Gabrielle Au, founder of Bunny Churros and a science graduate in Applied Physics, recently joined the league of women entrepreneurs in the F&B sector to attain her childhood dream.
After graduation, Gabrielle began her career in technology conglomerates and lived a typical 9-5 workday. The seed to joining the entrepreneurship journey did not sprout until she went to Spain for a vacation, where she was captivated by Spanish’s delicacy for churros. Ever since she was a child, her parents have been home cooks and turning TV cook show menus to home cooking recipes. The trip reminded her that the greatness of food goes beyond flavors but its ability to spark happiness and bring people together. She embarked on the entrepreneurial journey and pursued the childhood dream that she and her sister shared - to start a dessert outlet that brings love and warmth to the world.
Journey into F&B Innovation
Standing out in the competitive local food scene is not easy. Gabrielle decided to reinvent the traditional Spanish churro’s recipe with a fun twist of Hong Kong favors to excite local customers. Golden churros paired with Hong Kong milk style sauce and gelato with pistachio favors are a few of the creative recipes that blend tradition and local favors.
In 2024, Gabrielle set up Bunny Churros. With the philosophy of “Love at First Bite. Happiness all Day and Night”, the first retail outlet in Kwai Fong introduces grab-and-go churros and gelato, to serve dessert lovers. Managing an F&B dessert outlet can be tough. Gabrielle applied what she has learnt from the corporate world about marketing, operations, recruitment and workflow digitalization to run the shop. In less than a year, Bunny Churros gained a solid fan base. Gabrielle took a step further to expand its presence at Sai Sha, where outdoor and pet-friendly seatings are available to serve family customers. The new shop also launched smoothies and pet-friendly gelato, to extend happiness to pets and their owners.
Reconnecting with the alma mater
Gabrielle appreciates her time at the HKUST and the analytical mindset trained at the science classes. “I can relate what I have learnt at physics to starting up Bunny Churros. Say like reinventing churros that fit local taste, it involves formulas and experiments. The analytical mindset trained during the university years also helped to enhance operation efficiency and human resource management.”
At HKUST, students were groomed with a strong entrepreneurial mindset to become dream-chasers. “We’ve all been shaped by the same HKUST spirit—those late-night study sessions, the drive to chase big dreams, and the passion to make a difference, which now fuels my heart as I build Bunny Churros. The F&B world can be tough, with long hours and countless challenges, but that does not hold me back,” Gabrielle echoes.
Gabrielle advises young graduates to be bold to chase their hearts and create their own definition of happiness. “Find your passion—whether it’s in an office or a kitchen—and let it guides you. It won’t always be easy; there’ll be late nights and tough days. But if you love what you do, every challenge becomes a chance to grow. Happiness isn’t just a goal—it’s the journey you build along the way.”
What’s next?
Exciting plans are in the pipeline for Bunny Churros, one of which is expanding its footprint beyond Hong Kong into new cities. With the goal to spread happiness one joyful bite at a time, Bunny Churros aims to become a global sanctuary that unites people, making the world feels like one big, happy family.
Moving forward, Gabrielle will connect more with the HKUST community by taking part in alumni and student engagements to share her passion and startup business. Say hi to Gabrielle when you meet her on campus or swing by Bunny Churros at the Kwai Fong and Sai Sha outlets.
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