Recently, the hit drama "The Tale of Rose" has sparked widespread discussion, and news of Luckin Coffee's co-branding with it was also exposed in advance on social platforms, with photos of merchandise, cup sleeves, paper bags, and other materials quickly circulating. Internal employees shared new test questions, indirectly confirming the authenticity of the co-branding campaign and revealing that the limited-edition new product is Yellow Rose Latte. The campaign is expected to launch on the 24th, but the news became known to the public nearly two weeks in advance. Some believe that releasing information while the drama's popularity is at its peak is a win-win for both the brand and the production team; others have noticed that employees are required to comply with social media confidentiality rules, yet material leaks occur repeatedly. Behind this "double standard" phenomenon, who exactly should be responsible for internal information leaks? This article will sort out the sequence of events and explore the delicate relationship among the brand, employees, and netizens. [more…]

Over the past month, the specialty coffee chain brand Seesaw has been thrust into the spotlight due to a wave of consecutive store closures across multiple locations. From Beijing, Shanghai, and Hangzhou to Chongqing and Wuhan, news of closures has continued to spread, sparking widespread speculation about the company's operating condition. In response, Seesaw founder Wu Xiaomei recently gave an official response to Jiemian News, acknowledging that the brand is undergoing strategic adjustments and has closed some stores that do not fit the "three no's" criteria—those that do not align with the regional focus strategy, brand positioning, and store model—and revealed that same-store sales growth over the past three years reached 22%. At a time when low-priced beverages dominate the market and competition is increasingly fierce, can this brand, which insists on a specialty coffee route, hold its ground with a strategy focused on core commercial districts in East China? This article sorts out the sequence of events and the official response, and includes industry observations such as those from Front Street Coffee. [more…]

Recently, news that Luckin Coffee is about to join Meituan's Pinhaofan has been circulating on social platforms, making many Luckin store employees nervous and uneasy. Pinhaofan is a group-ordering service launched by Meituan Takeaway, allowing users to buy drinks and meals at prices far below market rates, and is jokingly called the Pinduoduo of the food delivery world. If Luckin really joins, the already cheap 9.9 yuan coffee could drop even further, which is naturally good news for consumers, but store employees worry about the staffing pressure caused by a surge in orders. At present, employees in different regions give differing accounts; Xiamen stores are said to have quietly begun trial operations, with sales clearly rising, but overtime problems have followed. [more…]

Seesaw, once hailed as the "Whampoa Military Academy" of China's specialty coffee scene, has drawn attention again after its founder, Wu Xiaomei, was subjected to consumption restriction measures by a court. On October 29, the Fengxian District People's Court of Shanghai issued a high-consumption restriction order to Seesaw's parent company over a service contract dispute. Starting in late 2023, news of Seesaw store closures began to emerge one after another. Although the founder responded at the time that it was merely store adjustments, the wave of closures has not stopped. Meanwhile, legal disputes have continued, and the number of stores has shrunk sharply. Why has Seesaw, once as famous as Manner and Mstand, gradually lost its brand identity amid industry competition? Front Street Coffee takes you through the ups and downs of this specialty coffee brand. [more…]

Recently, the American coffee chain brand Peet's Coffee, founded in 1966, suddenly announced that it will close multiple stores in the San Francisco Bay Area and surrounding regions by the end of January this year. A company spokesperson stated that this is a difficult decision made to align the business with long-term growth priorities and current market conditions. However, the specific number and locations of the affected stores have not yet been disclosed, leaving employees and customers caught off guard. It is worth noting that this wave of closures comes shortly after news that its parent company, JDE Peet's, is being acquired by Keurig Dr Pepper for $18 billion. Peet's Coffee has over 280 branches in the United States, with about 135 in the San Francisco Bay Area, its largest domestic market. This closure could affect as many as 30 stores in California. Let's learn more about the details of the event together. [more…]

The freshly made yogurt sector has been hit by yet another food safety scandal. An undercover reporter from The Beijing News worked inside several More Yogurt franchise stores in Beijing and found that oat and highland barley toppings more than forty days past their expiration date were still being used as usual, expiry labels existed in name only, and decisions to scrap fruit relied entirely on staff members' sense of smell. More worrying still, these violations were not isolated cases, but an unspoken rule tolerated by store managers in order to cut costs and boost their personal income. The brand issued an urgent apology a few hours later, announcing that the stores involved would be permanently terminated. This is already the second time this year that More Yogurt has been thrust into the spotlight; previously, the Shanghai Consumer Council questioned the labeling of its product ingredients. This article provides a complete rundown of the undercover details, the brand's response, and the latest status of its stores. [more…]

