Family Care, a wholesale food importer, sources fresh seafood from around the world and sells to food outlets throughout Hong Kong, Macau and the Chinese mainland. Ensuring a constant supply of quality fresh seafood is critical to the company's success. According to Chief Executive Betty Chu, they have found seafood suppliers in a variety of random ways: from contacts at consulates, from media articles and in talking to fishing boat captains directly.

Recently, a seafood supplier from Chile came to Family Care's attention in an unusual way - through an introduction from the Business Matching service of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC). A Chilean supplier was looking for a partner in the region. After careful research, the HKTDC Business Matching specialists found Family Care, which had a distribution network that met the needs of the Chilean company.

"The supplier has a good variety of items, from mid-range to high-quality, which is most appropriate for our markets," said Ms Chu. "We have been importing sea urchins, abalone, scallops, crabs and all kinds of fish from them for more than six months. With its sincere attitude, favourable terms and after-sales service, the company has saved us much time, money and effort.

"We have placed seven to eight orders so far, and we are now working on the details for long-term cooperation. We are most pleased with this new connection."

Family Care's experience with the new supplier, "is just as we expected because of our confidence in the HKTDC and its introduction," Ms Chu added.

Rewritten from Next Magazine, Hong Kong, 10 January 2008.