{"id":40589,"date":"2026-03-31T07:50:41","date_gmt":"2026-03-30T23:50:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=40589"},"modified":"2026-03-31T07:50:41","modified_gmt":"2026-03-30T23:50:41","slug":"chinese-coffee-brands-need-more-than-low-prices-to-compete-with-global-players-analysts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=40589","title":{"rendered":"Chinese coffee brands need more than low prices to compete with global players: analysts"},"content":{"rendered":"
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With Chinese coffee<\/span> brands eyeing overseas expansion, analysts said those seeking to succeed as global players must move beyond low-price strategies and a narrow focus on operational efficiency.<\/div>\n
\u201cOverseas consumers have long associated Chinese brands mainly with cost performance,\u201d said Fu Yifu, a special research fellow at Su Merchants Bank in Nanjing, in the eastern Jiangsu province. \u201cTo succeed globally, the core is to build a presence rooted in China\u2019s operational efficiency<\/span> while blending into local cultures.\u201d<\/div>\n
Luckin Coffee, mainland China\u2019s biggest coffee chain by store count, has been rapidly expanding in Hong Kong and overseas markets including Singapore, Malaysia and the US. According to its annual reports, its store count in mainland China was more than 6,000 by the end of 2021 \u2013 eclipsing that of Starbucks<\/span>.<\/div>\n
On Monday, the chain, which is known for its budget drinks, announced that it now had more than 50 stores in Hong Kong. Since entering the Hong Kong market in 2024, it has set up outlets in core business districts, at tourist attractions and in residential areas. Locations include MTR stations, Terminal 2 at Hong Kong International Airport and Ocean Park Hong Kong.<\/p>\n
Luckin said Hong Kong\u2019s coffee culture<\/span> was vibrant and market demand was diverse, and it would continue to explore localised operations that integrated Hong Kong cultural elements.<\/div>\n
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<\/div>A Luckin Coffee shop in Manhattan. Luckin must go beyond efficiency to compete with Starbucks in the US, according to an analyst. Photo: AFP<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
In November, co-founder and CEO Jinyi Guo said the company was planning to relist in the US.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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