8th June, 2000
Octopus Service Now Available in
Vitaland Tuck Shops
For the first time, students in Hong Kong are able to
use the Octopus card to buy snacks and beverages during
recess in tuck shops in schools. The new service has
been jointly introduced by school tuck shop operator
Vitaland Services Ltd. and Creative Star Limited, the
company which operates the Octopus. Vitaland, a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Vitasoy International Holdings Ltd., runs
tuck shops in more than 100 schools in Hong Kong.
With the introduction of the new service, school tuck
shops became one of the first applications of the Octopus
card outside of the transportation industry.
Starting with Wah Yan College in Kowloon earlier this
month, the service will be introduced in phases to eventually
provide more than 100,000 students and teachers with
the convenience of not having to handle coins and change
when buying from tuck shops in schools. As the new service
will speed up transactions, instead of waiting in queues
to make their purchases, students will have more time
to relax.
"We expect students to catch on quickly in using
the service as most, if not all, already use the card
for paying transportation fares every day. Also, they
will not need to bring so much cash with them to school,"
said Mr. Fransis Kong, Managing Director of Vitasoy
International Holdings Ltd.
The new service can help improve efficiency of tuck
shop operation. Tuck shops will be able to handle more
traffic, meaning more students and teachers can use
the tuck shops during peak hours, and shopkeepers will
not be required to handle cash, and yet transactions
can be conducted more accurately.
Mr. Kong said the service promises obvious benefits
for everybody concerned -- schools, students and teachers
and Vitaland who operates the tuck shops.
Facilities would be available for students and teachers
to add value onto their Octopus cards, he added.
Mr. Rob Noble, Chief Executive Officer of Creative Star
Limited, said: "We are delighted to be able to
work with Vitaland to introduce the Octopus service
to schools in Hong Kong. With this partnership, we have
reached another milestone in our on-going efforts to
promote the use of Octopus not only in transport but
also in other suitable business as well. It is our hope
that soon more schools in Hong Kong will join in so
that more students and teachers will be able to appreciate
the many benefits of the service."
Vitaland has been operating the school tuck shop business
since 1991 after taking over this line of business originally
run by Vitasoy International. It aims to provide wholesome
and nutritious food and beverages in a hygienic environment
and quality service that meets the requirements of school
administrators and students.
Other than schools, Vitaland will also serve different
associations and government organizations. Vitasoy International
has engaged in the operation of school tuck shop business
for over 30 years.
The Octopus was launched in September 1997. To date,
more than 6.4 million cards are in circulation, accounting
for 4.2 million transactions per day. After becoming
a Deposit Taking Company in April, Creative Star Limited
is now extending its service to other low-value and
high-volume transaction businesses but its core focus
will remain in public transportation.
********
Octopus service is now available in Vitaland tuck shops.
Mr. Fransis Kong ( left ), Managing Director of Vitasoy
International Holdings Ltd. and Mr. Rob Noble ( right
), Chief Executive Officer of Creative Star Limited
are pictured at the launching ceremony of the service.
-- END --
For further information,
please contact Public Relations Department, Vitasoy
International Holdings Ltd., at tel: 2468 9644 or e-mail
:
pubrel@vitasoy.com
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