From Coca-Cola to Cathay Pacific, Swire Pacific’s five major businesses in Hong Kong
Started in 1870 as a small branch of its UK parent, Swire Pacific is a major player in property, beverages, aviation, marine services and trading and industries
From daily items such as a bottle of Coca-Cola and a packet of sugar, to high-rise shopping malls in Hong Kong’s prime central areas, one would find it almost impossible to escape the influence of this Hong Kong conglomerate whose sprawling business empire spans five sectors.
Butterfield and Swire, a trading company then headquartered in Liverpool, founded its Hong Kong branch in 1870. Today its successor, Swire Pacific, engages in segments that include property, beverages, aviation, marine services and trading and industrial. These companies often use Swire’s Cantonese name, Taikoo.
With key holding assets such as Taikoo Sugar Limited, a 136-year-old Hong Kong premium sugar products manufacturer founded by Swire, chances are that the random cafe you walk into will have packets of sugar produced by Taikoo. Meanwhile, as the exclusive distributor and manufacturer of Coca-Cola in Hong Kong, Taiwan and about 11 mainland China provinces, Swire is also behind every bottle of the carbonated drink that you buy in these areas.
The company also invests heavily in major property projects and hotels in the city. It has stakes in many of the city’s landmark buildings, such as the luxury shopping centre Pacific Place in Admiralty, as well as Taikoo Place in Quarry Bay.