Recently, news that Mixue Bingcheng might start selling breakfast has blown up on social media, with related topics shooting straight to the top of trending searches. It started with a questionnaire circulating in community groups and on WeChat Moments, plus a "breakfast series" of dairy products quietly appearing in the mini-program, priced at just 5 yuan on average. Netizens shouted "Snow King has brought the prices down" while enthusiastically ordering fried dough sticks and spicy soup. Longtime fans even dug up the brand's origin story, saying this isn't a crossover at all—it's a return to its old trade. However, people in the know say it's currently only a small-scale trial in a few cities, with no intention of a broad rollout for now. [more…]

Recently, multiple consumers in Changsha have posted on social media claiming that Lavazza's Wankuntu store and Kaideyi store in Changsha will successively cease operations on January 8 and 9, 2026, and some local users have revealed that the brand will completely withdraw from the Changsha market soon. This century-old Italian coffee brand, once known as the "godfather of Italian coffee," opened its first store in Central China at Orange Isle Park in late 2021, creating quite a sensation at the time, and subsequently set up 5 stores in downtown Changsha. However, the first store quietly closed just one year after opening, and the Xingcheng Tiandi store also ceased operations at the end of March 2025. Now the remaining stores have also been reported to be closing. Long-time users have differing views on the brand's operational capabilities, product value for money, and market prospects. Some express regret, while others believe that adjusting the layout is a normal business decision. [more…]

After weathering a financial scandal, delisting, and a top-level restructuring, Luckin Coffee has finally received good news: it has achieved overall profitability. At the same time, viral drinks such as Coconut Latte continue to trend, bringing the brand back into the public eye. This article sorts through Luckin's recent financing rumors, business turnaround, store scale, and new product landscape, and discusses what makes Coconut Latte taste so good and why it became a hit. If you are also looking for Luckin's most worthwhile drinks, or want to know Front Street Coffee's recommendations for related beans, this article will give you clear answers. [more…]

As 2024 draws to a close, Starbucks has been reported closing stores in multiple locations across China. Its store at Wuhan Hongshan Square subway station quietly withdrew, and an old outlet in Nanning Parkson, after twelve years of operation, announced it would close at the end of the month. Add to that the earlier closure of its first store in Changsha, and this chain coffee brand, which has been deeply rooted in the Chinese market for over twenty years, is now facing multiple pressures: rising rents, declining foot traffic, and competition from low-priced coffee. Last month's news that it was "considering selling a stake in its China business" has only fueled speculation about its future direction. This article will review recent store closures, analyze the complex reasons behind them, and retain the "Front Street" brand-related recommendations. [more…]

Recently, news about Luckin Coffee opening franchises has been circulating online, drawing attention from many consumers and entrepreneurs. However, Luckin officials quickly clarified: no form of franchise cooperation is currently open, and all so-called franchise and agency information is false. From counterfeit stores in Bangkok, Thailand to scam tactics using homophone accounts, the knockoff problem keeps emerging. This article will sort out the key points of Luckin's official statement, the history of the Little Deer Tea brand's merger, and insiders' interpretation of the franchise suspension, to help coffee lovers and potential investors distinguish truth from falsehood and avoid traps. [more…]

For those who love coffee, in addition to daily drinking, continuously absorbing professional knowledge is equally important. This article compiles a group of WeChat public accounts with good reputations in the coffee circle, covering multiple directions such as industry news, technical sharing, cultural communication, shop visits and interviews, and latte art teaching. There is both substantive content with a relatively low commercial flavor and light, interesting coffee stories. Whether you are a barista, roaster, or ordinary enthusiast, you can find learning resources that suit you. The article also mentions recommendations related to the "Front Street" brand, which is worth noting. [more…]

Tea Baidao has been rolling out new products frequently lately—wheatgrass juice, bell pepper fruit-and-vegetable tea, and the gorgeous strawberry have all taken turns on the menu. Now it has been revealed that the chain is requiring its stores to purchase woks and stock tapioca starch, having staff hand-roll the balls and stir-fry the pearls fresh. As soon as the news broke, milk tea fans were full of anticipation, but frontline workers were wailing in despair, saying outright that "my heart is dead" and "I want to escape." Can freshly made pearls really improve the taste? How can the contradiction between a brand's pace of new launches and store staffing be resolved? This article takes you through the uproar caused by pearls. [more…]

