Wing Yip is now widely recognised as the UK's leading Chinese and Oriental supplier with stores and a national distribution network supplying the majority of Chinese restaurants and take-aways throughout the country.
Wing Yip are an established family business with two generations of the Wing Yip family currently involved in the day to day running of the Group. At Wing Yip, everything a catering business or cook requires is available under one roof, providing authentic goods and produce at very reasonable prices.
The Wing Yip superstores located in Birmingham, Manchester, Cricklewood and Croydon are open to the catering trade and Oriental food enthusiasts are also welcome, specialising in Chinese and Oriental groceries. The Group’s head office is based in Birmingham as are its warehousing and national distribution centre.
With over 35 years experience in the Oriental food trade, we have developed an enviable network of Far Eastern suppliers and manufacturers which enables us to source quality and innovative products for our customers.
The chronology behind the Wing Yip success...
1959
Mr Wing Yip arrives in England by boat from Hong Kong.
1960's
Wing Yip opens a restaurant with partners in a former tea shop in Clacton-on-Sea. This is quickly followed by a further three restaurants and two take-aways in the East Anglia region. In 1968, Wing Yip is joined by his brother, Sammy Yap who worked in the hotel trade in Hong Kong.
1970
Wing Yip and his brother Sammy open a specialist Chinese grocer in Digbeth, Birmingham, supplying more than 1,000 genuine Chinese products to restaurants and takeaways as well as to Chinese families in and around Birmingham. This first Wing Yip store in Digbeth employs fewer than ten people and quickly qains a following in the Chinese community and with those interested in Chinese cooking.
1975
After five years of trading, the business moves to larger premises in nearby Coventry Street where it is to be based for the next 17 years. The new site offers car parking for customers and attracts Chinese business tenants including a travel agent.
1977
Lee Sing Yap joins his brothers Wing Yip and Sammy. Together they open a Manchester store on Faulkner Street in Manchester's China Town area which enjoys a thriving restaurant scene.
1978
A second Manchester store opens on Addington Street. This larger site based outside the city centre provides free car parking and other facilities to meet the demands of restaurant and takeaway owners.
1986
The brothers buy and develop a 2.24 acre site on Oldham Road - Manchester on the edge of the city centre. The Manchester operations are brought together at the new premises.
1988
The first London store opens in Cricklewood on Edgeware Road (A5 next to Junction 1 of the M1). Following the success of the Birmingham and Manchester stores, demand grows from customers based in and around the Greater London area for a store in the south of the country.
1992
The Birmingham business moves from Coventry Street to large modern premises in Nechells in Birmingham. The site together with its associated Wing Yip Business Centre attracts tenants such as solicitors, a doctor and accountants who use it as a base to serve the Chinese community.
1995
The Wing Yip Brand of sauces launches to enable caterers and food manufacturers to create authentic Chinese meals with the flavour profile of the finest Chinese restaurants and takeways. A retail range is also launched. The second London store opens in Croydon on Purley Way (A23). The site incorporates its own Business Centre with Chinese and Malaysian restaurants as well as other Chinese businesses. The site becomes a local landmark with its Oriental design and wins a Croydon Design Award for its architecture and Chinese Arch.
1996
The Birmingham site grows to 7 acres with the purchase and development of further land including a public road. The additional land is developed to include a large modern central distribution warehouse and an Oriental style Business Centre with a range of Chinese business including 2 fine restaurants, The Bank of East Asia, lawyers and accountants. The landmark Chinese Arch with handmade tiles from China is erected.
1998
Wing Yip and his brothers donate a 40 foot granite pagoda to the City of Birmingham in thanks to the city and its people for providing a home for them and their families and for the city’s support over the years. The pagoda which was hand-carved in China is erected at Holloway Circus close to Birmingham’s Chinese Quarter.
2003
The Manchester site is redeveloped to provide a truly Oriental setting for customers with an enlarged cash and carry store and a new Business Centre incorporating a successful Chinese restaurant, a branch of HSBC and other tenants.
2004
Wing Yip's online shopping site launches primarily to serve UK consumers and orders are received from Europe and as far away as Australia. The site includes recipes, cooking and dining information as well as cultural sections. The Wing Yip range of sauces finds favor with visitors to the BBC Good Food Show at the NEC.
2005
Wing Yip exhibit at the International Food Exhibition at Exel in London and tastings of the sauces prove extremely popular with visitors. The redevelopment of the Cricklewood site begins. The project will see the building of a new enlarged cash and carry store open to the trade and the public with underground parking, a Business Centre including a Chineses restaurant together with an office building all in an Oriental style.
Today
The Wing Yip Group now operates from four freehold sites covering 16.3 acres and employs 300 staff. The Group continues to grow continues to concentrates on its core strengths with the development of new stores and looks to further develop its reputation as the supplier of choice when it comes to Chinese and Oriental food.
The Values Behind the Business
The Wing Yip philosophy is based upon classical Chinese concepts of family and business. In particular Wing Yip believe in the need to develop long term relationships with suppliers, staff, customers and tenants for mutual benefit.
Wing Yip also seek to source authentic products from all over the world so that customers are provided with the range and quality of ingredients which enables them to prepare and serve Oriental food of the highest quality whether they’re a restaurant, food manufacturer or simply an enthusiast.
Wing Yip have over 35 years of experience in the ethnic food trade and are proud to have contributed to the importance and popularity of Chinese and Oriental food today. A visit to a local restaurant or take away is now part of many people's weekly routine and with the growth in ready meals and overseas travel, the demand for authentic Chinese, Thai and other Oriental products is set to grow. Wing Yip are well placed to succeed as the supplier of choice to this vibrant sector.
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