With air travel now commonplace, most of us are familiar with airline food. But how many people know that many years ago, the main product of China’s first joint venture was inflight meals? And who was it who made this breakthrough development in business in China? Meet renowned Hong Kong businesswoman Annie S.C. Wu — the creator of Beijing Air Catering Co., Ltd. and a remarkable and rare talent in the business world.
However, it should be made clear at the outset that An- nie Wu is much more than a successful businesswoman, extraordinary though that story is. Her career has blossomed in many fields, and includes a distinguished record of dedicated service to the community both in Hong Kong and the mainland. Among her many official capacities, she is a member of the standing committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, vice-chairman of the World Trade Centers Association(WTCA), and vice-chairperson of the Hong Kong Federation of Women.
Always fond of challenges
Annie Wu was born in Hong Kong with a silver spoon in her mouth: her father was Honorary Chairman and co-founder of the Maxim’s Group food giant. But despite this privileged background, Annie Wu was not at all arrogant, unlike many spoiled daughters of the rich, and her early years were not as cosy as could be imagined.
Coming from a family environment steeped in traditional Chinese values, Annie Wu stood out from others in her age group. For example, she did not like being waited on hand and foot. On the contrary, she preferred to handle herself the many challenges that cropped up during her life. This self-reliance gave her an in-depth understanding of those problems and the ability to handle them well. As she said, her father did not achieve success overnight. “My father was quite aware that it was difficult to live in the world, so he didn’t like to see us showing ourselves off,” she said.
When she was 17, she chose to study in Britain, and then furthered her education in the U.S., where she took part-time jobs after class and seized every opportunity to learn about the management of catering services and supermarkets. She did well at college, earning a Full A in all her subjects and completed her four-year study period in just two and a half years. Her excellence earned her an “Outstanding Student”award, the first Chinese to receive such an accolade.
After completing her studies, she went directly to the cafeteria operated by her father at Hong Kong Pavilion in the World Expo 1970 in Osaka, Japan, where she started work as a waitress.“This was my first job after graduation, and that experience influenced my whole life,” she said.
Every day she was the first to arrive at the cafeteria, where she washed tables, fetched dishes and did the accounts. This work experience lasted half a year. Every evening, she chose a National Pavilion to visit, and thereby gained a wealth of managerial knowhow outside the catering business.
Returning to Hong Kong, she became an assistant in her father’s restaurant business, gradually developing her management capabilities.
“She has such a strong personality that once she has set a goal for herself, there is no stopping her. She goes ahead without hesitating and never looks back. This is not like me, nor my wife. This is her own personality,” said her father happily.
Breakthrough – first joint venture
It was during the exciting pioneering time of China’s opening up to the world that the mainland entered Annie Wu’s life. In the late 1970s, she and others from the Hong Kong business community were invited to visit the mainland by the Xinhua News Agency’s Hong Kong Branch.
During a trip lasting more than ten days, she visited Shenzhen, Guang- zhou, Guiyang and Chengdu, among other cities, covering nearly half of China. While on the train from Wuhan to Guangzhou on her way back to Hong Kong, she heard a piece of news that made her determined to invest in the mainland and changed her life for ever.
That breaking news on the train radio was the voice of Deng Xiaoping, the chief architect of China’s groundbreaking reforms, saying: “China will be open to the outside, and we welcome foreign investment.” These words gave Annie Wu the assurance she needed to pursue her business ambitions.
“At that time, as a member of the WTCA, I was eager to do something for China’s economic development,” she said.
Annie Wu’s family business was well-known for its Western-style cuisine, so it was natural that the first investment project she could think of was a catering service. She also remembered her first flight on a Chinese aircraft. She noticed that while the stewardesses showed plenty of enthusiasm in their work, the in-flight meals were of poor quality and the service levels were woefully low. The food was so cold it was impossible to swallow and the stewardesses resorted to handing out hot water flasks to passengers.
Then and there she decided to invest in the mainland’s food industry and help the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), the body running China’s airline industry, to improve its in-flight meals.
As soon as she was back in Hong Kong, she put her idea to her father, who immediately gave his support.
This landmark decision was made just as non-stop flights between China and the U.S. were starting and there was an urgent need for an aviation catering service.
Annie Wu’s persistence and sincerity impressed the CAAC, which decided to discuss further details with her about a cooperative venture.
However, negotiations did not proceed smoothly. At that time, Hong Kong was still under colonial rule and the mainland government was very wary of cooperating with foreigners. It was a case of “cross the river by feeling the stones”.
The negotiations dragged on from summer to autumn. Some of Annie Wu’s friends did not understand why she wanted to invest in the mainland. She was well aware of their concerns, knowing full well that at this early stage of China’s economic reforms there was no precedent for forming a joint venture, and the future was full of uncertainties. “It was normal for foreign businessmen to worry about the risks involved,” she said.
But Annie Wu and her father were optimistic. The CAAC was opening international routes on which there had to be meals of international standard. Annie Wu flew back and forth between Hong Kong and Beijing determined to bring this project to fruition.
At last, with the help of Deng Xiaoping, the project was agreed during a September morning in 1979. Prior to the approval of the formal contract, father and daughter Wu had to invest HK$5 million in equipment imported from overseas and installed in Beijing.
May 3, 1980, was a momentous day. The first joint venture enterprise in China — Beijing Air Catering Co., Ltd. — was formed, with the registration number 001, at the State Administration for Industry and Commerce.
The establishment of the company not only met the food production requirements of the CAAC, it opened the door to foreign investment in China and the setting up of foreign-funded enterprises. It was indeed a turning point of immense magnitude.
