Sham Shui Po. Operating on locally manufactured machinery, the production plant made biscuits during the day and bread at night.
1935
The company bought a 475-square-metre site on Castle Peak Road for HKD$10,000 to house the new factory.
1937
At the outbreak of the Sino-Japanese War, Garden was engaged in a round-the-clock operation for seven consecutive days in order to produce 90,000 kg (close to 200,000 pounds) of hardtack for the army.
1947
Garden was registered as a limited company and began its journey as an enterprise.
1951
The production plant area was expanded to 7,000-square-metre, supplying bread and biscuits to the Hong Kong armed forces.
1952-54
As the first Hong Kong-based food enterprise to use UK imported automated biscuit production machine, Garden was able to produce over 5,000 kg of biscuits daily. It also introduced automated production to bread and confectionery gradually over the next two years.
1958
The factory on Castle Peak Road was further expanded to a total area of 10,000-square-metre; part of the premises was extended to seven-storeys.
1960
The first loaf of the now famous Life Bread was produced. It reached a new height in terms of nutritional value, freshness and hygienic packaging.
1962-63
Having grown its workforce to 500, the company purchased a 13,000-square-metre site in Sham Tseng to construct a new biscuit and confectionery plant. The biscuit plant swung into action a year later.
1967-68
Pop-pan made its debut with a bang – it was the first local food industry entry to have won the Gold Medal at Monde Selection, a prestigious international award. Chicken Thins brought home a Silver Medal the next year.
1970
Life Bread’s modernised production plant in Sham Tseng commenced operation.
1974
An additional plant was constructed in Sham Tseng, making products such as buns, hot dog buns, hamburger buns and sandwich bread.
1979
The revolutionary Si-si-sic biscuits, which came in convenient, grab-and-go packing, was launched. In the same year, Garden built its first ice-cream plant.
1981
Once again, Garden won the Gold Medal at the Monde Selection international award with its Garden Cream Wafers (Peanut Flavour).
1982
The No. 3 bread plant in Sham Tseng began operation, while the confectionery plant was further expanded.
1985
Garden established the Hua Jia Foodstuff Company in Dongguan, Guangdong province.
1987
The Dongguan-based Li Hua Biscuit Factory, a subsidiary of the Hua Jia Foodstuff Company, commenced operation.
1991
The Sham Tseng plant continued to automate its production process. Production of hamburger buns became fully automated.
1992
The re-construction of the Sham Tseng plant was completed. It was a multi-storey building boasting over 50,000-square-metre in floor area.
1995
Determined to enter into the East China market, Garden set up the Gong Yang Foodstuff Company Limited in Yang Zhou city at Jiangsu province. Its subsidiary production plant went into operation in 2001.
1997
Garden was accredited the ISO 9001 certification for reaching international standard in product quality.
2001
Unit 1 of the Gong Yang Biscuit Plant in Yangzhou went into operation. In the same year, the Li Hua Plant in Dongguan installed cake production machinery and kicked start its Swiss Roll production.
2002
A frozen bakery production line in Hong Kong commenced operation.
2005
In June, Garden Foods (Dongguan) Company Limited was established. The preparatory work for the construction of the production plant in Chashan was underway.
2009
Chashan Plant’s bread production line went into operation in Dongguan.
2010
The Sandwich Bread production line, which involved more advanced technologies, was introduced to the Sham Tseng Plant. It went into operation in August.
2011
The Line B production line for Cream Wafers at the Yangzhou-based Gong Yang Biscuit Plant went into production.
2012
Garden opened up a public gallery at its Sham Tseng site, showcasing the company’s history, the story behind its products, and interesting facts about bakery. Entry is free.
2015
Ever since 2015, Garden has been awarded the “Caring Company” logo in recognition of its commitment to corporate social responsibility.
2021
Gong Yang Plant in Yangzhou moved to the new site and commenced operation in January next year.
