Wing Yip


Wing Yip is a Chinese supermarket chain in the United Kingdom, founded in 1970.
The current Birmingham store now also serves as its headquarters office, international trading division, property and investments, online store, warehouse, and national distribution centre. The company has superstore branches in Manchester and Greater London. In addition, the company has expanded into wholesale and export, and real estate development/management, such as siting its stores within larger commercial centres.
Wing Yip have been supplying Chinese restaurants and takeaways, the Chinese community and food enthusiasts with Chinese groceries and other products for more than 40 years.

Founder

The founder, Woon Wing Yip, was a Hakka born in Dongguan County, Guangdong, China in 1937. He arrived in the United Kingdom from Hong Kong in 1959 with £10. With an annual turnover of 80 million pounds, he became the first Chinese tycoon in the UK.
Wing Yip was honoured by Her Majesty The Queen on 10 March 2010 at an investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace and awarded an OBE for his services to the Oriental food industry.
Wing Yip said "I was so surprised and feel very honoured, especially after coming here as an immigrant. I knew when I arrived in the UK that I wanted to be more than a waiter and quickly became head waiter, then opened my first restaurant with my business partners in Clacton in 1962. I would like to thank all my staff who have provided me with their support and dedication and made the success of Wing Yip possible.”

Chronology

This first Wing Yip store in Digbeth employs fewer than ten people and quickly gains a following in the Chinese community and with those interested in Chinese cooking.
The landmark Chinese Arch with handmade tiles from China is erected.
The Wing Yip range of sauces finds favour with visitors to the BBC Good Food Show at the NEC.
The redevelopment of the Cricklewood site begins. The project will see the building of a new enlarged cash and carry store open to the trade and the public with underground parking, a Business Centre including a Chinese restaurant together with an office building all in an Oriental style.
Cricklewood location.
The Wing Yip Group now operates from four freehold sites covering and employs 300 staff.
Other strategic sites in the UK have been proposed and new stores are to be built.

Awards

Wing Yip established the W Wing Yip & Brothers bursaries to encourage and provide financial assistance to a set number of students of Chinese origin, local and from overseas, to complete their studies in the United Kingdom.
Since its inception over 300 bursaries have been granted.
Applications come from across the UK, China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Taiwan and elsewhere all demonstrating high standards of achievement in various fields from law and medicine to IT and the arts.
The Board of Selectors carefully consider the applicants and agree a select number of outstanding achievers to receive support. Successful applicants are invited to attend a special event to receive their bursaries in the heart of London's Chinatown.
Renowned solicitor Michael Chiu, who was previously on the Board of Selectors, said: "The standard of all the entrants is always excellent and it is an arduous task to decide on the final list of awards. We reach our decisions based on three criteria: the students' ability in their field; interest and passion in their subject; and lastly the nature of the core subject itself, which the Board considered to be worthy of support."

Online shopping

Wing Yip Online Store was set up in 2004 to provide customers who are not able to get to one of the Chinese supermarkets, easy access to Wing Yip's products. They also have an online shopping site and a "cookery school".