June Industry Report: Jiangsu Sees Sharp Decline in Store Count
Data from the June 2026 industry report indicates a significant regional shift in store expansion. While 48 mainstream brands added 845 locations across China, Jiangsu province experienced its first massive net decrease of 205 stores, largely driven by footprint optimization from brands like NOWWA Coffee (挪瓦咖啡). In contrast, Guangdong added 174 stores, maintaining a healthy 1.79% closure rate.
Lucky Coffee (幸运咖) Pivots to High-Potential Urban Districts
Budget chain Lucky Coffee (幸运咖) has announced a strategic shift away from indiscriminate mass expansion. The brand will now focus its growth on core commercial streets and high-traffic districts in Tier-2 cities and above. Expansion for the remainder of 2026 will be strategically limited to 2,000 high-potential locations.
CHAGEE (霸王茶姬) Launches Digital “Caffeine Dashboard”
In a move toward transparency, CHAGEE (霸王茶姬) has introduced a “Caffeine Dashboard” on its official mini-program and in physical stores. The tool provides clear labeling of caffeine content for all beverages and coincides with the launch of three new “Low Caffeine” lemon milk tea products to cater to sensitive consumers.
(CHAGEE (霸王茶姬) continues to lead the industry in transparent nutritional labeling and functional beverage innovation)
LAVAZZA Debuts “6.0 High Protein Milk” Series
Premium coffee brand LAVAZZA has launched its “6.0 High Protein Milk” series in the Chinese market. The lactose-free milk, containing 6g of protein per 100ml, is featured in four new latte variants priced between 33–37 RMB, targeting the growing “fitness coffee” segment among urban professionals.
(LAVAZZA leverages functional dairy innovations to differentiate its specialty coffee offerings)
Grandpa No Tea (爷爷不泡茶) Collaborates with *Balala the Fairies*
Regional favorite Grandpa No Tea (爷爷不泡茶) has launched a nostalgic collaboration with the popular IP *Balala the Fairies*. The campaign features a new “Magnolia Lime” and “Orchid Lemon” milk tea series with popping candy, aimed at capturing the summer “fun beverage” demand among Gen-Z and Alpha consumers.
(IP-driven collaborations continue to be a primary driver for regional brand engagement in China)
Luckin Coffee (瑞幸咖啡) Establishes New Xiamen Subsidiary
Luckin Coffee (瑞幸咖啡) has officially established “Luckin Commerce (Xiamen) Co., Ltd.” with a registered capital of 10 million RMB. Fully owned by the parent group, the new entity is expected to oversee strategic retail and commercial operations as the brand continues its aggressive nationwide infrastructure build-out.
CHAGEE (霸王茶姬) Accelerates Gelato Rollout in South China
On July 18, CHAGEE (霸王茶姬) successfully opened 13 new “Selected Tea Space” locations in Guangzhou and Shenzhen featuring its exclusive “Geelato” menu. The expansion includes aggressive “buy-one-get-one” promotions and limited-edition merchandise to drive foot traffic in the competitive South China market.
