The Lan Kwai Fong Group’s sixth sense for success

Originally founded by a Canadian refugee from the rag trade in 1983, the Lan Kwai Fong Group approaches its fourth decade moving from success to success. It all began when the founder and current chairman needed a place to entertain his overseas garment industry clients.

In the 1980s, the area of D’Aguilar Street and Lan Kwai Fong was mostly small shops that specialised in fresh flowers or warehousing embroidery, along with one Chinese supermarket. This inspired Allan Zeman with a vision and concept to convert the Chinese supermarket to a restaurant just off Central. “I saw a lot of beauty and potential in the area and decided to open California, a restaurant that turned into a nightclub in the evenings. And it all went from there,” said Allan, chairman of the Lan Kwai Fong group.

This year, the Lan Kwai Fong Group was recognised as one of Hong Kong’s Highest Flyers in 2020 for food and beverage (F&B), entertainment, and property development, The group’s entrepreneurial spirit and sixth sense for success continues with its multiple achievements.

What the LKF Group is all about

“It’s really all about the customer and making them happy. We bring happiness to people by creating an environment where people can come to get happy and be happy with friends”, said Jonathan Zeman, LKF Group chief executive officer. “We constantly seek opportunities for growth, innovation and expansion in F&B, entertainment, and property management,” he added.

“In Hong Kong we are all about LKF Central. At some point we looked to expand to other areas to replicate our success in Hong Kong, bringing in the best of the best to the LKF Group in terms of people and locations,” Jonathan said.

The company opened Chengdu LKF in 2009 and secured new partnerships in China and Thailand.

“Of course the group’s success in Hong Kong does not translate directly to other locations. We had to adapt to local culture with something new, something international, something to differentiate. We are ever changing in music, food, fashion and entertainment,” added Jonathan.

The key to property development

Lan Kwai Fong Group’s crowning achievement in Hong Kong property development is The California Tower, a combined property where the original California Grill was located. The property opened in 2014, and since then has brought fresh, new, and unique dining and entertainment experiences to dazzle the five senses of a variety of clientele and entertainment seekers in Hong Kong.

Meanwhile in Thailand, the group is nearing completion on

PHILOSOPHY FAST FACTS

Lan Kwai Fong Group is a disruptive business. It has the last word on lifestyle trends in Hong Kong, because it’s a place where creativity takes centre stage, supported by collaborative efforts from a tremendously talented team. We’re also constantly seeking opportunities for growth and expansion” - Jonathan Zeman, LKF Group CEO • Lan Kwai Fong Group is one of the key players of the property market in Hong Kong, with a focus on premium locations.

The group also has interests and developments in Asia, and most notably in China and Thailand. • With extensive brands, properties and investments, Lan Kwai Fong is highly regarded as the foremost entertainment, hospitality and lifestyle brand in the region. • A market leader in a host of different fields as varied as F&B, retail, leisure and entertainment,

Lan Kwai Fong Group has become a success story thanks to its creative vision, constant innovations and pioneering ventures.

Opposite page: Jonathan Zeman, LKF Group CEO This page: Aria Launch Release

Aquella, a 170-hectare resort situated on a 2.5km-wide pristine beach on the west coast of Phang Nga, north of Phuket. The place is said to feature a golf and country club with luxury villas after its development.

“Our goal is not just about wow-ing people with Michelin star level dining but with the best overall lifestyle experience,” continues Jonathan.

Furthermore, the group now acts as the lead partner in the LKF852 Prince Bay property project, which introduces LKF lifestyle and entertainment culture into Shenzhen. LKF852 will provide clients with diverse and innovative experiences inspired by the quote “Love life, Love style”.

Not to rest upon its laurels, the group also has other lifestyle and entertainment projects in Hong Kong, Xian, and Shanghai, which clients can look forward to in the future.

Challenge fosters agility

What will the new normal be? This is a question that bugs everyone as it changes daily.

F&B service is traditional, but the pandemic has shown that people are willing to change their lives and willing to order from home. For the group to ensure quality, it launched a LKF Delivery Direct, incorporating culinary techniques and innovative packaging ensuring the quality of dinners delivered.

“As capacity restrictions change and fluctuate, we’ve implemented technologies to increase efficiencies with dine in reservations and purchasing systems to preserve tight margins. We have up to the minute capacity knowledge at any of our outlets using our Cloud based QRS software,” he added.

