Company Milestones
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1986Mdm Lee Ang Cho (the senior Mrs Chan of current CEO Mr Chan Tiong Cheng) imported American Ginseng products from Canada.

1987Mr Chan expanded the company with three other partners in Kampong Kranji, Singapore. They moved into wholesale business, distributing American ginseng from Canada.

1989As the business grew, they saw a market for traditional Chinese health food and set up Hockhua Ginseng Birdnest Trading Enterprise. The company's first retail outlet was opened in Hougang, a Singapore public housing estate. They began to import quality bird’s nest too.

1990 – 1995The first outlet was very popular and it led to the opening of several more in Singapore over the next few years. To meet popular demand, the company began to sell traditional Chinese herbs, medicines and other health food as well. By 1992, Hockhua was already a comprehensive traditional health food chain. Turnover increased from $2 million in 1990 to $6 million in 1993.

1996 – 1999With the expansion of the retail chain, the company's management decided to venture into direct import and  set up SHW Trading Enterprise in 1996. This allowed the company to cut operation costs, keep retail prices low and achieve greater quality control.

2000 Hockhua Holdings was established with six companies under its wings – H.W Ginseng, H.W Birdnest, H.W Herbs, H.W Traditional Medicine, H.W Agri-food and H.W Seafood. Each specialises in the development of one product category and it included their farming, import, processing, management and raising of quality standards. By then, Hockhua was running 30 retail shops and had opened its first Oriental Herbal Tea store.

2003Hockhua Holdings moved its headquarters to the Ang Mo Kio Industrial Park in Singapore and centralised all its administration and operations there for greater productivity and professionalism.

2004The company underwent a restructuring and Hockhua Ginseng Birdnest Trading Enterprise was renamed Hockhua Tonic Pte Ltd to reflect the scope of its business more accurately.

2006The company set up two manufacturing and packaging facilities in Singapore to produce over 20 patented TCM products in capsule and powder forms and a range of bird’s nest products. 

2007The company expanded to Malaysia and opened its first two retail outlets in Kuala Lumpur.

2008After 22 years of continuous strive for excellence, the company achieved a turnover of $70 million in 2008. It owned six major import and distribution firms and was operating three food and pharmaceutical manufacturing plants in Singapore with a total floor area of 13,000sqm.

200920 years since the first retail shop was set up, Hockhua’s annual turnover hits $83 million in 2009. The joyous occasion was marked by the achievement of the “Superbrands” award. At press time, the company has a network of 41 retail shops and 20 herbal tea stores in Singapore and 7 outlets in Malaysia.