As Shanghai gradually resumes production and daily life, being able to get a cup of takeout coffee right at one's doorstep has become a small blessing for many. However, MANNER Coffee's store on Wujiang Road in Shanghai was found in a surprise inspection by market regulators to have problems including substandard environmental hygiene and non-compliant food storage, and was placed under investigation on May 23, quickly sparking heated discussion online. On May 24, MANNER's official Weibo account issued an apology statement, admitting that during the supply-guarantee delivery period there were oversights such as non-standard use of raw milk and failure to promptly clean the backing paper of food-safety seals, and stating that the store involved had immediately suspended operations for rectification. But this apology was questioned by some consumers and industry experts as evading the key issues and failing to directly address core hazards such as floor grime potentially contaminating food. As the pioneer of the domestic boutique coffee shop model, MANNER is facing a dual test of quality and food safety on a coffee track now crowded with cross-industry giants. [more…]

Recently, a video of a Chagee employee handling tea drinks with bare hands spread rapidly online, sparking widespread public concern about food safety issues at chain tea beverage brands. In the video, the employee, without wearing gloves, directly grabbed ice cubes and lemons and reached into a shaker cup to pound and stir the drink, prompting netizens to exclaim they were "disgusted." Although the poster explained that the footage was filmed after closing hours using damaged inventory to mimic the "Indian milk tea" meme, public opinion did not subside. Subsequently, netizens discovered that employees of several other brands, including Luckin Coffee, Yidian Dian, and Goodme, had also posted similar meme videos. Chagee officially issued an urgent investigation notice, imposing an indefinite suspension and rectification on the store involved, dismissing the employee involved, and demoting managerial personnel. This article will review the sequence of events and responses from all parties, and explore the boundary between food safety and entertainment-oriented marketing in the tea beverage industry. [more…]

Luckin Coffee is known for its fast order fulfillment, but recently customers have complained that employees scan codes to mark orders as ready in advance, before the drinks are actually completed. In response, Luckin's headquarters has begun strictly cracking down on such violations. Once auditors discover early order fulfillment, the store will directly have 100 baseline points deducted, causing the performance of all staff to suffer and requiring the store to close for rectification. Faced with the new policy, employees are caught in a dilemma: fulfilling orders early may lead to heavy penalties, while not doing so causes the on-time fulfillment rate to drop noticeably. In understaffed stores, baristas are forced to make a difficult choice between "performance point deductions" and "ugly data," and work pressure has surged. This article compiles feedback from employees in various regions to present the real store ecosystem under Luckin's new rules. [more…]

Lu Jin, co-founder and CEO of Luckin Coffee, revealed at the 2025 Xiamen Entrepreneurs Day conference that the company is actively working to return to the main board of the US stock market under the guidance of the Xiamen Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government. This chain coffee brand, which listed on Nasdaq in 2019 and was forced to delist in 2020 due to financial fraud, has undergone five years of comprehensive restructuring. Today, its store count has surpassed 20,000, overtaking Starbucks China, with a market value of approximately US$10.9 billion. In July this year, Luckin opened two stores in New York, sparking market speculation about its return to the United States. Meanwhile, Bloomberg reported that its largest shareholder, Centurium Capital, is considering bidding for the British brand COSTA, a move seen as helping to bolster Luckin's globalization narrative. [more…]

Recently, a woman discovered curly hair attached to a lychee at the bottom of her cup after drinking milk tea, sparking concern. The store involved responded that the lychee tea uses a lidded rather than sealed packaging, the source of the hair is currently unclear, and it is willing to pay ten times compensation and accept investigation, but the individual refused compensation and demanded the store be shut down for rectification. Meanwhile, hygiene problems in the tea beverage industry occur frequently: a Nayuki Tea store was exposed for cockroaches crawling everywhere and rotting fruit, and cockroaches appeared on the counter at Yihetang. Food hygiene and safety concern consumer health, and whether a well-known brand or an ordinary store, production processes should be strictly controlled and safety systems implemented. [more…]

A customer noticed that a packing employee was wearing nail art while picking up an order at Cotti Coffee, considered this a food safety hazard, and subsequently complained to the brand. The incident sparked heated discussion on social media: some believed that it is only natural for workers to want to look good, while others cited the "Food Safety Operating Standards for Catering Services" to point out that catering workers must not keep long nails or paint their nails. Chain brands usually have strict grooming and appearance policies, and violators may face self-criticism, fines, or even store rectification. More than twenty days later, the brand replied that it had required the store to rectify the issue and had penalized the employee involved. Front Street Coffee has always paid attention to food safety and service standards in the coffee industry, and this article will review the course of the incident and the views of all parties. [more…]

