Futu Securities opens coffee shop as it adapts to changing client ‘lifestyles’

Futu Securities is the latest non-food and beverage retailer to sell coffee and other drinks in one of its outlets in Hong Kong as the online stock brokerage adapts to its clients’ lifestyle, according to a spokesman. Futu Café was officially launched on Thursday at the Futu Store on Lee Garden Road, Causeway Bay, close to its flagship store on Russell Street. Cups of espresso, Americano and iced blue coconut water, among other drinks, are available between 7.30am and 7.30pm. The launch of the cafe “aims to integrate investment and financial management naturally into users’ everyday lifestyles,” a company spokesman said. “At the same time, we hope to express our appreciation for the continued support of our clients by offering coffee and beverages at preferential prices,” he added. Clients who use Futu’s app can purchase drinks for as low as HK$12 (US$1.53), while non-members need to pay HK$24, according to a menu displayed in the shop on Wednesday. Japanese fashion retailer Uniqlo as well as Longbridge, another online brokerage firm, have also launched their own cafes in their outlets. Uniqlo allocated space for a cafe in its refurbished Cityplaza outlet in Taikoo Shing in 2024. It also unveiled Uniqlo Coffee in its revamped outlet at the Mira Place in Tsim Sha Tsui in October. Longbridge, meanwhile, opened the Longbridge Café in Mong Kok in September. Even French fashion houses Dior and Louis Vuitton have opened pop-up cafes in recent years. “Non-F&B retailers aim to attract new customers and increase store traffic by adding coffee shops to their branches,” said Jeannette Chan, senior director of retail at JLL. “Previously, we also saw fashion and furniture retailers introduce coffee shops or restaurants within their stores to enhance experiential retailing,” said Chan, who cited Ikea as an example of a furniture store that sought to draw more consumers via its bistro where Swedish meatballs are served. American luxury brand Ralph Lauren went further by opening stand-alone Ralph’s Coffee shops in high-end malls like Harbour City in Tsim Sha Tsui and the Prince Building in Central. As for Futu, its latest initiative was an example of “enhancing” its offerings and service experiences to “meet the evolving and diversified needs of our clients,” its spokesman said. Hong Kong’s retail sales jumped nearly 12 per cent in the first two months of 2026 compared with the same period a year ago, the latest official data showed. Retail sales reached HK$35 billion (US$4.47 billion) in February, driven by the Chinese New Year holiday and major events in the city. The sales figure for January was HK$37.3 billion.