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PARKnSHOP today announces the launch of its Fishipedia, a tool to help Hong Kong shoppers make sure they know exactly what kind of fish they are buying, exactly where it is from, and how best to cook it.
Fish plays an essential role in Chinese cuisine, but with hundreds of species of fish being imported into the city, often under different names, it is becoming increasingly difficult for customers to identify what is what and make the most informed choices.
At present, there are no agreed standards or regulations on the naming of fish for sale in Hong Kong. This leads to some fish being known under a handful of different names.
That's why PARKnSHOP has compiled the Fishipedia – an easy-to-use fish database with PARKnSHOP product name, scientific name, any other common names found in the market and photo, some even have nutritional information and cooking suggestions. From tomorrow (18 October), the Fishipedia is published online at www.parknshop.com/fishipedia in Chinese and English.
"PARKnSHOP is proud to offer a huge selection of frozen, ice-bed, live seawater and fresh water fish for sale, but we understand that sometimes the range can feel a little overwhelming," says Mr Philippe Giard, Managing Director of PARKnSHOP Hong Kong. "We've spent the past few months creating a database covering more than a hundred of different species of fish that are available in PARKnSHOP.
"It's vital that consumers know exactly what they're eating, so we're taking the mystery out of buying fish. The Fishipedia gives customers not just the names of different fish and their pictures, but also descriptions of its habitant, where it's from, nutritional value and suggested cooking methods and recipes for some of fishes."
"With the Fishipedia, we hope to take away a lot of the confusion about buying fish, and we hope it will be used as a guide to labelling throughout supermarkets and other retail outlets across Hong Kong," Mr Giard says.
Picture price boards, fish counter sticker labels and fish tank sticker labels will be displayed in all PARKnSHOP stores so customers can see some of the Fishipedia information when they're making their selection.
To mark the launch of the Fishipedia, customers can test their knowledge in our online Fishipedia game for a chance to win a share of 1 million MoneyBack points; be among the first to 'catch' the correct fish with your mouse and win!
The Fishipedia will be constantly updated with more fish and shellfish.
The launch of the Fishipedia coincides with the launch of a new range of frozen fish products under PARKnSHOP's own SELECT brand. The new products feature 12 different species of fish, many of them new to Hong Kong and exclusive to PARKnSHOP, from suppliers in countries including Russia, Chile, Norway, Spain, Canada and New Zealand.
PARKnSHOP has a long-established fish quality assurance system based on four key elements:
- Sourcing and creating clean water for keeping live fish, backed by the government's Quality Seawater Assurance Scheme.
- An advanced filtration and disinfection system for in-store tanks.
- Regular microbiological testing of in-store tank water at PARKnSHOP's HK$2 million state-of-the-art laboratory, for potentially harmful bacteria.
- Our comprehensive and ongoing training for staff handling fish and audits on hygiene practices and the maintenance of a hygienic work environment.
"We're giving shoppers more choice, less confusion, and PARKnSHOP's promise of absolute quality and food safety," Mr Giard says.
Fast Facts About PARKnSHOP Fishipedia:
- Covers around 120 species and will keep expanding.
- Is the first reference tool of its kind for Hong Kong consumers.
- References are taken from the world's most authoritative sources, including the Integrated Taxonomic Information System, FishBase and HK Fish Net.
- Is easy to browse: entries are presented in 4 categories: Frozen Fish, Ice-Bed Fish, Live Seawater Fish & Live Freshwater Fish. Use the 'Search' function to find your fish.
- Is a thorough yet easy-to-use guide, listing each species by its PARKnSHOP product name and its scientific name and any other common names found in the market, its size, a photo, the countries of origin, whether it's wild or farmed fish, and some cooking suggestions. Fish buying tips are also available.
