In 2023, Hong Kong actress Natalie Tong turned her lifelong dream into reality by opening her own bakery in the heart of Causeway Bay.
Nestled in one of the city’s busiest districts, the 65 sq m shop quickly became a hotspot, with crowds lining up to sample Tong’s signature Japanese-style toasts and croissants.
At its peak, the demand was so overwhelming that goods would sell out before 4pm.
Last month, however, multiple reports claimed that the initial hype around the bakery had died down as the long queues that once snaked the bakery were gone.
Many netizens also pointed out that while Hong Kong consumers enjoy chasing trends, they're just as quick to move on to other alternatives.
In response to claims of the bakery’s popularity fading, Tong’s good friend, fellow actress Elena Kong, said the long queues back then were largely due to a staff shortage.
“There were fewer products available for sale back then. Now that more staff have been hired, there are naturally more goods, making it easier for people to get what they want, so there’s no need to queue,” she said.
The 53-year-old also quashed talks of the bakery being empty, adding: “It’s really just a matter of supply and demand.”
Tong, 43, stepped into the food industry in 2022 after leaving TVB.
The actress, known for her roles in dramas such as A Fistful Of Stances (2010) and My Unfair Lady (2017), previously told Hong Kong media that she would be focusing on stage plays and screenwriting moving forward.