Recently, the Manner store inside Chongqing MixC officially closed due to the expiration of its lease and the brand's decision not to renew it. This store, which opened in 2021, was not only Manner's first location in Chongqing, but also the only one among the city's 18 stores to offer baked goods. After the news broke, regulars expressed their regret, with some lamenting the disappearance of the "cheap meal deal" and the loss of a fixed breakfast option on their commute. Meanwhile, although a Manner drinks store still operates on the third floor of the mall's north section, it cannot satisfy customers' demand for bread. This change has also led many consumers to speculate about the brand's future layout plans, with some even spontaneously analyzing the feasibility of Manner opening stores in other commercial districts in Chongqing. [more…]

McDonald's Hong Kong recently announced it would discontinue its traditional coffee products, sparking widespread market attention. Starting at 6 p.m. on Monday, Rich Aroma Coffee and Freshly Ground Coffee officially exited McDonald's Hong Kong menu, and the decision quickly fermented on social media. Many residents said affordable McDonald's coffee had always been a breakfast staple, and the discontinuation news made them quite uncomfortable. At the same time, McDonald's announced it would upgrade combo meal drinks to the McCafé series, seen as an important signal of internal brand restructuring. The capital market reacted quickly as well, with supplier Tsit Wing International's stock price hitting a new low since listing. Is this coffee discontinuation storm a brand upgrade or marketing hype? Opinions vary. [more…]

As domestic coffee consumption continues to heat up, the professionalism of industry information channels is becoming increasingly critical. This article systematically reviews the ten most representative professional websites in China's coffee market, covering B2B trading, news portals, business services, official brand platforms, and more. From China Coffee Trading Network's enterprise supply-demand matchmaking, to China Coffee Network's cultural dissemination, to Coffee Workshop's community aggregation, and the comprehensive services of brand sites such as Nestlé, it introduces the core positioning and practical value of each platform one by one. Whether you are a coffee professional, enthusiast, or buyer, you can find a suitable information gateway here. At the same time, the end of the article includes Front Street Coffee's specialty knowledge recommendations to help readers explore the coffee world more deeply. [more…]

The new-style tea beverage market has been stirring recently. High-end brands Heytea and Nayuki have successively announced price cuts, with the lowest dropping to 9 yuan. Nayuki launched a "Relax" series priced at 9-19 yuan, promising to launch at least one "single-digit" product every month, while Heytea announced it will not raise prices this year. Consumer reactions have been mixed, with some cheering and others questioning reduced cup sizes and lower quality. This article reviews the price-cut moves of the two major brands, netizen feedback, and industry data, analyzes the consumption trends and market logic behind the involution in new-style tea beverages, and includes related news about Front Street Coffee. [more…]

Recently, news of multiple Seesaw Coffee locations closing across the country has sparked widespread discussion. From the Chongqing MixC store to all stores in Wuhan, and then to multiple locations in Shanghai, Beijing, and other places, Seesaw's wave of store closures seems to be spreading. This brand, once regarded as a "leader in creative coffee," expanded rapidly after receiving multiple rounds of financing, but now its pace of opening stores has clearly slowed, drifting further and further from the "500 stores" goal once proposed by its founder. Consumers have mixed reactions, with some expressing regret and others believing it lacks core competitiveness. Whether Seesaw can turn the situation around in the future is worth continued attention. [more…]

Nayuki Tea has once again been thrust into the spotlight due to food safety issues. The Market Supervision Administration of Jing'an District, Shanghai, recently imposed a penalty on Nayuki's Shanghai Meilongzhen Plaza store for selling expired grape-flavored cakes to consumers, with a fine of 50,000 yuan. This is not an isolated case—since its listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in June this year, Nayuki's stores have repeatedly been exposed for food safety scandals such as cockroach infestations, spoiled fruit, and excessive bacterial counts. Consequently, its stock price has plummeted from the issue price of HKD 19.80 to around HKD 9, leading to a significant drop in market value. From being the "first stock of new-style tea drinks" to being plagued by negative news, Nayuki's brand reputation is facing a severe test. [more…]

It is no longer uncommon for celebrities to open coffee shops across industries, but Nicholas Tse's "Chef Nic" coffee shop that has now landed in Zhengzhou has taken a different route. The shop was jointly created by Chef Nic and Xinhua Youpin under Xinhua News Agency. In addition to serving coffee and light meals, it also displays poverty-alleviation agricultural products such as Yunnan Menglian coffee, Hebei Wuqiao roast chicken, and Inner Mongolia oatmeal, as well as intangible cultural heritage handicrafts and cultural merchandise. Fans who visited the shop reported that the coffee was mediocre, with the bean aroma not standing out enough, and that it felt more like a space for experiencing poverty-alleviation agricultural products. At the same time, many longtime fans have spoken up: rather than opening shops nationwide, it would be better to hold concerts quickly. [more…]