Our history
and milestones

2020

Dairy Farm launched yuu, Hong Kong’s biggest customer rewards club, in July. The rewards club was later launched in Singapore in 2022.

2020

Hongkong Land secured a prime 23.1 hectare mixed-use site on the West Bund of Shanghai. The West Bund Financial Hub represented a unique opportunity for Hongkong Land to develop and operate a commercial complex of scale in a prime river-front location in Shanghai, the predominant commercial hub of the Chinese mainland.

2019

WF CENTRAL, Hongkong Land’s US$1.2 billion first flagship retail-led project in Beijing was opened in October. Mandarin Oriental Wangfujing, Beijing, the group's first hotel in China's capital, was also opened in March.

2018

Astra launched a joint venture with Gojek, Southeast Asia’s leading on-demand multi-service tech platform, and invested an additional US$100 million in March 2019 after its first investment of US$150 million in 2018.

2017

Jardine Cycle & Carriage acquired a 10% stake in Vinamilk, the leading dairy producer in Vietnam, for US$1.15 billion in November.

2015

Dairy Farm acquired a 19.99% interest in Shanghai-listed supermarket and hypermarket operator Yonghui Superstores Co., Ltd. (Divested in 2024).

Jardine Cycle & Carriage invested in a 24.9% interest in Siam City Cement in Thailand. (Divested in 2024).

ACLEDA-Jardines Educational Foundation was set up with the proceeds of the sale of ACLEDA Bank.

2014

Jardine Strategic invested US$731 million in Hong Kong-listed Zhongsheng Group Holdings Limited, one of the Chinese mainland's leading motor dealership groups. Jardines began divesting Zhongsheng in 2026 and the company is now reclassified as an associate.

2013

Jardine Matheson extended its reach to Myanmar and Jardine Schindler opened a new office there to consolidate its presence in the country. 

Jardine Restaurant Group acquired the KFC franchise in Hong Kong and Macau.

2012

Dairy Farm entered the Cambodian and the Philippines markets. 

2011

Gammon completed the design-and-build of the Hong Kong SAR Government’s office complex.

2010

The Group ventured into new markets such as Cambodia. Jardine Strategic purchased a 12.25% stake in ACLEDA Bank Plc, Cambodia's second largest bank (later divested in 2015).

Hongkong Land invested in the Cambodian property market. 

2009

Hongkong Land became a Group subsidiary.

2008

Jardine Cycle & Carriage acquired interest in Truong Hai Automotive Corporation, a leading automotive company in Vietnam. The company is now Truong Hai Group Corporation (THACO). 

2006

Hongkong Land acquired a 77% stake in MCL Land, a Singapore-listed residential property developer. (Hongkong Land agreed to divest MCL Land in 2025).

2002

The Group increased its investment in Cycle & Carriage, which became a subsidiary following a successful partial offering to increase the Group's interest from 30% to 50%, and subsequently changed its name to Jardine Cycle & Carriage.

In 2026, Jardine Cycle & Carriage sold the Cycle & Carriage Group and subsequently changed its name to Jardine Matheson Southeast Asia.

2000

The Group began its long-term successful investment in leading Indonesian conglomerate, Astra. This occurred against the backdrop of the fall-out from the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis when the rest of the world was still nervous about developments in Southeast Asia. Today, Jardines has a controlling stake of 50.1% in Astra through Jardine Matheson Southeast Asia.

2000

Maxim's and Starbucks Coffee International formed a joint venture to open retail operations, and has since extended its Starbucks interests to Cambodia, Macau, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

1999

Dairy Farm acquired 90% of Giant Malaysia (divested in 2024).

1997

Hongkong Land strengthened its presence in mainland China with the acquisition of a 40% interest in a residential estate in Beijing and completed its second office development in Vietnam.

Jardine Lloyd Thompson (JLT) was created through the merger of Jardine Insurance Brokers plc and Lloyd Thompson Group plc. JLT was later divested in 2019.

1992

The Group acquired a 16% interest in Singapore-listed blue-chip Cycle & Carriage. Its holding was subsequently increased, and the company became a subsidiary in 2002. In 2026, the Cycle & Carriage operating business was divested and Jardine Cycle & Carriage was renamed Jardine Matheson Southeast Asia.

1990

Jardine Matheson, Hongkong Land, Dairy Farm and Mandarin Oriental established their primary listings on the London Stock Exchange and Jardine Strategic was listed the following year, while the main Asian share trading activity moved to Singapore.

1987

Jardines took on the Pizza Hut franchise in Hong Kong. The Group continued its expansion in consumer business with the acquisition of the IKEA franchise in Hong Kong and a joint venture with Mercedes-Benz in Southern China.

1986

The Group undertook a series of corporate moves in which Dairy Farm and Mandarin Oriental were listed in Hong Kong, and Jardine Strategic Holdings Limited (JSH) was formed to hold stakes in a number of Group companies. (JSH was privatised in 2021 to simplify the Group’s shareholding structure)

1984

Jardine Matheson Holdings Limited (JMH) was formed as the Group’s holding company incorporated in Bermuda. The Group withdrew from ship-owning activities.

1982

Jardines celebrated its 150th anniversary and established the Jardine Foundation offering scholarships to students from the region to attend Oxford and Cambridge universities. 

The Jardine Ambassadors Programme was also launched, providing young Jardines executives in Hong Kong with the opportunity to serve the community. The Ambassadors programme continued through Jardines mental health charity, MINDSET, until the charity transitioned to the Keswick Foundation in 2026. 

