|
TheBuzz Erika Engle |
Next stop, Beijing
Hawaii and the mainland are
not enough territory for local
icon L&L Drive-InnWelcomed by the State Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism, a delegation of 36 Chinese government officials and business people met with state officials yesterday to pursue their interest in U.S. franchises.
One that has piqued their interest is L&L Hawaiian Barbecue, which until now has been expanding eastward, on the mainland.
Kai Gang Meng, general manager of Beijing Sunbelt Consulting Corp., tried out food yesterday at the L&L Drive-Inn at the Ward Entertainment Center. He was one of 36 Chinese business people in town to consider L&L's desire to expand to mainland China.
L&L co-founder Eddie Flores traveled to Beijing six months ago and made some contacts, hence his participation in yesterday's event.Architectural firm Wimberly, Allison, Tongg & Goo, a Hawaii company that has developed commercial and residential projects around the world, also made a presentation to the Chinese delegation.
"DBEDT did a tremendous job facilitating the whole thing," Flores said.
Flores led the delegation to the state Capitol executive chambers where Lt. Gov. Duke Aiona greeted and posed for pictures with them.
With a Mandarin interpreter, Flores addressed the crowd and introduced Aiona, who was applauded upon entering the room.
He welcomed members to Hawaii, expressing his hope that while the visitors from afar would enjoy the natural beauty Hawaii has to offer, they also would understand that "Hawaii is open for business," and to observe the multicultural, heavily Asian population of the islands.
Aiona encouraged the business leaders to take a look at the economy, past, present, "and where it's going to be in the future." He also encouraged the delegation to look at the companies that have been investing in the islands. "This is a new administration," he told them. He asked the interpreter to let the delegates know, "We welcome them and want to do business with them, and if there is any way this administration can work with them, to please ask."
DBEDT Director Ted Liu was introduced to the delegates and addressed them in Mandarin. Your columnist is not fluent, but Liu was applauded enthusiastically following his remarks.
As the group was escorted to the governor's office, Kai Gang Meng, general manager of Beijing Sunbelt Consulting Corp., explained that the delegation had been to the International Franchise Expo in Wash., D.C. Contracts were signed with American Leak Detection and Precision Tune Auto Care. He expressed hope that a contract could also be signed with L&L. The troops were treated to L&L sampling at DBEDT and a site-visit to L&L in the Victoria Ward centers following the photo op with Aiona.
"They really enjoyed it. They said it was the best food they ever tasted during the whole trip," Flores said.
Opportunities for the plate lunch empire and other local companies may spread further, as a Hawaii trade mission will be heading to Shanghai in July, Flores said.
In 1998, when L&L Drive-Inn founders Kwock Yum "Johnson" Kam and Flores received a "Small Business Person of the Year" award from the U.S. Small Business Administration, there were 32 Hawaii restaurants, many of them run by franchisees. The company began its mainland expansion the following year and there are now 90 restaurants across the country with a new location to open this year near New York City's Times Square. Flores will execute the lease today.
"If all goes well, the first L&L in China could be open in two years," according to Eva Kam, director of West Coast operations and daughter of founder Johnson Kam.
See the Columnists section for some past articles.
Erika Engle is a reporter with the Star-Bulletin. Call 529-4302, fax 529-4750 or write to Erika Engle, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210, Honolulu, HI 96813. She can also be reached at: eengle@starbulletin.com
