With the development of Hong Kong’s food culture and the evolution of consumer preferences, as well as the entry of mainland tea brands such as Heytea, Nayuki, and Mixue Bingcheng into the Hong Kong market, the Hong Kong tea market is becoming a “hot topic” in the catering industry. Traditional Hong Kong street chain brands such as Comebuy Tea, Sharetea, Happy Lemon, Rhino and Lemon Mengmeng all occupy an important position in the market, but they are all facing challenges from new changes in market demand and the competitive landscape. This report is based on data on the current market size, number of stores, consumer demand, etc., to deeply analyze and predict the development trend of the Hong Kong tea beverage market in 2024.
1. Changes in customer needs
In recent years, the improvement of health awareness has had a profound impact on the tea beverage market. Consumers are increasingly choosing beverages that are low in sugar, calories and made from natural ingredients. More and more tea brands have launched new low-sugar, sugar-free and low-fat products, and even marked core health data such as calories on tea menus. In addition, the demand for personalization and customization is also increasing. Customers hope to adjust the ingredients of drinks according to their personal tastes and health needs. This has put forward new requirements for the electronic menus and POS systems of tea brands. Tea brands should pay attention to these trends, develop more products that meet healthy eating standards, and provide diversified choices to attract different customer groups.

2. Evolution of the competitive landscape

The fiercely competitive tea beverage market in Hong Kong is gradually moving towards brand differentiation. Niche brands and tea shops with innovative concepts are gradually gaining market share. For example, brands that focus on specific tea origins or use unique tea-making techniques can attract younger consumers who are looking for new experiences. In this environment, existing brands need to continue to innovate and strengthen their brand image and customer loyalty in order to maintain their market competitiveness. In addition, the entry of mainland brand chains also indicates that the competitive landscape may undergo major changes. Mainland chain brands have stronger supply chain capabilities, technological system capabilities and rich online and offline marketing experience, and Hong Kong’s local tea brands should quickly make up for their shortcomings in this area, while making better use of their understanding of the local market and customer needs, and the foundation of their store network, to maintain their original market share and win out from the competition.

3. Innovation in operation methods and strategies

Digital transformation is an irreversible trend in the tea industry. The application of data analysis, artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies can optimize inventory management, customer service and personalized promotion. For example, by analyzing consumer purchasing behavior and preferences, tea shops can make inventory adjustments and promotional activities more accurately. In addition, the popularity of mobile payment and online ordering platforms has also prompted the tea beverage industry to further transform towards digitalization. Therefore, it is crucial to choose a reliable catering POS system service provider with powerful POS system products, rich operating experience, a reliable localized service team and a good customer reputation.

4. Technological support

With the advancement of technology, the operational efficiency and customer experience of tea shops have been further improved. From “self-service ordering system” to “intelligent tea making machine”, these technologies not only improve service speed, but also ensure the consistency of product quality. In the future, it will be possible to use IoT technology to monitor equipment operating conditions and food storage conditions in real time, which will further improve operational efficiency and food safety.

5. Potential new trends in the market

The increase in environmental awareness will also affect the tea beverage market. Consumers are increasingly concerned about the environmentally friendly attributes of products, such as packaging made from renewable materials and ingredients from sustainably sourced sources. Therefore, launching eco-friendly products and practices will help the brand build a good public image and attract more customers.