Lee Kum Kee
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Food |
| Founded | 1888 |
| Founder | Lee Kum Sheung |
| Headquarters | Hong Kong , China |
Area served | Worldwide (over 100 countries) |
Key people | Sammy Lee (CEO, from 2022) |
| Products | Chinese and Asian sauces (oyster sauce, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, XO sauce, chili sauces) |
| Parent | Lee Kum Kee Group |
Lee Kum Kee Company Limited () is a food enterprise headquartered in Hong Kong, specializing in the production of Chinese and Asian sauces. Established in 1888 by Lee Kum Sheung in Nanshui, Guangdong, the company manufactures more than 300 varieties of sauces, such as oyster sauce,[1] soy sauce, hoisin sauce, XO sauce, chili sauces, and various cooking ingredients. In July 2017, Lee Kum Kee Group completed the acquisition of London's iconic Walkie-Talkie skyscraper for £1.3 billion, setting a new record for a single-building transaction in the UK.[2]
History
Operating out of Hong Kong, Lee Kum Kee exports its products to over 100 countries across regions including China, North America, Europe, Southeast Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. Its primary brand enjoys widespread recognition among Chinese consumers worldwide. The company received the Most Popular Brand On-line accolade at the 2004 Hong Kong Top Brand Awards.
The enterprise was founded by Lee Kum Sheung (), who originally ran a modest eatery in Nanshui specializing in cooked oysters.[3] In 1888, Lee Kum Kee introduced its oyster sauce to the market, a fundamental condiment in Cantonese culinary tradition. The business has remained under family ownership since its inception.
From 1902 until 1932, the company’s headquarters were situated in Macau before moving to Hong Kong. In 1991, it inaugurated a manufacturing facility in City of Industry, California. Additional production plants are located in Xinhui—the largest site covering 1.33 million square meters—as well as Huangpu, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Los Angeles.[4]
In April 2016, the Lee Kum Kee family contributed $21 million to establish the Lee Kum Sheung Center for Health and Happiness at Harvard University, aimed at promoting interdisciplinary research into the connections between health and well-being.[5]
As of 2019, the Lee family’s net worth was estimated to be approximately $15 billion.[6]
Food safety concerns
Between 2000 and 2001, the UK's Food Standards Agency (FSA) identified potential carcinogenic substances, specifically 3-MCPD and 1,3-dichloropropanol (1,3-DCP), in several sauces originating from China and Southeast Asia, including products from Lee Kum Kee. The detected levels significantly surpassed the safety thresholds established by UK and EU regulations. This issue was prevalent across the industry and not confined to Lee Kum Kee alone. The results were disclosed in a report released in June 2001.
Lee Kum Kee clarified that the implicated items were produced before 1999, prior to the implementation of enhanced manufacturing techniques that successfully removed DCP from their sauces. The company emphasized that within a day of the report's publication, the FSA issued a statement exonerating Lee Kum Kee, confirming that "None of the products sampled from major retail chains posed any safety concern" and affirming there was no justification for avoiding Chinese cuisine. Furthermore, Hong Kong’s Food and Environmental Hygiene Department verified that all Lee Kum Kee products available locally complied with safety regulations.
In July 2001, Lee Kum Kee submitted documentation to the FSA demonstrating that its soy sauce imports adhered to the EU’s proposed limits for 3-MCPD, underscoring its dedication to food safety standards and regulatory adherence.
Lee Kum Kee Group
The Lee Kum Kee Group (LKK Group) oversees all business ventures related to LKK beyond its sauce production, encompassing LKK Health Products, Happiness Capital, as well as a philanthropic foundation.
Leadership of the group
- Lee Kum-sheung (1888–1920)
- Lee Shiu-nan (1920–1972)
- Lee Man-tat (1972–2021)
- Sammy Lee (From 2022)
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