The next day, Zhang Zhonghua rode his bicycle towards Taikoo Shing in Wan Chai, which is surrounded by many high-end residential complexes owned by Taikoo & Co.
However, the Taikoo Shing here a few decades later is still very different, and most of the people living here now are employees of Taikoo & Matheson.
It is not easy to talk about this ancient foreign company.
Swire & Co., Ltd. was the most influential trading institution in modern China second only to Jardine Matheson. Its predecessor was John Swale & Co., which was founded in 1816. Swire & Co. was mainly engaged in the shipping industry. In 1867, it organized the China Shipping Company with a rated capital of 1
million pounds. In 1872, Taikoo Steamship Company was established, becoming one of the three major shipping companies along with Jardine Matheson Shipping Company and Qichang Steamship Company. It opened the Shanghai-Hong Kong route, added the Yangtze River route in 1875, and later expanded the Chinese coastal routes and to
Overseas routes.
In addition to the shipping industry, Swire & Company was also involved in other fields. In 1881, it acquired a number of large pieces of land in Quarry Bay, Hong Kong Island to build the Taikoo Sugar Refinery. In 1900, Swire built the Taikoo Dockyard next to the sugar refinery. The Taikoo Dockyard later
It developed into the largest shipyard on Hong Kong Island. After 1870, Taikoo & Co. entered the insurance industry, first acting as an agent for other companies. By the 20th century, it had the largest fire insurance business and a considerable marine and accident insurance business in Shanghai under the name Taikoo.
Insurance business portfolio. In 1980, Taikoo & Co. once printed its own banknotes, which were issued and used in Shantou. In 1904, the Tianjin Barge Company was established in Tianjin to operate the pontoon towing and barging business between Tianjin and Tanggu, with a ship repair factory attached.
It formed the "Xijiang Commercial Shipping Company" with Jardine and Matheson, and monopolized the shipping industry in Xijiang, Guangdong. At the beginning of the 20th century, Swire & Co.'s ships and tonnage surpassed Jardine's, occupying the first place among foreign shipping companies, and together with Jardine, it monopolized the coastal areas.
, shipping in the Yangtze River and Pearl River basins.
During the century-long development, Swire Pacific also achieved great success. Unfortunately, the Second World War destroyed the business empire that Swire had built so hard. After the war, the company's properties across China were looted or destroyed, and even
The interior of the London office was also raided. The Taikoo Shipping Company's fleet was completely lost, with more than 30 ships missing. The Taikoo Dockyard and Taikoo Sugar Refinery on Hong Kong Island were also reduced to rubble by American artillery bombs.
In 1950, Swire Sugar resumed production, and Taikoo Dockyard also built the first 6,000-ton ship for Swire Shipping Company. Although Swire Shipping Company was based on Hong Kong Island, it had moved its business focus south to Australia.
, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea, and the business network in the Pacific Coast region has also been expanding day by day, setting the stage for the regular container ship business that the company has been operating to this day.
Beginning in 1947, part of the resources originally invested in the reconstruction of Taikoo Dockyard were used to develop aircraft engineering facilities at Kai Tak Airport, and the Hong Kong Island Aircraft Engineering Company was established, later renamed Cathay Pacific. In 1959, Cathay Pacific acquired the northbound route at the same time.
Japan and southbound traffic rights to Sydney, Cathay Pacific became a full-fledged regional airline at this time. After more than ten years of development, Cathay Pacific has also become the busiest airline in Southeast Asia.
Thinking about the development history of Taikoo Matheson, Zhang Zhonghua was also deeply shocked. The 150-year history of continuous development and growth is really amazing.
"Hello, I am Zhang Zhonghua, the person in charge of lfc restaurant."
After arriving at Taikoo Shing and meeting the relevant person in charge, Zhang Zhonghua introduced himself to the person in charge.
"Welcome, Mr. Zhang. I am Yue Jackson, the person in charge of Taikoo Shing. Mr. Zhang's English is really great. It is even better than a British person like me."
