Her bakery is called 33 Cubread, which specialises in Japanese-style toast. Its soft opening was in October 2024. Photo: Natalie Tong/Instagram
After leaving TVB in 2022, Hong Kong actress Natalie Tong pursued various new ventures, including stepping into the food industry.
Late last year, the 43-year-old star opened a 65 sq m bakery specialising in Japanese-style toasts and croissants called 33 Cubread.
Located in the bustling Causeway Bay district in Hong Kong with a monthly rent of HKD60,000 (RM34,192), the bakery quickly gained traction thanks to Tong taking a hands-on approach.
This direct involvement – with her often baking and personally serving customers – combined with online buzz, led to overwhelming demand.
At its peak, the bakery had to double its daily production from 500 to 1,000 items, yet products still sold out rapidly.
To manage the rush, each customer was limited to five loaves, and a maximum of four groups were allowed inside at a time, reported HK01.
Amid her bakery’s initial success, Tong reportedly moved from Seaview Garden to the upscale 185 sq m Branksome Grande residence at Mid-Levels, fuelling speculation about her growing wealth.
Some netizens questioned whether the bakery alone could be generating such substantial profits.
However, the hype around the bakery seems to have faded.
Recent visitors noted a stark contrast from the store’s early days, with no long queues in sight.
One customer shared online, as translated by JayneStars.com: "There were no queues like I expected. Maybe it’s just the weather, or maybe I was lucky."
Additionally, some netizens have criticised the bakery’s pricing, with one calling the bread "ridiculously expensive".
"Over HKD50 (RM28.50) for a square loaf? No wonder there’s no queue," a comment read.
Others pointed out that while Hong Kong consumers enjoy chasing trends, they are just as quick to move on to more practical alternatives.
