FIVE MINUTES WITH
Five minutes with Emmanuel Farcis
The head of asset management at Link on transforming Hong Kong’s fresh markets. By Charmaine Ng Born in Southern France, Emmanuel Farcis spent his formative years in Paris, before coming to Hong Kong as an exchange programme student at one of the local universities. Captivated by the city and what it offered, he decided to stay in Hong Kong and travel to other parts of East Asia after his schooling. Eventually, his time in the city led him to his current role as Head of Asset Management at Link. At the company, he has
helped transform countless shopping centres, introducing new shops and restaurants in various neighbourhoods in the process. One of the main projects Farcis and his team have worked on since his start at Link is the revitalisation of Hong Kong’s fresh markets, a cornerstone of local life and culture. The company has recognised that not only do these markets make Cantonese cuisine what it is, but they also highlight the importance of community. “Hong Kong’s fresh markets are a key in local life, as daily purveyors of fresh, affordable, quality and diverse produce,” says Farcis. “They are places you are familiar with, where you can grow trusting relationships with merchants, obtain advice and tips, see familiar faces. Above all, markets are social hubs that need to work hard for the communities they serve.” For Farcis, many older fresh markets
around the city have seen better days. “Due to their age, some markets have become unwelcoming, dark, wet, dirty, hidden… in short, not somewhere where I would choose to buy my food.” These issues are the very ones that Link tackles in its revitalisation scheme. The company considerably modifies the layout and outlook of its markets and shopping centres to create vibrant facilities. It helps facilitate improved people flow to create more vibrant leisure facilities. It also commands the installation of escalators and air-conditioning to bring the markets back to the heart of the communities. “By creating a welcoming, clean environment where people are comfortable browsing, the markets serve their neighbourhoods better,” says Farcis. “We work a lot with our merchants to display produce in the best possible way to showcase their wares. And, we connect our markets to our shopping centres, making them visible and attractive from the outside and inside with wide and bright entrances.” As mentioned, Link helps curate the right tenants to offer the widest possible range of products at various price points. Its markets supply a mixture of locally-grown and imported fruits and vegetables; fresh, chilled and frozen meat, seafood and fish; traditional groceries; Chinese, Asian and Western ingredients and produce; and introduces novel products such as alternative plantbased meat. “We adapt our trade mix depending on the size, location and customer profile of each of its markets,” concludes Farcis. Link’s revitalisation efforts have paid off, as evidenced by the number of younger stall workers who are attracted by the pleasant working environment found at its markets. Unlike supermarkets or even older fresh markets, Link’s reworked markets offer visitors both young and old an unbeatable multi-sensory experience. Ultimately, Farcis’ aim is to see Hong Kong’s traditional market experience evolving into one more attuned to modern need, by offering greater convenience, hygiene and a sense of community. His job at Link has not only proved this to be a possibility, but also a reality. From its home in Hong Kong, Link Asset Management Limited (Link) manages a diversified portfolio including retail facilities, car parks and offices spanning Hong Kong, Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Sydney and London. For more information, visit linkreit.com
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