“The company was set up as a food importer in 1993. Owing to the shareholders\u2019 personal life style, the product portfolio gradually became more involved with organic, health and functional food products,\u201d says Duncan Ko, Managing Director, Health Aims. \u201cA decision was made in 1998 to specialize in the retailing of organic and functional food products in response to good feedback from consumers. The marketing of organic food and functional food requires a set of different skills than the conventional food industry, says Ko. The health food and functional food market grew steadily since the economic downturn after 1998. It was believed people in Hong Kong started to value good health, body and spiritual well-being and a balanced life.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The market enjoyed rapid growth after the territory was hard hit by SARS in 2003. Since then, Health Aims gradually expanded the product ranges and number of shops. The popularity of consuming organic food also grew when the Hong Kong government began encouraging and supporting local farmers to practice organic farming.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n