1981

The Group opened the first 7-Eleven convenience store in Hong Kong and the Group’s motor business extended to the UK. Jardine Motors Group was divested in 2023.

1980

A first industrial joint venture in Chinese mainland was formed by Jardine Schindler (China Schindler Elevator Co.), while Maxim's Caterers made history by entering the first joint venture to providing air catering services in the Chinese mainland (Beijing Air Catering).

In the same year, the Group acquired a 40% interest in Hongkong Land Co, cementing a closer relationship between the two companies.

1979

Jardines was one of the first companies to re-establish relations with Chinese mainland with the opening of a representative office in Beijing in 1979, followed by offices in Shanghai and Guangzhou.

1975

Jardines acquired Gammon Construction, Hong Kong’s leading construction company. It also acquired a majority stake in Zung Fu.

1974

JM & Co moved its head office to Connaught Centre (renamed Jardine House in 1989).

1972

The Excelsior hotel in Hong Kong was opened in 1972 at the site of Jardines’ original land purchase. This was followed by the acquisition of The Oriental, Bangkok in 1973 and hotels in Manila and Jakarta in 1976 and 1978.

1970

JM & Co pioneered merchant banking in Hong Kong and the region with the establishment of Jardine Fleming in a joint venture partnership with Robert Fleming. A representative office was opened in Jakarta in 1971. (Divested in 2000)

1964

Dairy Farm acquired the Wellcome grocery chain in Hong Kong.

1963

Hongkong Land opened the Mandarin Hotel.

1961

JM & Co became a public company, with the initial offer oversubscribed by some 56 times.

1957

Jardines’ head office returned to Hong Kong in 1957 and the old Jardine House on Pedder Street was replaced by the new one (now Wheelock House).

1954

JM & Co closed its offices in China. Nevertheless, the Firm maintained its links with the Chinese Mainland.

1947

JM & Co was one of the first companies to resume operations in Hong Kong and Shanghai after the War. The Firm’s business in Japan was re-established and its shipping activities were also revived. 

1946

Jardine Airways (Later known as Jardine Aviation Services Group and was divested in 2024) was formed with one of the first clients being the forerunner of British Airways.

1941

The entry of Japan into World War II forced the closure of JM & Co’s offices in Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland, although a presence was maintained in Chongqing.

1930

By 1930, JM & Co’s main offices were in Hong Kong and Shanghai. In this year, JEC installed the first lift in Tianjin, China, while in the following year the first Schindler lift was installed in Hong Kong. 

1923

Jardine Engineering Company (JEC) was formed in Shanghai, playing a major role in providing machinery, equipment and services for the growing infrastructure developments in Hong Kong and Chinese mainland. In the same year, the sale of part of East Point was completed and the Tokyo earthquake demolished JM & Co’s Yokohama office.

1907

Ewo Press Packing Company was established in Shanghai.

1906

JM & Co became a limited company.

1903

In 1903 BCC signed a contract for the construction of the Shanghai-Nanking Railway.

1898

British & Chinese Corporation (BCC), formed by JM & Co and HSBC in 1898, signed a contract for the construction of the Kowloon-Canton railway the following year, supporting the modernisation of Hong Kong.

1897

JM & Co. established Ewo Silk Spinning, Weaving and Dyeing Company and Ewo Cotton Spinning and Weaving Company, bringing the modern industrial technology of the day to China.

1889

Sir Paul Chater, in partnership with JM & Co, formed Hongkong Land.

1878

JM & Co. formed China Sugar Refining Company with Chinese investors, the factory was located at East Point, Causeway Bay.

1876

JM & Co established the Woosong Railway in Shanghai. It was the China’s first railway and formed the foundation for later establishing the Jardine Engineering Company,

1873

Jardine Matheson established China Coast Steam Navigation Company (Later known as Indo-China Steam Navigation Company) to consolidate the firm’s river, coastal and cargo interests in China. The business thrived, expanding across Southeast Asia until after WWII. 

1864

The Firm moved its main office from East Point to Central Hong Kong in 1864. In the 1860s, JM & Co’s trading activities were enhanced by the expansion of its shipping, banking and insurance interests, including the setting up of “Ewo Bank” to help JM & Co’s tea and silk purchases and the establishment of Hongkong Fire Insurance Company.

1855

JM & Co inaugurated the steamer cargo line from Calcutta to the Far East. The Firm became the first foreign trading house to establish in Japan by acquiring Lot No. 1 in the first Yokohama land sale. Offices were later opened in Kobe, Nagasaki and other ports.

1844

JM & Co completed the move of its main office to Hong Kong and opened its office in Shanghai when it purchased Lot No. 1 in 1844. More offices were subsequently opened in Canton, Amoy and Foochow.

1841

JM & Co purchased the first plots of land at East Point for £565. The Firm's Chinese name 'Ewo' – 'the state of happy harmony' – was adopted the following year.

1836

Jardine Matheson established Canton Insurance Company, its first foray into insurance or finance, and purchased warships such as the 351-ton “Falcon”, to protect insured cargo ships. 

JM & Co saw the development potential of Hong Kong as a trading base and moved its operations temporarily from Macao to Hong Kong.

1832

Jardine, Matheson & Co (JM & Co) was founded in Canton in July 1832 by Scots William Jardine and James Matheson.

Tea, silks, cotton and opium were traded along the vast trade routes between China, India and Britain. Despite strong competition and a powerful monopoly held by the East India Company, Jardine Matheson were able to stay ahead of their rivals.

Following the end of the East India Company’s trading monopoly with China, Jardine Matheson sent its first private shipments of tea to England in 1834