After two Starbucks stores in Wuxi were exposed for food safety issues, they not only faced dismissal of all staff and suspension for rectification, but also received administrative penalties totaling 1.37 million yuan. This incident triggered widespread public discussion on the current state of food safety management in the chain catering industry. Judging from the surprise inspections by market supervision bureaus across various regions, although the vast majority of stores were not found to have serious violations, management loopholes such as non-standard scrap records, missing disinfection records, and inadequate implementation of employee personal hygiene remain common. This article will review the incident and the details of the penalties, analyze the imbalance between Starbucks' internal supervision and cost control, and explore the importance of producer self-discipline and social oversight behind food safety issues. [more…]

Recently, a video of a Mixue Bingcheng employee washing his feet in a sink inside the store spread rapidly online, drawing widespread attention. In the video, a man in a black work uniform is rinsing his feet in a sink behind the counter, with milk tea buckets and operating tools placed nearby, a scene that is shocking. Mixue Bingcheng later responded that the employee had scalded his foot at work and used cold water as an emergency treatment, and that the store involved had been ordered to close for disinfection and carry out rectification training. However, some netizens questioned the official explanation, saying the man's movements were calm and did not look like someone who had been scalded. The incident continued to escalate, and food safety and hygiene issues once again became the focus of public opinion. [more…]

Recently, a consumer in Chengdu discovered an additional 10% service charge and 6% value-added tax on the bill when checking out at a café, sparking questions about the merchant's pricing display practices. The consumer felt that although there was a notice, it was far from conspicuous, and felt forced to accept the fee only after consuming. Tax authorities responded that as long as the merchant pays taxes normally, it is compliant, while market regulators stated they could suggest improvements but could not impose penalties. This incident reflects the current模糊 zone of separately labeling commodity prices and taxes, and has also triggered discussions on transparent pricing and consumers' right to know. This article will recount the incident, sort out the responses from various parties, and explore consumers' genuine feelings under the trend of itemizing taxes. [more…]

The new-style tea beverage industry has once again exposed food safety issues. Naxue's Tea's Shanghai East Changzhi Road store was fined and had its illegal gains confiscated by the Hongkou District Market Supervision Administration because the freshly made and sold Golden Mountain Treasure Tea exceeded the total bacterial count limit. Before this, the brand had already been exposed by the media multiple times for chaotic store hygiene, even alarming the State Administration for Market Regulation. From Xinhua reporters' undercover investigations to tea beverage brands frequently trending on social media across various regions, consumers pay high prices but do not necessarily receive matching safety guarantees. This article will sort out the ins and outs of this penalty, review the food safety crisis Naxue's Tea encountered this year, and ask: after tea beverage brands apologize, compensate, and rectify, have the fundamental problems actually been solved? [more…]

In recent years, themed cafes that use cute animals as a selling point have sprung up all over the world. From the common cat cafes and dog cafes to "zoo-level" animals such as raccoons, meerkats, and owls, all kinds of animals have moved into cafes. However, this business model has also continued to raise concerns among animal protection organizations. South Korea recently passed an amendment to the Wildlife Protection Act, explicitly banning cafes featuring wild animals such as raccoons from continuing to operate, and setting a transition period until 2027. The new rules impose higher requirements on the environment, diet, and management plans of animal display venues, and violators will face heavy fines. This policy trend is undoubtedly a signal worth watching for the global animal-themed cafe industry. [more…]

A trending topic about food safety in milk tea shops has sparked widespread concern: The Market Supervision Administration of Fengxian District, Shanghai, conducted surprise inspections of several well-known milk tea stores in Baolong Plaza, and the results showed that all five brands—Yidian Dian, ChaBaiDao, 7FenTian, CoCo, and XiongJi—had problems, involving incomplete health certificates, chaotic raw material management, and unsanitary operating environments. The incident quickly surpassed 500 million views, with netizens exclaiming, "I dare not drink it anymore." At the same time, the article also reviewed food safety cases in recent years involving Burger King, 85°C, IKEA, and others, reminding the food and beverage industry that it must strictly abide by operating standards. [more…]

After trending on social media in late September for using expired ingredients and tampering with expiration dates, ChaPanda once again sparked heated discussion in early October due to food safety issues. A consumer in Ningbo claimed to have found a spider in a takeaway milk cap sub-packaging box. Although the store involved provided kitchen surveillance footage and was willing to pay 600 yuan in compensation, the incident continued to escalate. Netizens shared similar experiences one after another, once again pushing the quality control challenges under the franchise chain model into the spotlight. This article will review the course of the incident, statements from both sides, and public reaction, and explore the deeper issues of chain coffee and milk tea brands in employee training and quality assurance. Front Street Coffee has long followed industry developments and reminds consumers to pay attention to beverage safety. [more…]

