Industry Report: New Product Launches Reach Record Highs in May
A comprehensive tracking report of 30 major beverage brands reveals that 23 reached record highs for new product launches in May 2026. A total of 107 new products were introduced across the sector, highlighting the intensifying R&D race as summer competition heats up.
(Brands like Naìsnow (奈雪的茶) lead the seasonal product cycle with innovative flavors)
CHAGEE (霸王茶姬) Compensation Follows Hubei System Glitch
Late on July 1st, CHAGEE (霸王茶姬) experienced a major system failure in its Hubei region WeChat mini-program, causing multiple products to be listed at 0 RMB. The glitch led to an overwhelming volume of orders, with some stores seeing queues of over 78,000 cups. Brand management has canceled the abnormal orders and issued “Yuan Shan Xian” series coupons to all affected users as a gesture of goodwill.
(CHAGEE (霸王茶姬) continues to scale despite operational challenges in high-demand regions)
Molly Tea (茉莉奶白) Ordered to Pay 10.3 Million RMB in LV Copyright Lawsuit
In a landmark intellectual property case, Molly Tea (茉莉奶白) has been sued by luxury giant LV (Louis Vuitton) for infringing on seven registered flower-shaped trademarks. A Chinese court has ruled that the tea brand must immediately cease the infringing behavior and pay a total of 10.3 million RMB in economic losses and legal costs.
(Molly Tea (茉莉奶白) faces legal restructuring after the high-profile copyright dispute)
TianLaLa (甜啦啦) Surpasses 500 Overseas Stores
Value-focused chain TianLaLa (甜啦啦) continues its rapid international expansion, adding 33 new overseas stores in June, 30 of which are in Indonesia. The brand has also made its debut in Saudi Arabia with a flagship opening in Riyadh. Total signed overseas locations have now officially surpassed 500, with over 300 already in operation.
(TianLaLa (甜啦啦) maintains aggressive growth in Southeast Asia and the Middle East)
Mixue Bingcheng (蜜雪冰城) Sub-brand Fulu House (福鹿家) Surpasses 3,200 Stores
Fulu House (福鹿家), the specialized beer and beverage sub-brand of Mixue Bingcheng (蜜雪冰城), has officially hit the 3,200-store milestone. The brand has achieved an 11x increase in store count over the past 18 months, with daily store revenue up 20% year-on-year, showcasing the success of Mixue’s multi-category ecosystem.
(Fulu House (福鹿家) leverages the parent company’s robust supply chain for rapid scaling)
New Coffee Quality and Barista standards Officially Implemented
As of July 1st, two new industry standards—”Drip Coffee Product Quality and Technical Specifications” and “Pour-over Barista Skill Requirements”—have officially taken effect. These standards aim to professionalize the specialty coffee segment and provide a unified framework for product consistency and labor assessment across the Chinese market.
