Wanchai Ferry (brand)

Wanchai Ferry is a brand of Chinese food dinner kits owned by General Mills.[1] The company's roots began in 1972 when Chong Kin Wo[2] – often known as Madame Chong – began selling dumplings, a business that led to her "dumpling queen" nickname and the 1985 establishment of the Wanchai Ferry Peking Dumpling Company.[1][3][4] In 1997, Pillsbury Company entered a joint venture with Wanchai Ferry which led the brand to become part of General Mills when Pillsbury was acquired in 2001.[1][2]

The brand is still largely a frozen dumpling company in China[1] and a leader in its market.[5] The dinner kits are intended for the American and European markets.[1] In her later years, Madame Chong served as a consultant to General Mills involved in the final development stages and approving the flavors.[1] The kits were introduced to France in Spring of 2007 and to the United States of America in Summer 2007.[1][2] In 2009, the company introduced frozen dinners.[2]

Chong Kin-wo died on February 12, 2019 at the age of 75.[6]

References

1. Jargon, Julie (May 29, 2007). "General Mills Tries to Persuade Americans to Cook Chinese - WSJ". Online.wsj.com. Retrieved 2014-06-18.
2. Hughlett, Mike (February 7, 2011). "From pushcart to grocery cart". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2014-06-18.
3. "Our Story". Wanchaiferry.com. Retrieved 2014-06-18.
4. "Chinese Cravings Heat Up With Wanchai Ferry(TM) Frozen Entrees". Bloomberg. Retrieved 2014-06-18.
5. Rappeport, Alan (2012-07-10). "China turns to frozen dumplings". FT.com. Retrieved 2014-06-18.
6. Kang-chung, Ng. "Hong Kong's 'Dumpling Queen' Chong Kin-wo, Wanchai Ferry company founder, dies". South China Morning Post. SCMP Group. Retrieved 20 August 2019.