The well-known tea beverage brand Yihotang has been exposed by media undercover investigations at multiple stores in Zhengzhou for serious food safety issues: ingredients that should have been discarded after closing were used again the next day, expired materials had their labels swapped to extend their shelf life, moldy strawberries were washed and used as usual, flying insects that fell into toppings were fished out and still used in products, and even prepared drinks in which bugs were found were resealed and continued to be sold. Even more shockingly, the staff were indifferent to this, claiming that "as long as it doesn't kill people, it's fine." After the incident was exposed, Yihotang issued an apology statement, and the stores involved were closed for rectification. Lawyers pointed out that the relevant actions have violated multiple provisions of the Food Safety Law. Netizens reacted differently, with some saying that chaos in franchise stores is common, while others called on the brand to effectively fulfill its regulatory responsibilities. [more…]

Recently, a short video apparently filmed by a Cotti Coffee employee sparked widespread discussion on social media. In the video, a store clerk has a red-trimmed towel snatched away by a colleague, after which several employees kneel facing the surveillance camera with hands clasped in a pleading gesture. This seemingly absurd scene struck a chord with many food-service workers—it turns out that towels of different colors correspond to different usage scenarios, and using the wrong one counts as a violation that can lead to fines or even dismissal. The incident reflects both chain brands' strict control over food safety and has triggered public debate over employee dignity and management practices. [more…]

As competition in the new-style tea beverage sector reaches a fever pitch, Nayuki was the first to list on the capital market, claiming the title of "the first stock of new-style tea drinks" and was once regarded as an industry benchmark. Recently, however, a consumer in Shanghai discovered raw dough that could stretch into strings in a durian bread purchased from Nayuki via delivery. The store explained it as "baked relatively soft," and the refund request was also rejected. This incident quickly fermented on social platforms and once again brought Nayuki's past food safety issues back into the public eye—from expired milk and rotten fruit to chaotic kitchen practices, what has happened to this brand with a halo over its head? [more…]

Recently, many consumers have noticed that Manner coffee shops near them have suddenly closed their doors, showing "resting" on the mini-program, with no clear notice and no timetable for resuming business. It is understood that this phenomenon is closely related to Manner's internal personnel adjustments: baristas with excessive working hours are arranged to take leave, while those with insufficient hours are transferred to other stores for support, resulting in some stores having to temporarily close. At the same time, the brand has also shortened the operating hours of some stores, with morning shifts starting later and evening shifts ending earlier. Whether this adjustment can allow Manner to find a balance between chain expansion, specialty quality, and affordable positioning has become a focal point of industry attention. [more…]

A coffee shop that attracted attention with a suggestive name ultimately paid the price for its marketing approach. In July of this year, a coffee shop named "Doi Coffee" in Huangpu District, Shanghai, was investigated by market regulators for a store name and product names suspected of violating public order and good morals. Several months later, the penalty result has finally landed — a fine of 30,000 yuan, with a heavier punishment due to the severe negative public opinion impact. Now the shop has quietly closed, and the person in charge said business was so poor that they are no longer operating. Behind the incident, it reflects the collision between the bottom line of marketing in the food and beverage industry and the red line of regulation, and has also sparked public discussion about the boundaries of vulgar marketing. Front Street Coffee reminds practitioners that creative marketing needs moderation, and respecting public order and good morals is the way to long-term business. [more…]

Manner Coffee has been thrust into the spotlight of public opinion due to three incidents of conflicts between staff and customers that occurred over two consecutive days. The brand issued an apology statement through its official Weibo in the evening, pledging to make improvements, but netizens did not accept the content of the statement, especially expressing dissatisfaction over the lack of a clear response to the incident in which "a customer broke into the bar area and assaulted a staff member." At the same time, the content of Manner's two official Douyin accounts has been completely cleared, sparking further speculation. Behind the incidents, media investigations and revelations from former employees have exposed that under Manner's rapid expansion, frontline baristas face high-intensity work, heavy psychological pressure, and an unreasonable compensation system. As one of the few brands in the industry with a thousand stores that still insists on using semi-automatic espresso machines, how Manner can strike a balance between efficiency, quality, and employee rights has become an urgent issue to be resolved. [more…]

Recently, a consumer purchased coffee at a Luckin Coffee physical store and also bought a pack of daily mixed nuts on impulse. Upon eating them, the customer noticed an abnormal taste and, after checking the expiration date, confirmed that the product was expired. The customer immediately provided feedback through customer service channels and posted on social media to remind other consumers to be aware. Luckin responded quickly, requiring stores nationwide to self-inspect the shelf life of nut products. According to internal staff, all employees at the store involved were fired. The incident sparked widespread discussion online, with some praising Luckin's decisive handling and others considering the punishment too severe. Subsequently, Luckin compensated the customer 1,000 yuan in accordance with the Law on the Protection of Consumer Rights and Interests, and requested the deletion of the post, which was refused. Front Street Coffee continues to follow developments in the coffee industry and food safety issues. [more…]