Hong Kong Catering Industry Challenges and Precautions for Suppliers and Engineering Firms

Industry Challenges

Hong Kong’s catering industry is grappling with severe challenges in 2025, driven by economic downturns, declining local spending, and rising operational costs. The closure of numerous restaurants has created a ripple effect, impacting suppliers, employees, and engineering firms involved in restaurant fit-outs and renovations. Recent cases illustrate the crisis:

• Major Restaurant Group Collapse: In June 2025, a prominent restaurant group, operating over 20 brands for more than three decades, shuttered nine locations, leaving approximately 120 employees unpaid. The group owes HK$5 million in wages, severance, and Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) contributions. Over 30 workers sought Labour Department assistance, while suppliers and engineering firms reported unpaid invoices for recent renovation projects, including kitchen upgrades and interior fit-outs.
• Congee Chain Closure: In May 2025, a well-established congee chain with seven branches ceased operations, citing insurmountable financial difficulties. This closure affected over 100 employees, including 20 mainland workers, who are owed HK$8 million in wages and face eviction from company dormitories. Engineering contractors involved in recent store renovations reported unpaid bills totaling HK$1.5 million for electrical and plumbing work.
• Engineering Payment Defaults: The catering sector’s financial strain has significantly impacted engineering and construction firms. Restaurants, struggling with cash flow, frequently default on payments for renovation projects, equipment installations, and fit-out works. For instance, a Causeway Bay eatery owes HK$2.3 million to an engineering firm for a 2025 kitchen overhaul, while a Tsim Sha Tsui chain defaulted on HK$1.8 million for HVAC installations. Such defaults are increasingly prevalent, with industry reports indicating a 30% rise in unpaid engineering contracts in the catering sector over the past year.
• Closure Wave and Economic Pressures: The Hong Kong Federation of Restaurants and Related Trades estimates 300 eateries close monthly, outpacing new openings. This is driven by residents spending in mainland China, reducing local patronage. Hong Kong’s economy is projected to contract by 1.5% by early 2026, further straining restaurant cash flows and increasing defaults on supplier and engineering payments.

These incidents highlight the urgent need for suppliers and engineering firms to act swiftly to recover debts and protect their financial interests.

Advice for Suppliers and Engineering Firms

Suppliers and engineering firms servicing Hong Kong’s catering industry must adopt proactive strategies to mitigate risks in this volatile market. Early debt recovery is critical to minimizing losses, especially for engineering firms facing high upfront costs for materials and labor. Key recommendations include:

• Conduct Thorough Risk Assessments: Before extending credit or signing contracts, assess the financial stability of restaurants and their operators. Investigate payment histories, recent closures, or legal disputes. Reputable debt collection agencies offer free risk assessments to identify high-risk clients, such as those with a history of defaulting on engineering or supplier payments.
• Act Promptly on Overdue Payments: Engage professional debt collection services or legal counsel at the first sign of payment delays. Early intervention is vital for recovering engineering debts (e.g., unpaid invoices for renovations, equipment installations, or fit-outs) and supplier receivables. Swift action increases recovery chances before restaurants enter insolvency or assets are depleted.
• Monitor Payment Patterns Rigorously: Implement systems to track payment behaviors in real-time and flag overdue accounts immediately. Engineering firms should establish milestone-based payment schedules for projects like kitchen or interior fit-outs to reduce exposure. Suppliers should negotiate shorter credit terms and monitor invoice aging to prevent debt accumulation.
• Secure Contracts with Protective Clauses: Engineering firms should include contractual clauses requiring progress payments and retaining ownership of installed materials (e.g., kitchen equipment, HVAC systems) until full payment is received. Suppliers can protect themselves by requiring deposits or limiting credit for high-risk clients, such as newly opened or financially strained eateries.
• Leverage Legal and Professional Support: Contact experienced debt recovery agencies to navigate complex cases, such as those involving insolvent businesses or absconded owners. Legal professionals can assist in filing claims under Hong Kong’s Bankruptcy Ordinance or pursuing winding-up petitions to prioritize creditor claims, particularly for engineering firms owed significant sums for completed projects.

Why Early Debt Recovery is Critical

The collapse of major restaurant groups and chains demonstrates how quickly financial distress can escalate, leaving creditors with limited recourse. Engineering firms are particularly vulnerable due to the high costs of materials and labor invested in projects like restaurant renovations. For example, unpaid engineering debts often involve complex installations that cannot be reclaimed, making early recovery essential. Delayed claims risk being deprioritized in insolvency proceedings, where unsecured creditors typically recover less than 20% of owed amounts. Suppliers and engineering firms that act promptly are better positioned to secure funds and maintain operational stability.

