Editing Wing Yip

{{Short description|Chinese supermarket chain in the United Kingdom}}
{{Multiple issues|{{more citations needed|date=March 2018}}
{{tone|date=March 2018}}}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2017}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Wing Yip Group
| image = Wing Yip, wholesaler of Chinese foodstuffs besides the A23 - geograph.org.uk - 1733978.jpg
| image_caption = Entrance to the [[Croydon]] superstore
| logo = 
| type = Private company
| foundation = [[Birmingham]], England (1970)
| location = Birmingham, England
| key_people = [[Woon Wing Yip]] (Chairman)
| industry = Wholesale, export and real estate
| products = Chinese groceries
| revenue = {{gain}} [[GBP|£]]104.4&nbsp;million (2014)
| operating_income = 
| net_income = {{gain}} £6.8&nbsp;million
| num_employees = 300+<ref name="history">{{cite web|url=http://www.wingyip.com/page-521.html|title=About Wing Yip: Company History|access-date=11 July 2006}}</ref>
| parent = 
| subsid = W Wing Yip & Brothers Trading Group Ltd.<br>W Wing Yip & Brothers Property and Investments Ltd.
| homepage = {{url|wingyip.com}}
| footnotes = 
| module = {{Chinese|child=yes
|t=榮業行
|s=荣业行
|p=róng yè háng
|y=wìhng yihp hòhng}}
}}
'''Wing Yip''' is a [[Asian supermarket|Chinese supermarket]] chain founded by [[Woon Wing Yip]] in [[England]] in 1970.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Cloake |first=Felicity |date=2017-01-27 |title=How Wing Yip became Britain’s biggest Chinese supermarket |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/jan/27/wing-yip-britains-biggest-chinese-supermarket-new-year |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230730060240/https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/jan/27/wing-yip-britains-biggest-chinese-supermarket-new-year |archive-date=July 30, 2023 |access-date=2024-05-29 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> The original [[Birmingham]] store also serves as its headquarters and national distribution centre. The company has [[Big-box store|superstore]] branches in [[Manchester]], [[Croydon]] and [[Cricklewood]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Our stores |url=https://www.wingyip.com/our-stores/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200910195759/https://www.wingyip.com/our-stores/ |archive-date=10 September 2020 |website=Wing Yip}}</ref>

In addition, the company has expanded into wholesale and export (international trade) and real estate development and management by situating its stores within larger commercial centres.<ref>{{cite web|author=Leyland, Adam|url=http://www.realbusiness.co.uk/TIMPO/Ill-have-what-Wing-Yip-is-having/1559.aspx|archive-url=https://archive.today/20100225015459/http://www.realbusiness.co.uk/TIMPO/Ill-have-what-Wing-Yip-is-having/1559.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=2010-02-25|title=Interview: I'll have what Wing Yip is having|publisher=Real Business Online|access-date=26 March 2007}}</ref> Its [[tofu]]-based [[meat substitutes]] have been popular due to [[vegan]] diets since the 2010s.<ref>{{cite web |last=Mitsu |date=May 7, 2011 |title=Wing Yip, Staples Corner Part 2 |url=http://www.tohappyvegans.com/2011/05/07/wing-yip-staples-corner-part-2/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027050141/http://www.tohappyvegans.com/2011/05/07/wing-yip-staples-corner-part-2/ |archive-date=27 October 2020 |website=To Happy Vegans}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> 

==Founder==
The founder, [[Woon Wing Yip]], was a [[Hakka]] born in [[Dongguan|Dongguan County]], [[Guangdong]], [[China]], in 1937. He arrived in the United Kingdom from [[Hong Kong]] in 1959 by boat with {{Currency|2|GBP}}. He later opened a restaurant in a former tea shop in [[Clacton-on-Sea]], followed by three restaurants and two takeaways in the [[East Anglia]] region. In 1968, he was joined by his brother, Sammy Yap. In 1970, Wing Yip and Sammy opened a specialist Chinese grocery in [[Digbeth]], [[Birmingham]].

In 1977, Lee Sing Yap joined Wing Yip and Sammy. Together, they open a [[Manchester]] store on Faulkner Street, and a second Manchester store opens on Addington Street in 1978. In 1996, the Birmingham site grew to {{convert|7|acre|ha}} with the purchase and development of further land, including a public road. In 1998, Wing Yip and his brothers donated a {{convert|40|ft|m|adj=on}} granite pagoda to the [[Birmingham|City of Birmingham]].

Wing Yip's online shopping site was launched in 2004; it includes recipes, cooking and dining information.<ref name="history" /> It primarily served UK consumers. Wing Yip stocks over 4,500 products in its stores. 

In 2005, Wing Yip was exhibited at the International Food Exhibition in London.

The Wing Yip Group operates from four freehold sites covering {{convert|16.3|acre|ha}} and employs around 300 staff.

==Awards==

* 2006 – Wing Yip was the Winner of The Lord Chan Award for Outstanding Individual.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wing Yip on Visible Chinese |url=http://www.visiblechinese.com/website/profile/wing_yip/ |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090903133419/http://www.visiblechinese.com/website/profile/wing_yip/ |archive-date=3 September 2009 |access-date=19 May 2009}}</ref>
* April 2008 – Wing Yip (Manchester) Ltd. achieved North West Business of the Year in the Ethnic Minority Business Forum Awards.<ref name="wingyip.com">{{Cite web |title=Wing Yip - Wing Yip News |url=http://www.wingyip.com/news.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111064507/http://www.wingyip.com/news.html |archive-date=11 November 2013 |access-date=19 May 2009}}</ref>
* June 2005 – Tony Ritson, Information Technology Manager for Wing Yip, wins Best Information Security Manager 2005 from ''[[Haymarket Media Group|SC Magazine]]''.<ref name="wingyip.com" />
* September 2008 – Birmingham City University presented Wing Yip with an honorary doctorate.
* October 2008 – The Mai Siam range achieved Gold Stars at the [[Guild of Fine Food|Great Taste Awards]].
* 2008 – Wing Yip was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from [[Birmingham City University]].
* 2010 – Wing Yip was awarded the Lifetime Achievement.{{Specify|date=May 2024}}
* 2012 – Wing Yip was awarded an Honorary Degree from [[Aston University]].

==See also==
* [[Asian supermarket]]
* [[Oseyo]]
* [[H Mart]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.wingyip.com/ Official website]

[[Category:Supermarkets of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Companies based in Birmingham, West Midlands]]
[[Category:British companies established in 1970]]
[[Category:Retail companies established in 1970]]
[[Category:Chinese community in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Retail companies of the United Kingdom]]