Mixue, China’s leading milk tea and ice cream chain, has made history by becoming the largest food and beverage (F&B) chain globally in terms of store count. As of September 30, 2024, Mixue reported a total of 45,302 stores, surpassing both McDonald’s, which has approximately 43,000 stores, and Starbucks with 40,199 locations.
This remarkable rise to the top is reflected in Mixue’s aggressive expansion strategy, which has seen the brand jump from the fourth position to first place in just one year. In comparison, Luckin Coffee operates 21,343 stores as of the same date.
While Mixue has outpaced competitors in terms of store numbers, it still ranks fourth in terminal sales within the freshly-made beverages category, behind Starbucks, Inspire Brands, and Tim Hortons. Starbucks maintains the lead with $55.5 billion in sales, followed by Inspire Brands at $14.9 billion and Tim Hortons at $7.5 billion.
Of Mixue’s 45,302 locations, about 3,700 are in China, with another 2,900 under its coffee sub-brand, Lucky Cup. The remaining 4,792 stores are spread across 11 countries, with Indonesia and Vietnam leading the charge internationally, boasting 2,667 and 1,304 stores, respectively.
In Southeast Asia, Mixue alone accounted for over 70% of the 6,100+ stores opened by Chinese F&B chains, as highlighted in the Momentum Works “Chinese F&B in Southeast Asia 2025” report.
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