COD Group partners with Meituan on cross-border e-gift vouchers covering over 350 Hong Kong outlets

Hong Kong food and beverage brands have gained another channel for advance sales to visitors from mainland China. According to a report by Bastille Post on 23 October 2026, Hong Kong technology company COD Group announced an e-gift voucher partnership with Meituan, initially covering more than 350 Hong Kong outlets. For those involved in franchising in Hong Kong, the key points are how the partnership attracts cross-border customers and handles in-store redemption—not new outlet openings.

Four food and beverage brands in the first phase

The initial participating brands include KFC, Pizza Hut, Ten Ren Tea and Pacific Coffee. Mainland visitors can buy e-gift vouchers before travelling to Hong Kong and use them at designated outlets, bringing some dining purchases forward to the trip-planning stage.

The figure of more than 350 refers to the Hong Kong outlets covered by the partnership. It is not a count of new openings, nor does it mean that every branch of each brand accepts the vouchers. Customers should check the list of designated outlets before buying rather than assume that a voucher can be used at any branch bearing the brand’s name.

Meituan promotes the offer, while COD provides technical support

COD Group is the technology and operations partner, responsible for the e-gift voucher system, platform integration and merchant operational support. Meituan will promote the offer through its platforms and wider user network, helping Hong Kong merchants reach mainland customers.

COD Group chief executive Tian Gongbo said the partnership combines Meituan’s mainland local services ecosystem with COD’s experience in Hong Kong e-gift vouchers and merchant services, with the aim of improving the cross-border shopping experience. Attracting new customers is an objective of the partnership, not evidence that sales growth has already been achieved.

Buy before travelling and redeem digitally on arrival

Customers can purchase e-gift vouchers from Hong Kong merchants through the Meituan app or Dianping. A digital voucher is issued immediately after payment and can be redeemed at designated Hong Kong outlets, with no printing or advance booking required.

This process allows visitors to allocate part of their spending budget before arriving, while the service itself is still delivered by Hong Kong outlets. For operators, buying through the platform and redeeming in store are two stages of the same transaction. Ensuring that frontline staff can identify eligible vouchers and understand where and how they can be used is an important part of preparation.

Franchise operators should check redemption and settlement responsibilities first

This announcement concerns an e-gift voucher partnership, not franchise recruitment or changes to franchise rights. When assessing similar channels, franchise operators should confirm the participating outlet list, voucher validity periods, refund arrangements, settlement cycles and responsibility for promotional costs with the brand and platform. Platform exposure should not be treated as equivalent to outlet revenue.

Practical priority: confirm your outlet’s eligibility and redemption rules first, then arrange frontline training and clear customer guidance so that cross-border voucher purchases translate smoothly into in-store service.