The Long History Ice Cream Lai Kei
Yes, bingo, you got it right; That’s the nostalgic ice cream shop, a must eat shop when everyone visit Macau. It has been in business for more than eighty years, including the “cart trolleys” initiated back in the 1960s; Till they moved to the Ho Lan Luen store. The Lai Kei ice cream currently operated by the third generations, mainly focusing on ice cream. At present, it has also incorporated new dessert ice cream crossovers with other enterprises; Among them, the previous famous incorporation with Lady M’s cake shop is one of the popular ice cream mixes.
What I missing them the most is the flagship store that still maintains the shop interiors back in the 1960s and 1970s. The floor is paved with colorful checkered paper-skin stone flooring, wooden round table and corner 4 seater table slots; classic menus listings and nostalgic packaging with the “women braid” logo on it. Everything is a testimony of history.
Its all filled with childhood memories
This shop is also filled with childhood memories; Especially when I finished the Catholic Masses at the St Lazarus Church every Sunday mornings; came over with my mother all the way long for a fantastic “breakfast desserts” moments; Half a pound of coconut ice cream well served on the table. When I think back, I was really spoiled in a way.
The glass cabinets close to the entrance all filled with ice cream cups and soda bottles from all age range. Every corner is a treasure for me. What guests experience is not only the dessert enjoyment, but also the human touch of every local community in general. A journey of memories of sight and touch.
Its all homemade
Lai Kei still insists making all products home-made; made fresh every day by self own workshop at the backend; It all made with 100% self pick primary ingredients, with seasonal fruit flavors. No coloring and flavorings added to make the ice cream stand out flavors. Lai Kei also good in making ice cream sodas, red bean icy poles; coconut ice cream, granulated red bean ice bars, ice cream bricks, ice cream sandwiches, etc. Other flavors likely taro, coconut, durian, peanut, and coffee outstanding flavors. Others include pineapple ice cream Sundae, Special banana boat, ice cream with jellies, etc; They all belongs to one of the most popular homemade desserts recipes.
Under high rental business operating environment, running an ice cream shop is not an easy task. Although this might not be the case for Lai Kei; most customers nowadays quite sensitive to ice cream qualities and prices sensitiveness. Particularly the young generation market and under peer-to-peer competitive influences factors; Lai Kei need to balance out other additional expenditures and controlling production output in order to meet seasonal market product demand control, whilst keep in align with their consistent ice cream qualities; and control supply volume just right, in accordance with seasonal demand pattern. Though running this mode will lowering their production volume; which indeed, will decrease sales pie in a relatively small, sellable volume; They still don’t mind providing limited and stable low business volume production line for years.
Their Mission for Ice cream lovers
At present, Lai Kei recalled their main market segment are mainly local, and some overseas returning customers to sustain their business. The target group are looking for the pursuit of traditional, with human touches, and not asking for too much changes in flavors. Thus, the current business focus of Lai Kei is “Sustain its authenticity”. Such guests may not be too fond of new, creative reformative new product requirements. Therefore, the new generation of Lai Kei founders yet, will not forget their mission providing their original flavors of Lai Kei to all customers; Its al about providing the healthiest ice cream to every guest every day, leaving behind the best memories for them.
If time allow, please support this local 80-year-old shop’s insistence on ice creams please!
