In the Chinese-speaking world, almost everyone has heard of Lee Kum Kee. But how did this legendary brand come into existence? It all started with the very first pot of oyster sauce!

Today, Lee Kum Kee products are enjoyed globally. Over 130 years of development have transformed it into a multinational enterprise specializing in sauces and health products. Lee Kum Kee now markets its offerings in over 100 countries and regions, standing proud as both a Chinese brand and a world-renowned name.

The Story of Lee Kum Kee

"Lee Kum Kee was founded by Lee Kum Sheung. An accidental discovery led to the creation of oyster sauce, establishing a lasting legacy and igniting a century-old legend. In Zhuhai, Xinhui, Guangdong, Lee Kum Sheung operated a small tea house where he sold cooked oysters. One fateful day in 1888, he left the oysters boiling for too long and was drawn back by a fragrant aroma. The oysters had produced a rich, flavorful sauce. Intrigued, he tasted it and was amazed by its delicious flavor. Enthusiastically, he invited friends to try it, and they were equally impressed. Sensing a business opportunity, he refined the formula and cooking method, officially naming it "oyster sauce." It quickly became a local specialty, attracting countless buyers, and the tea house was renamed "Lee Kum Kee Oyster Sauce Shop," marking the beginning of a legendary brand.

In 1902, a devastating fire destroyed Nenshi Village, including the Lee Kum Kee Oyster Sauce Shop. Undeterred, Lee Kum Sheung relocated his family to Macau and revived the oyster sauce business, restoring the family's tradition and continuing the Lee Kum Kee legacy."

Lee Kum Kee Global

In 1920, under the leadership of Lee Shiu Nan, the second generation of Lee Kum Kee, the brand focused on improving production and enhancing quality, enabling the products to reach international markets.

In 1932, Lee Shiu Nan established a branch in Hong Kong, and made it the company headquarters, driving rapid business expansion.

In 1972, the third-generation of Lee Kum Kee, Lee Man Tat, took the helm and propelled Lee Kum Kee to new heights. He established production bases in Hong Kong, Guangdong, the United States, Malaysia, and more, introducing modern equipment, automating production processes, and implementing contemporary enterprise management systems. He also diversified the product range, transforming oyster sauce from a luxury item to an everyday necessity, with global sales. Under his leadership, Lee Kum Kee became a globally recognized Chinese brand.

Lee Kum Kee in the Modern Era

The modernization continued with the return of Lee Man Tat's five children, who brought back modern management concepts and innovative approaches after completing their studies abroad. Their contributions have driven Lee Kum Kee into the modern era. Spanning three centuries over four generations, Lee Kum Kee has fulfilled its first mission: promoting the excellent Chinese culinary culture worldwide. Today, Lee Kum Kee products even accompany astronauts on missions to the International Space Station.

Lee Kum Kee Health Products

In the 1990s, Lee Kum Kee diversified the business model by entering the Chinese herbal health industry, and established Infinitus in 1992. As part of the Lee Kum Kee Group, Infinitus carries the family's second historical mission: "to promote the excellence of Chinese health traditions and create a life of balance, affluence, and harmony." This marked the beginning of a new chapter in Lee Kum Kee's journey into the health product sector.

The Birth of Infinitus

Continuous innovation and daring efforts when facing challenges laid the foundation of the Lee Kum Kee spirit, making this excellent brand possible.

In the 1990s, having fulfilled its first historical mission of "promoting the excellent Chinese culinary culture," Lee Kum Kee sought diversification to bring new vitality to the company. Lee Man Tat's five children, after completing their studies abroad, turned their focus to the Chinese herbal health industry.

The tradition of Chinese herbal healing, with its long history, is a cherished asset of the Chinese nation. Despite having the world's richest resources in Chinese herbal medicine, China was not the leader in this field for a long time. At that time, the Kampo medicine markets in Japan and Korea were thriving. They attracted Chinese herbal medicine experts with high salaries, processed Chinese herbs into finished products overseas, and then sold them back to China. Recognizing the potential of the Chinese herbal medicine market, Lee Man Tat and his children decided to take action.

In 1992, Sammy Lee, the son of Lee Man Tat, discovered that a classmate knew Zhao Yunhong, the former president of the First Military Medical University. They arranged a meeting, and Sammy, along with his father, visited Zhao and other traditional Chinese medicine experts in Guangzhou. A month later, they met again and officially signed a collaborative agreement. On December 8 of that year, Infinitus (initially known as Nanfang Lee Kum Kee Health Products Company) was officially established and began constructing a factory at the First Military Medical University. This fortuitous opportunity led to the birth of a brand with the mission "to promote the excellence of Chinese health traditions and create a life of balance, affluence, and harmony.

 

Infinitus Global

"Infinitus Global" is part of the Lee Kum Kee Group, responsible for the research, development, production, sales, and services of the Group's Chinese herbal health products. It currently is comprised of nine member companies.

1992

·Infinitus (China) Limited was established, with its headquarters in Guangzhou.

 

2010

·Infinitus (Hong Kong) Co. Ltd was established, headquartered in Hong Kong.

·Infinitus International Co. Ltd was established, headquartered in Taipei.

·Infinitus International (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd was established, headquartered in Selangor."

 

2016

·Infinitus Health Products (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. was established.

·Infinitus Innovations (Canada) Inc. was established, headquartered in Toronto."

 

2018

·Infinitus Health Products (Thailand) Co., Ltd. was established, headquartered in Bangkok."

 

2019

·Infinitus Health Products (Philippines) Inc. was established."

 

2020

·Infinitus Health Products (Kazakhstan) LLP was established.

·Infinitus Global launched cross-border e-commerce operations in Korea, Australia, and Vietnam."