About one-quarter of Aucklanders belong to the Asian community and, in the next decade, the population is set to grow by 30 percent. As a result, Kiwis are growing an appetite for Asian food, being attracted to Chinese-owned supermarkets by lower prices and a desire to experiment with exotic flavours. Demand for Asian ingredients has never been this high, according to recent research by Massey University. Tai Ping 911, a Chinese supermarket on Dominion Road, has seen its revenues increase by 10 percent each year since its establishment four years ago. According to owner Henry Kong, up to 1200 customers visit the store on a weekday and 5000 on the weekend, 20 percent of which are non-Asian Kiwis. This prompted Kong to sell a wider product range, including milk.
GROWING APPETITE FOR ASIAN FOOD