Jackson, the person in charge of Taikoo Shing, said to Zhang Zhonghua with a smile.
"Hello, Mr. Jackson, I am making you laugh. I used English a lot before, so my proficiency in English cannot compare with yours."
"Hahaha, you don't have to be modest. Your English is really good. It's no worse than me from England. Mr. Zhang, let's get down to business first. The reason I invite you this time is for cfc to settle in our Taikoo Shing. Whether the cfc restaurant is
Both the brand positioning and the services provided are completely in line with our positioning in Taikoo Shing, where our group alone has more than 20,000 residents..."
Jackson kept introducing the advantages of Taikoo Shing to Zhang Zhonghua. In fact, Jackson had to find a way to settle in Taikoo Shing even if he didn't talk about cfc. Jackson's offending the invitation was completely self-inflicted.
"Mr. Jackson, I am deeply honored that Taikoo Shing has recognized cfc, and I am very willing to settle in Taikoo Shing. cfc also has plans to settle in Taikoo Shing."
"Our CFC plan is to enter Taikoo Shing around the end of next year! Regarding your invitation, I..."
Zhang Zhonghua said to Jackson with some embarrassment. Zhang Zhonghua did not say that cfc has no plan to enter Taikoo Shing. After all, as a catering company positioned as a high-end brand, it is impossible not to have plans to enter Taikoo Shing, Wan Chai, which is the best on Hong Kong Island.
However, there is no specific plan for when the company will move in. As the boss, Zhang Zhonghua said he plans to move in by the end of the year, which means he will move in by the end of the year.
"Oh, my dear Zhang, as long as cfc is willing to settle in our Taikoo Shing in advance, we will give you the most favorable policy."
When Jackson heard that CFC's plan to settle in Taikoo Shing was at the end of the year, he immediately said to Zhang Zhonghua with some understanding.
Taikoo & Co., Ltd. is preparing to enter the real estate industry and is inviting various high-end brands to settle in Taikoo Shing. As a high-end catering brand that has suddenly emerged this year, CFC has only three stores, one of which is mainly for delivery, but whether it is service or taste, it is...
It's so popular that many people even take the bus to eat there many times.
For such an emerging high-end brand, Taikoo Shing is determined to win.
"this……"
Seeing Zhang Zhonghua's hesitation, Jackson immediately continued: "Dear Zhang, as long as cfc moves into Taikoo Shing as quickly as possible, our Taikoo Shing will give cfc restaurant a 3,000-square-foot prime store and waive the rent for one year.
"
Jackson's conditions are not unfavorable. Many shopping malls did this in the past. In order to introduce some luxury goods to improve the so-called "strong quality" of the shopping mall, they all gave luxury brands reduced rent or even rent-free.
After hearing that the benefits had been received, Zhang Zhonghua stopped pretending and immediately smiled and said to Jackson: "Thank you very much Mr. Jackson for the invitation and the preferential treatment of one year's rent-free. Our cfc will immediately start planning the establishment of the cfc Taikoo Shing store.
And we will settle in Taikoo Shing after the year.”
After confirming the move-in time, Zhang Zhonghua discussed the location of the store with Jackson. The 3,000-square-foot Golden Shop store is located in a prime location. It must be said that Taikoo Matheson is rich in money and does things in a grand manner.
In the end, Zhang Zhonghua said that he would immediately arrange the decoration matters after returning, and completed the store settlement after the Spring Festival of 1968, that is, in early February, and officially opened in mid-February.
“A pleasure to work with!”
“A pleasure to work with!”
After completing the negotiations, Zhang Zhonghua shook hands with Jackson and said goodbye.
Zhang Zhonghua succeeded in getting the unexpected benefits he wanted, and Jackson successfully completed the task given by his superiors to invite high-end brands to settle in. It can be said that the two of them got what they needed and everyone was happy. This chapter has been completed!
