Hong Kong singer and actor Nicholas Tse has made a huge fortune – not from films or music but from selling premium sausages in mainland China, according to the South China Morning Post (SCMP). Tse’s food brand, Chef Nic Π (Fengweipai in Chinese), brought in an impressive 1.5 billion yuan (US$207 million) in sales over the past four years. The business, launched in 2021 in partnership with Chinese e-commerce giant Hangzhou Qianxun, has since become a nationwide bestseller. SCMP reports that the brand has been awarded the title of national sales champion for three years straight by market research firm Euromonitor International. Tse’s involvement goes far beyond simply lending his name—he personally helps select the pork, designs the packaging, and supervises production. He’s even been seen on the factory floor wearing a helmet to oversee quality control. “I’m very demanding,” Tse said during a company event in March, as quoted by SCMP. “We will never lower our standard for food.” The sausages, which come in flavours like regular, black pepper, and vanilla, were an instant hit selling 10 million units in just the first three months after launch. At 4.5 yuan (about 60 US cents) each, some think they’re pricey, but many customers say they’re worth it for the taste and quality. Fans on Chinese social media were full of praise. “To be honest, they are yummy and safe. I will buy them again,” one person commented. Another said they were moved by Tse’s words: “He does not want to build a brand worth 10 billion yuan, but a brand that lasts a century.” Tse, now 44, has already won top acting awards in Hong Kong, but in recent years has shifted focus to food. He even became known as a cooking expert on variety shows before launching his sausage brand in 2022. This isn’t his first business success. Back in the 2000s, Tse set up a post-production company in Hong Kong which became a major player in the video ad market. He later sold that firm in 2016. Now, his sausages have made him one of the most talked-about celebrity entrepreneurs in China—proving that with passion and hard work, even a movie star can become a sausage king.
