Mixue’s Lucky Cup Surpasses 10,000 Stores Worldwide, Closing in on Luckin and Cotti Coffee

On November 24, Jiemian News reported that Lucky Cup, the budget coffee brand under Mixue Group, has surpassed 10,000 stores worldwide, rapidly rising in China’s competitive coffee chain market and narrowing the gap with industry leaders Luckin Coffee and Cotti Coffee.

Founded in 2017 and fully operated by Mixue Bingcheng, Lucky Cup experienced slow early growth. In 2020, then–Mixue CEO Zhang Hongfu initiated a comprehensive brand overhaul—embracing a low-price strategy, opening franchise options, and partnering with Shanghai-based HuayuHua for brand redesign. This repositioning paved the way for rapid expansion.

Powered by Mixue’s strong supply chain, Lucky Cup focused on offering high-quality, affordable coffee priced mainly between 6–8 RMB. From 2022 to 2023, it opened over 2,800 new stores, bringing its total to over 3,000, with notable traction among students and lower-tier markets.

In 2024, Lucky Cup accelerated both domestic and overseas expansion, launching its first international outlet in Malaysia in August. The brand now operates in over 300 Chinese cities, with more than 1,000 stores in tier-one cities and 100 in Beijing alone.

Within the broader competitive landscape:

• Luckin Coffee leads with nearly 30,000 stores.
• Cotti Coffee follows with over 15,000 stores, driven by aggressive franchising.

Lucky Cup’s expansion speed has become a highlight of the industry. According to Yilab Business data, the brand added 1,100 stores in October alone, outpacing Luckin (905) and Cotti (597) for the month.

Starbucks, meanwhile, closed FY2025 with 8,011 stores in China, reaching over 1,000 cities and expanding into smaller markets with its “small yet refined” store format.

Competition in China’s coffee chain market is intensifying, with more players—including K Coffee, Nowwa Coffee, and Manner—entering the field. According to iiMedia Research, China’s coffee market is expected to reach 470 billion RMB by 2025, with a 2020–2025 CAGR of 28.8%.

Analysts note that cost control and product differentiation will be key factors determining future competitiveness.