Milk Bases Dominate May Industry report
According to the “China Fresh-made Tea and Coffee Industry Monthly Report (May 2026)” released on June 23, milk-based ingredients were utilized 548 times across new product launches. Dairy remains the absolute dominant base, accounting for 450 of these applications, as brands focus on creamy textures to drive mass-market appeal.
ChaPanda (茶百道) Debuts Innovative Wheatgrass Series
ChaPanda (茶百道) has officially launched its first-ever “Wheatgrass” series. The lineup features refreshing items like Wheatgrass Iced Milk, priced competitively around 14.76 RMB. The move signals a broader industry trend toward “superfood” and “green” ingredients for the peak summer season.
Indian Brand Blue Tokai Announces Massive 800-Store Expansion
In a major international move, Indian specialty coffee brand Blue Tokai has unveiled plans to scale from its current 240 stores to 800 locations over the next four years. The expansion strategy includes a heavy focus on the Middle East, with upcoming openings scheduled for Abu Dhabi and Riyadh.
(Blue Tokai targets rapid international growth in the Middle Eastern specialty coffee sector)
HEYTEA (喜茶) Invests in Chuntian Mature Tea (椿田熟成茶行)
HEYTEA (喜茶) has reportedly completed a strategic investment in the rising tea brand Chuntian Mature Tea (椿田熟成茶行), which recently hit the 100-store milestone. The partnership highlights HEYTEA’s strategy of backing emerging specialty tea chains that focus on premium, artisanal brewing processes.
(HEYTEA (喜茶) continues to diversify its ecosystem through strategic equity investments)
Nowwa Coffee (挪瓦咖啡) Unveils New High-Efficiency Franchise Model
Nowwa Coffee (挪瓦咖啡) has released a new franchise policy featuring a “store-in-store” model with a minimum entry fee of 49,800 RMB. This efficient format is designed to accelerate brand penetration in Tier-3 and Tier-4 markets by utilizing existing retail footprints.
(Nowwa Coffee (挪瓦咖啡) focuses on lower-barrier entry models to drive rapid regional scaling)
Nestlé (雀巢) Announces 4.7 Billion RMB Investment in Thailand
Food giant Nestlé (雀巢) has announced a 563 million CHF (approx. 4.7 billion RMB) investment to construct a dedicated Nescafé production base in Thailand. The new facility will serve as a critical hub for the Southeast Asian market, focusing on production efficiency and cold-brew innovation.
UCC Coffee (UCC上岛咖啡) to Raise Prices for 45 Products
Citing sustained pressure from rising raw material, packaging, and logistics costs, UCC Coffee (UCC上岛咖啡) has announced a price increase for 45 of its products, effective November 1, 2026. The price hike is expected to range between 5% and 10% across various retail channels.
(Global coffee giants like UCC face ongoing margin pressure from supply chain inflation)
