Chuan Lian Group 2007
One of Taiwan’s most dynamic retailers, the Chuan Lian Corporation, chose Sydney to reward its top performing store managers for their efforts in positioning the company as market leader in its category.
While financial services and real estate companies from Taiwan have used Australian destinations for their events, this was the first time a Taiwanese retailer has brought key stakeholders to Australian shores.
In just nine years, the Chuan Lian supermarket group has grown from 66 to 411 stores, generating more than $1 billion a year in revenue. The group is positioned as the most accessible channel for daily necessities in Taiwan and the management plans to lift the company’s presence to 500 stores in the near future. The store sizes range from 200-500sq metres.
“As soon as our group became profitable four years ago, we launched an incentive program that would see our store managers from our top supermarkets join their colleagues on an all-expenses paid trip offshore,” says Andy Huang, Executive President of the Chuan Lian Corporation.
Previous company trips were to Japan and China and for many of the 525 store managers this was their first visit to a western style country. Sydney turned on spectacular blue skies for the duration, which saw three waves of guests arriving for their six night program of relaxation and entertainment.
The Hilton Sydney was the host venue for the group and the scene of a lavish gala dinner where the company president, Mr Lin Ming Hsuing, had a chance to thank his mainly youthful (and female) managers for their contribution to the success the company is currently enjoying. An Australian spirit prevailed with indigenous dance and didgeridoo performances.
The seventh lunar month (July) is given over to the Ghost Festival in Taiwan when offerings are made to ancestors and spirits and this is a peak trading period for the Chuan Lian stores. The managers of the most profitable stores over this period become eligible to join the company’s annual incentive.
Mr Huang says Sydney had proved an excellent choice.
“Our people have just loved being here. Many of them have helped clear the shelves of the local Woolworths supermarket near the hotel. They have to take souvenirs and gifts to their families and supermarket workers, so they’ve been stocking up in a big way. They also get a chance to see how supermarkets operate in other countries.”
The visitors had a chance to dine in some of Sydney’s many Chinese restaurants; enjoy the sights and sounds of Darling Harbour; take Sydney Harbour cruises and have a flutter at the Star City Casino.
They also had the chance to visit the New South Wales wine country in the Hunter Valley and the Blue Mountains west of Sydney where they could experience the Australian bush in all its glory.
“For most of our people, this has been a very new experience, but they have really enjoyed themselves. We’ve had knowledgeable guides and some of our people have taken themselves off to local bars to enjoy the spirit of the big Australian football matches,” says Andy Huang.
The Head of Tourism Events for Tourism Australia, Joyce DiMascio, was on hand at the gala dinner to welcome the guests on behalf of Australia and exchange gifts. She thanked them for choosing Australia and expressed the hope they would one day return to with friends and family to see more of the country. A toast was drunk to mutual friendship.