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John Carney

Jamie Oliver's first business in Hong Kong signals a bright new era for the British celebrity chef in Asia, but it may also be the reason why one of Wan Chai's favourite snack outlets has had to move.
Oliver plans to open a branch of his Jamie's Italian casual eatery chain in Hong Kong this year, his first foray into the region. 
But the popular, family-run Big Apple Sandwich Shop which was has been in  Wan Chai for 23 years, had to move in March from the Sanlitun, on the first floor of the Causeway Centre, after its landlord China Resources Property Management nearly doubled the rent from HK$66,000 to HK$111,000. 
The shop was also asked to occupy twice as much floor space. Instead it moved to  Jaffe Road, Wan Chai, on a three-year contract.
Landlords doubling the rent is a common hazard for businesses everywhere in Hong Kong today, but there was an ulterior motive here - the landlord wanted to attract a new and trendier brand name to the area, and you don't get much trendier than a Jamie Oliver restaurant. 
According to the chef's Asia partner, Tranic Franchising, the site of Oliver's first restaurant in the city will soon be announced.
Big Apple Sandwich Shop manager Melissa Hui said: 'We know that our old premises at the Causeway Centre have been viewed a few times by people representing Jamie Oliver and that they are interested in it.
'If he wants the premises he'll definitely get it. Whether he does or not, the landlord wants a new high-brow restaurant and not a place that is local and welcoming. They are looking to attract new brands and make the area much more upmarket. We're an established local company but it's not what they want any more. They just wanted to push us out.'
Edward Pinshow, president of Tranic Franchising, said:  'We're still trying to sort out the logistics for exactly where Jamie's Italian will be, but we hope to make an announcement on it in the very near future.  
'We have earmarked certain places in Hong Kong but I'm not at liberty  to say where the restaurant will be. The planning is progressing well and that's all I can say.' 
Oliver is planning to launch 30 Italian family-style restaurants in Asia, starting in the city, and Hong Kong will also be established as the development hub, providing all regional support in licensing, real estate, training and logistics for the project.
Hui and other local small proprietors like her must try to  compete with these established franchises. In fact this is the second time she has had to relocate her business. Hui quit working as a secretary to start the Big Apple Sandwich Shop 23 years ago and for 17 years did business  at the Harbour Centre in Wan Chai. 
That was until landlord Sun Hung Kai Real Estate Agency refused to renew her lease. It was no surprise when the lease was eventually taken over by the international franchise Pret a Manger.
For six years after that the Big Apple Sandwich Shop was  in the Causeway Centre where a steady flow of regular customers from the neighbouring business area filled the premises. The  landlord, China Resources Property Management, then said it was looking for new high-street brands for the premises, which it hoped to fill by September.
'The landlord wanted us to expand and take up more space but we were happy with what we already had,' Hui said. 'Then they wanted us to change our name and image to what suited the image they had for the premises, but we refused. 
'All we ever wanted to do was break even or make a small profit. I've always had loyal staff and customers. We try to add the personal touch, but local businesses like these are disappearing each year thanks to the need for big franchises.' 
Oliver, 34, became a television celebrity in 1999 with his cooking series, The Naked Chef.



Jamie Oliver's trendy Italian eatery linked to sandwich shop's move