The LKF group’s agility is born from four decades of experience in the ever changing Hong Kong and Asia business environment.

“Now, we have mainland Chinese employed by banks and law firms so we are adapting to changing tastes. The early pandemic hit us hard. But people did come out again with the easing of restrictions at better than pre-protest level. People will come back to enjoy themselves,” Jonathan said.

In addition, the group opened Aria in mid-August, taking diners on a culinary journey to a modern Italian ristorante against the backdrop of the expansive panoramic view of the iconic Central Business District skyline. Executive Chef Andrea Zamboni titillates clients with the ultimate Italian food experience featuring family style recipes with a twist.

The secret to the sixth sense for success for the Lan Kwai Fong Group? “Love what you do,” Jonathan said. “Be resilient and just get it done. The devil’s in the details.”

Fashion changes, but always offers the best and newest exciting taste, smell, sight, sound, and feel. For this, the Lan Kwai Fong Group wins the Hong Kong Business High Flyer 2020 Award.

MAYER & ASSOCIÉS: A NEW IDENTITY IN 2020

Mayer & Associés (M&A) was established in Hong Kong in 2001. It is a Hong Kong-based International law firm registered with the Law Society of Hong Kong, previously known as TMA (Thomas, Mayer & Associés). The change of the Firm’s identity in 2020 reflects a new spirit while maintaining the Firm’s high professional standards.

Our main focus

Our Firm mainly assists its clients with the structuring of their investment projects by offering customized and technical solutions based on its in-depth knowledge of these regions’ economic and legal environments. Our clients benefit from Eric Mayer’s 26 years of experience of commercial and legal practices in the relevant jurisdictions.

Our Firm also provides expert legal advice to both corporations and individuals across various dedicated practice areas.

A new logo: our values

M&A’s new logo adopted in September 2020 reflects the Firm’s values: integrity, good governance, a responsible attitude, and a relationship with clients built on trust without compromising our independence.

Our clients’ trust in us requires great attention that cannot be exemplary without a commitment to these values. We implement tactfully our KYC (Know Your Client) due diligence obligations, ensuring that our clients and their files are legitimate and deserve our dedicated attention.

Creativity

M&A’s experience and values allow us to provide quality independent legal advice in cases that are sometimes complex and require inventiveness.

We are resourceful in finding legal solutions for our clients involved in cross-border transactions. Contributing to our client’s success stories is our reward. Our management style unleashes creativity and fosters healthy competition and collaboration within the legal team making up our Firm.

Hi-tech IT tools

M&A has invested in modern and comprehensive hi-tech tools to communicate with clients and manage their files: we protect our client’s legitimate privileged information. Each member of the Firm’s Legal Team benefits from the hi-tech IT solutions installed in their mobile, laptop, and PC to communicate safely with clients and store safely client information.

PHILOSOPHY

Integrity, good governance, a responsible attitude, and a relationship with clients built on trust without compromising our independence are the values that guide us in all our actions.

Additionally to pro bono work made from time to time for individuals in distress, Eric Mayer is involved in two charities: the French Solidarity Fund “Fonds d’Entraide des Français de Hong Kong (The FEF Trust)”and ANU Mongolia Charity (www.anumongoliacharity.org), which are both recognized by the Hong Kong government as being charitable trusts of a public character.

FAST FACTS

• Mayer & Associés (M&A), previously known as Thomas,

Mayer & Associés (TMA), is a law firm registered with the Law

Society of Hong Kong since 2001. • M&A specializes in the economic migration of companies from

Europe to Asia Pacific, particularly

China, and from Asia Pacific to

Europe, particularly France. • The firm provides clients with the possibility to carry out their investments projects owing to technical solutions based on its indepth knowledge of the economic and legal environments of these regions, together with its more than 26 years of experience in the commercial and legal practices of the relevant countries.

From left to right and from top to bottom: 1st roll: (left) Sophie Cante ; (middle) Marion Genova ; (right) Sandra Bacha 2nd roll: (left) Gwendoline Verdier ; (middle) Eric Mayer; (right) Aline Sun 3rd roll: (left) Anaelle Rioufol ; (middle) Julie Cheung ; (right) Wissem Younsi