How HSBC supports H+K International's global growth

H+K International has built a global business helping restaurant brands operate efficiently around the world. Today, the kitchen equipment solutions provider has more than 2,000 employees, sells and supports more than 6,000 SKUs annually and ships to around 100 countries each year.

Its customers range from restaurant businesses with as few as 50 locations to global brands with as many as 40,000.

“Our company mission is quite simple: be customer-obsessed. Our innovation unlocks value for our customers and increases throughput in kitchen operations,” says Bonnie Chan, Chief Corporate Strategy Officer at H+K International.

As H+K has expanded its international footprint, HSBC has worked alongside the company to support the banking and financial needs of a business operating across borders.

Over the past five years, H+K has significantly expanded its international presence. With that growth comes a need for banking infrastructure that can support the business as it enters new markets and connects its operations across countries.

“In the last five years, we expanded our footprint rapidly. HSBC has been there with us in lockstep,” Chan says.

The relationship brings together HSBC's international network and local-market knowledge with support for H+K's broader strategic and operational needs.

H+K also has access to HSBC's global markets specialists, connecting the company with additional expertise as its international business evolves.

Navigating the realities of operating internationally

For an international mid-market business, entering a new country can create financial and operational considerations well beyond the initial decision to expand. Establishing local banking, understanding regulatory requirements, moving money across borders and transacting in different currencies all become part of making that expansion work.

H+K can draw on HSBC's global banking network to help navigate those requirements in individual markets while maintaining a connected approach across its broader international operation.

“HSBC's vast global network [is] so valuable. We were able to understand the local regulations, open bank accounts, transact in foreign currency, process payment, and execute hedging strategy,” Chan says.

This combination of international connectivity and local expertise helps H+K translate its global growth plans into the day-to-day financial infrastructure needed to operate across markets.

For a company conducting business across multiple currencies, international growth can also increase exposure to foreign exchange risk. This has become an important consideration for H+K as it evaluates further opportunities in Asia and the Middle East.

“The Middle East and the Asia market are big opportunities for us,” says Guy Wade, Chief Executive Officer of H+K International. “Where they've really helped us most recently is with our foreign exchange.”

HSBC works with H+K to understand its FX exposures and consider hedging strategies that can help manage the currency risks created by its international operations.

“HSBC has really been able to dig into our FX exposures and currency risk, and just been a tremendous help to us as a business,” Wade says.

As companies expand internationally, their financial needs can become more interconnected — spanning local banking, cross-border payments, foreign exchange, risk management and access to market expertise.

H+K's relationship with HSBC brings those capabilities together as the company continues to develop its international business.

“Our intentions are certainly to continue to grow with HSBC,” Wade says.

For H+K, having a banking relationship that can support both global ambitions and local requirements provides a foundation for its next stage of international growth.

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