1. Top Chinese Beverage Brands Reach 227,700 Stores in March 2026 Monthly Report
The “China Fresh Tea and Coffee Industry Monthly Report” for March 2026 reveals that the total store count for 50 major monitored brands has reached 227,700, representing a net increase of 1,065 stores. Mixue continues to lead the market with 46,500 locations, followed by Luckin Coffee at 33,300 and Cotti Coffee at 16,300, highlighting the continued dominance of ultra-affordable and scale-driven business models.
This steady growth underscores the resilience of the mass-market segment despite intense domestic competition. For industry operators, the expansion of these giants indicates that operational efficiency and supply chain scale remain the primary barriers to entry in the current market landscape.
2. CHAGEE Diversifies Product Portfolio with New “Zouzou” Fruit Tea Series
On April 17, CHAGEE officially launched its new “Zouzou” (走走) fruit tea series, marking a significant strategic diversification from its core light milk tea lineup. This new series focuses on fresh, citrus-forward flavors designed to capture high-volume summer demand and appeal to consumers looking for lighter, non-dairy alternatives.
By expanding beyond its signature milk teas, CHAGEE is proactively strengthening its seasonal competitiveness and broadening its demographic reach. This move highlights a broader industry trend where specialized brands are evolving into multi-category platforms to sustain growth in a saturated market.
3. Chinese Beverage Giants Accelerate Global Footprint with New Openings in North America and Asia
The global expansion of Chinese tea and coffee brands reached new milestones this week with several high-profile store openings. Auntea Jenny officially opened its doors in San Gabriel, California, while Molly Tea made its debut in Vancouver, Canada. Simultaneously, Shuyu Tealicious continued its aggressive growth in Southeast Asia with a new location in Malaysia.
These international moves demonstrate that Chinese beverage leaders are increasingly looking toward established Western markets and fast-growing Southeast Asian economies to offset domestic saturation. For global HORECA owners, these openings signal the arrival of sophisticated, high-velocity competition backed by robust supply chains and proven digital marketing playbooks.
4. NOWWA Coffee Surpasses 10,000 Stores and Introduces Dual-Brand Partnership Model
NOWWA Coffee has officially surpassed the 10,000-store milestone, covering over 300 cities globally as of April 19. To further accelerate growth, the brand has partnered with Tea Yan to launch a dual-brand store model, a strategic initiative aimed at optimizing retail footprints and capturing multi-occasion consumer spending.
This achievement cements NOWWA’s position as a top-tier coffee chain in China. The adoption of the dual-brand model reflects a shift toward more flexible, resource-sharing strategies that allow brands to penetrate diverse urban environments more cost-effectively than traditional standalone models.