Now, after more than 30 years of development, the company delivers catering services to more than 50 domestic and international airlines. Every day, it provides more than 60,000 meals, and its hot and cold dishes number more than 2,500. The company is still expanding, with a new premises opened recently.
Annie Wu is justly proud that the company still keeps much of its market share, thanks to its excellent services and despite fierce competition.
To date, the company has had no issue involving food safety. To guarantee safety, the food is imported and German-made dish-washing equipment has been introduced.
During the financial tsunami, this remarkable businesswoman used the spare time and capacity that became available to upgrade staff training and raise product competitiveness in order to face up to greater challenges that inevitably lay ahead.
Forty-year-old Expo dream comes true
Forty years ago, Annie Wu’s trip to the Osaka World Expo was an unforgettable experience. As she viewed the new technologies and products on show, her mind was filled with questions. When can we do as well as them? When can we Chinese hold a World Expo?
The Osaka World Expo not only made a lasting impression, it broadened her vision as it made her realise what a positive impact such an exhibition, with its huge number of visitors, could have. So as she began her investment in China, she a l w a y s h a d the dream of a Chinese Expo.
That dream finally came true, after a wait of 40 years, with the Shanghai World Expo 2010. But the question then arose: how could she fully realise her dream? In the autumn of 2007, she wrote to the headquarters of WTCA, inviting its members to join the Expo. After nearly nine months of hard work, the final participation contract was signed. WTCA would attend the Expo – the first time it has taken part in such an exhibition – and Annie Wu would be the Pavilion Director of the WTCA pavilion.
In its impressive 2,000-squaremetre Expo 2010 pavilion, the WTCA took the theme of how trade contributes to world peace and stability. In addition, forums and speeches were organised on a wide variety of topical issues, including environmental protection, science, technology and fashion. The pavilion also showcased the WTCA’s electronic business technologies, trade information network, trade services and education programmes as well as how the Association promotes exchange and cooperation among cities via trade.
During the six months of the Expo, the WTCA organized six international forums on special topics, 31 special exhibitions, and a series of theme weeks that focused on food safety, green living, transportation & logistics, women leadership as well as finance and investment.
Around 1.5 million visitors came to the pavilion, far more than the 1 million that Annie Wu and her colleagues had predicted. “In order to attract more visitors, the pavilion changed the content of its exhibition every week,” she said.
Along with a professional team at the pavilion numbering less than 10 were more than 20 young volunteers speaking a variety of languages. Everyone spared no effort during the 200 days and nights of the Expo. Pavilion Director Annie Wu took the lead, shuttling between the U.S., Hong Kong and Shanghai, directing the work in person and holding team discussions, sometimes deep into the night.
When the Expo’s curtain fell, Annie Wu’s main feeling was not one of fatigue but an enormous amount of pleasure and a host of unforgettable memories.

Confidence in Hong Kong after return to the motherland
As the earliest Hong Kong business person to invest in the mainland, Annie Wu is in a good position to state that Hong Kong will always play a significant role in China’s nation-building, and at the same time will also be able to make good progress itself.
She loves Hong Kong and she devotes a great deal of time and effort to its well-being. At about the time of Hong Kong’s return to the motherland, some foreign investors were sceptical about the future prospects. To allay their fears, Annie Wu, who always had no doubt that Hong Kong would be even more dynamic after 1997, helped Hong Kong to win the battle against more than 20 competitors to host the 28th General Assembly of WTCA in 1997.
When Hong Kong’s economy suffered during the financial crisis, China gave it immense support. And therefore Hong Kong should do its best to help China. “With the deepening of the reform and opening up, Hong Kong should give full play to its strengths, and act as a service platform for domestic enterprises to go global,” says Annie Wu.
Annie Wu is also concerned about the development of Hong Kong’s younger generation. After Hong Kong’s return to the motherland, one thought that came to her was how to help the next generation better understand its homeland and to foster their spirit of loving both China and Hong Kong.
In 1998, the Chinese History & Culture Educational Foundation for Youth, aimed at helping Hong Kong youngsters to “Love China, Love Hong Kong”, was established. Annie Wu was the Chairman of the Foundation’s Executive Committee. Over the years, the Foundation has conducted more than 100 large-scale cultural exchange activities, and arranged for more than 10,000 Hong Kong youngsters to visit the mainland. Furthermore, the Foundation has set up a “Learning Base for History & Culture” in five areas of special historical significance: Jinggangshan, Ningxia, Nanjing, Qufu and Yan’an. All these activities have been supported and attended by people from all walks of life.
Deep affection for Tibet and Western China
Ever since China put forward its strategy for developing western areas of the country, Annie Wu has set her sights on how to help develop Tibet, which she has visited more than 30 times.
On her first visit in 1999, she planned a variety show that gave the outside world a better understanding of this vast land. On average, she visits Tibet three times every year. Each time, she goes to a vegetable market to get an impression of what daily life is like for local people; she also visits blind children and orphans. She is deeply concerned about the health, nutrition and elementary education problems in poor areas. On one occasion she carried out in-depth research into the market development of pollution-free food on the plateau.
She also cares deeply about Tibet’s tourism industry and the impact it has on the environment, as she is loath to see the clear air and the snow-capped mountains become tainted with pollution.
On one occasion, when she found out about a high incidence of hepatitis B in mountainous areas of southern Ningxia province, she raised funds in Hong Kong and contributed vaccines and medical devices in support of a mass vaccination campaign.
Annie Wu’s immense devotion to the motherland is the firm foundation of her ardent patriotism. This shines out brightly and touches the heart of everyone who has had the privilege of having contact with her in any of her many capacities.