Mannings faces PR fallout over milk-powder issue

Campaign also spoke with Andrew Lee, founder of Metta Communications, which works with the brand. Lee said Metta has been working with Mannings to develop and launch a 'Mother's Club' initiative, which would allow mothers to prove their babies' were born in Hong Kong in order to get guaranteed supplies of milk powder. Close to 200 stores are participating in the Mother's Club, he said. 

Lee added that he personally believes the Hong Kong Government should do something to control and limit the amount of milk-powder products that are moving across the border. "It is tricky issue," he said, "since Mannings opens its door to do business."

In a video interview with Apple Daily the cashier described how the parallel traders would queue up at her store and buy all of the available supply each day, despite a policy limiting each buyer to four cans. She added that she felt like an "alibi" for the parallel traders, while many local parents struggle to buy milk powders. The cashier aired her discontent in local social discussion forum site, hkgolden.com, and received rave support.

According to a 30 January report in the South China Morning Post, the government plans to decide "in a few days" whether to protect baby formula as a  “reserved commodity”, like rice, to ensure local needs. Speaking on a RTHK programme on last Wednesday morning, the secretary for Food and Health, Ko Wing-man said the government was studying the feasibility of adding the formula under the Reserved Commodities Ordinance to prevent parallel trading.

Correction, 3:25 pm: This story originally stated that the brand had posted a statement of apology on its website. However, that apology dates to two years ago (although it still exists on the Mannings website and was readily accessible via a Google search).