Take Action Now

The catering industry’s crisis, coupled with widespread payment defaults, demands immediate action from suppliers and engineering firms. Protect your business by prioritizing early debt recovery and robust risk management. For expert debt recovery services or to inquire about risk assessments, contact our team today. We specialize in recovering supplier invoices and engineering debts, ensuring your financial interests are safeguarded. Reach out now to secure your company’s future.

香港餐飲業挑戰與供應商及工程公司應對措施

行業挑戰

2025年，香港餐飲業正面臨嚴峻挑戰，經濟衰退、本地消費減少及營運成本上升導致餐廳倒閉潮。此危機不僅影響供應商及員工，亦波及參與餐廳裝修及設備工程的工程公司。近期案例凸顯危機的嚴重性：

大型餐飲集團倒閉：2025年6月，一家經營超過20個品牌、擁有三十多年歷史的餐飲集團關閉九家分店，影響約120名員工，拖欠500萬港元的工資、遣散費及強制性公積金（MPF）供款。逾30名工人向勞工處求助，而供應商及工程公司亦報告近期裝修項目（如廚房升級及室內裝修）的未付賬單。

粥品連鎖結業：2025年5月，一家擁有七家分店的知名粥品連鎖店因財務困難關閉所有門店。此舉影響逾100名員工（包括20名內地工人），拖欠800萬港元工資，並導致員工面臨公司宿舍驅逐。參與近期分店裝修的工程承包商報告拖欠150萬港元的電氣及管道工程款。

工程款項拖欠：餐飲業的財務壓力對工程及建築公司造成重大影響。許多餐廳因現金流問題，拖欠裝修項目、設備安裝及店面翻新工程的款項。例如，銅鑼灣一家餐廳拖欠2025年廚房翻新工程230萬港元，而尖沙咀一家連鎖店拖欠暖通空調系統安裝費180萬港元。行業報告顯示，過去一年餐飲業未付工程合同增加30%，拖欠問題日益普遍。

倒閉潮與經濟壓力：香港餐飲聯業協會估計，每月約300家餐廳結業，遠超新開業數量。居民前往內地消費減少本地光顧，加劇餐廳現金流壓力。香港經濟預計於2026年初收縮1.5%，進一步增加對供應商及工程款項的拖欠風險。

這些事件顯示，供應商及工程公司需迅速採取行動，以追收債務並保護財務利益。

供應商及工程公司建議

供應商及為香港餐飲業提供服務的工程公司必須採取積極策略，以應對市場波動帶來的風險。及早追收債務對減少損失至關重要，尤其是工程公司因項目涉及高昂材料及勞工成本。以下是主要建議：

進行全面風險評估：在提供賒賬或簽訂合同前，徹底評估餐廳及其經營者的財務狀況。調查付款歷史、近期結業記錄或法律糾紛。信譽良好的債務追收機構提供免費風險評估，可識別高風險客戶，如有拖欠工程款或供應款記錄的餐廳。

迅速處理逾期付款：一旦發現付款延遲，立即聘請專業債務追收服務或法律顧問。及早介入對追收工程款（如裝修、設備安裝或店面翻新欠款）及供應商應收賬款至關重要。迅速行動可在餐廳破產或資產耗盡前提高回收機會。

嚴格監控付款模式：建立實時追蹤付款行為的系統，立即標記逾期賬戶。工程公司應為廚房或室內裝修等項目設定分階段付款計劃，以降低風險。供應商應協商較短的賒賬期限，並監控發票老化，防止債務累積。

確保合同具保護條款：工程公司應在合同中加入分階段付款條款，並保留安裝材料（如廚房設備、暖通系統）的所有權，直至全額付款。供應商可通過要求訂金或限制高風險客戶的賒賬額度來保護自身，如新開業或財務緊張的餐廳。

尋求法律及專業支援：聯繫經驗豐富的債務追收機構，處理涉及破產企業或潛逃東主的複雜案件。法律專業人士可協助根據香港《破產條例》提交索賠，或提出清盤呈請，以優先保障債權人權益，特別是工程公司涉及大額未付項目款項。

為何及早追收債務至關重要

大型餐飲集團及連鎖店的倒閉顯示，財務困境可迅速惡化，令債權人幾乎無從追討。工程公司尤其脆弱，因裝修項目涉及高額材料及勞工成本，且已安裝的設備難以收回。例如，工程欠款通常涉及無法拆卸的複雜安裝，及早追收對減少損失至關重要。延遲索賠在破產程序中可能被降級優先權，無擔保債權人通常僅能收回不到20%的欠款。及早行動的供應商及工程公司更能有效收回款項，維持營運穩定。

立即採取行動

餐飲業危機及廣泛的付款拖欠問題要求供應商及工程公司立即採取行動。通過優先追收債務及加強風險管理，保護您的業務免受損失。如需專業債務追收服務或查詢風險評估，請立即聯繫我們的專業團隊。我們專注於追收供應商發票及工程欠款，確保您的財務利益得到保障。立即聯繫，確保您的公司未來穩定。