1. [Oriental Mulan (东方墨兰)]
Oriental Mulan’s first overseas store in Elephant & Castle, London, has achieved remarkable success, generating over 1.1 million CNY (approx. £120,000) in GMV during its first month of operation. Despite a compact footprint of just 50 square meters, the store served over 20,000 cups. The brand leverages a high-quality, mid-price strategy using A2 fresh milk and premium Oolong tea bases to differentiate itself in the competitive UK market, proving the massive scalability of “New Chinese Tea” in global tier-1 cities.
2. [Starbucks China (星巴克中国) x Fliggy (飞猪)]
2. [Starbucks China (星巴克中国) x Fliggy (飞猪)]
Starbucks China officially announced a comprehensive loyalty partnership with Fliggy on April 14. Under the new “Joint Member Program,” Starbucks Diamond Star members can instantly upgrade to Fliggy F4 status, granting access to luxury brand benefits and travel perks. This partnership signifies a shift toward “cross-scenario” ecosystems, linking high-frequency coffee consumption with high-value travel scenarios to strengthen premium member lifetime value.
3. [Industry Macro: Supply Chain Packaging Costs]
Rising global crude oil prices have pushed costs for essential packaging materials—including PET, PP, and PE cups—up by 10% to 40% in early April. For HORECA operators, managing packaging volatility is becoming as critical as ingredient sourcing. This sharp rise may drive a renewed focus on sustainable alternatives or long-term hedging contracts to maintain margin stability in a high-cost environment.
4. [Sweet Pipi (甜心皮皮)]
Sweet Pipi held its 2.0 brand upgrade conference on April 14, targeting 100 outlets by Q1 2026. The upgrade introduces four modular store models for rapid deployment in shopping malls and communities. This highlights the industry’s trend toward asset-light, highly adaptive expansion strategies, maintaining a low entry barrier for franchisees while optimizing operational footprints.
5. [Molly Tea (茉莉奶白)]
Molly Tea officially entered the coffee segment with the launch of its “Coffee Series” nationally on April 14. By integrating premium SOE coffee with its signature floral tea bases, the brand is differentiating itself through flavor innovation and aiming to cover all-day consumption occasions, from morning caffeine fixes to early-afternoon treats.
