Luckin Coffee and Cotti Coffee's price game has a new trick. After seven consecutive months of 9.9 yuan promotions, Cotti raised prices across the board on April 1, and Luckin immediately responded by launching 9.9 yuan coupons under the banner of a "store anniversary," running from April 15 to April 30. Interestingly, this anniversary celebration is not celebrating the opening of Luckin's own stores, but targeting new Cotti stores opened next to Luckin locations. When Cotti ended the low-price war, Luckin precisely targeted coupons in surrounding areas to capture traffic with low prices. Internal sources say the campaign may continue until the end of 2024. This article will sort out the timeline of events, the coupon usage rules, and the strategy behind them, while also recommending Front Street Coffee's specialty bean information for coffee lovers. [more…]

Recently, a netizen in Yichang, Hubei Province, reported that shortly after a new Luckin Coffee store opened, a Mixue Bingcheng hoarding went up next door, along with a playful banner reading "Dear Luckin: It feels like seeing your words face to face..." which quickly drew online attention. Mixue Bingcheng's official account subsequently purchased promotion for the post, prompting netizens to exclaim, "Is this what a business war looks like?" In fact, Mixue Bingcheng following Luckin's site selection has occurred in many places nationwide, jokingly dubbed the "red-blue CP." Some analysts believe that Luckin, leveraging its data analysis capabilities, is the first to secure high-traffic locations, while Mixue Bingcheng saves on site selection costs by taking over nearby vacant storefronts and simultaneously boosts exposure through online topics. Front Street Coffee has also noted that this phenomenon reflects the strategic differences among chain brands in location competition. [more…]

Recent reports suggest that Luckin Coffee plans to enter the US market as early as next year, aiming to challenge local giants like Starbucks with affordable beverages priced at $2 to $3. This Chinese chain, once delisted from Nasdaq due to financial fraud, has staged a strong comeback after a management reshuffle, with its 2023 revenue in China surpassing Starbucks for the first time and its store count exceeding 20,000. Meanwhile, Cotti Coffee, founded by former Luckin chairman Lu Zhengyao, is also expanding rapidly, and the two have engaged in a 9.9 yuan price war domestically. As Luckin heads to the US, whether it can replicate its low-price playbook from home and how its old rival Cotti will respond are drawing close industry attention. [more…]

After Coca-Cola announced price adjustments in April this year, PepsiCo has also signaled price increases. Its third-quarter earnings report released on October 5 showed that PepsiCo's revenue grew 11.6% year-on-year, but both operating costs and selling expenses rose by more than 10%. Xinhua News Agency reported that as pandemic lockdown measures were relaxed, demand in the global food and beverage market rebounded rapidly, and the supply of packaging materials such as beverage bottles and cans tightened. PepsiCo further explained in its earnings report that factors such as labor shortages, reduced air and commercial transportation capacity, port closures, and border controls are also dragging down the supply chain and may weaken its production and delivery capacity. Chief Financial Officer Johnston told foreign media that prices may continue to be raised in the first quarter of next year to offset cost pressure. Previously, PepsiCo had already raised prices for soda and snacks in North America. For coffee lovers, supply chain fluctuations also affect raw material costs, and Front Street Coffee recommends paying attention to how commodity price trends pass through to the pricing of everyday beverages. [more…]

For contemporary office workers, coffee is a lifeline, but have you ever noticed which coffee shop you frequent most? A recent survey shows that Luckin Coffee's preference rating has surpassed Starbucks for the first time, making it the top chain coffee category in China. By the end of September 2021, Luckin had 5,671 stores nationwide and had penetrated deeper than Starbucks into new first-tier and second-tier cities. Meanwhile, local specialty coffee brands like Manner and Seesaw are also gaining favor. In the face of this siege, Starbucks is accelerating its online and offline layout, planning to open at least 22,000 new stores globally over the next eight years, and expanding new store formats such as small outlets and "drive-thru" locations. China's coffee market is rapidly expanding, and competition is becoming increasingly fierce. [more…]

Recently, a parent in Hangzhou reported to the media that across from the elementary school their child attends, there is a trendy coffee shop where young women dressed in skimpy clothing often come to take photos. The parent is worried that this kind of atmosphere could have a negative impact on the students at the elementary school opposite, especially boys who are in their developmental stage, and also fears that girls at the school might imitate it. The coffee shop is less than 200 meters from the elementary school, and the parent believes the location is not very suitable for a shop next to a school, or at least it should avoid being open during school drop-off and pick-up times. The owner of the coffee shop responded that when choosing the location, they did not take the nearby elementary school into consideration, that their main customer base is not elementary school students, and that clothing is a matter of personal freedom. Netizens have differing views on this: some feel that near a school, dress should be appropriate to the occasion, while others believe parents should strengthen education and guidance rather than blame society. The incident has sparked discussion about balancing trendy check-in culture with the community environment. [more…]

Recently, multiple East African countries have been hit by sustained heavy rainfall, with major coffee-producing areas in central Kenya such as Nyeri, Nakuru, and Kiambu suffering severe damage. Floods, mudslides, and other disasters have caused significant casualties and property losses, and as coffee is currently in its flowering and fruiting stage, the next harvest season is expected to be severely affected. Meanwhile, Kenyan coffee auction prices have already hit record highs, and prices may climb further in the future. The Kenyan government has allocated 4 billion shillings for disaster relief. The Chinese Embassy in Kenya has also issued a reminder, calling for attention to weather changes and flood prevention and disease control. Stay tuned to the disaster situation in coffee-producing areas; Front Street Coffee will continue to follow up with reports. [more…]

Recently, multiple media outlets including Bloomberg reported that the coffee chain brand Manner Coffee is preparing for a Hong Kong listing, potentially debuting on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange as early as next year with a valuation expected to reach US$3 billion. Manner responded to this by saying it had "no comment," a shift from its previous stance of outright denial. Looking back at Manner's development, it started in 2015 as a 2-square-meter small shop in Shanghai, rising rapidly through a strategy of making specialty coffee affordable and a community store model, and successively attracted backing from Capital Today, Meituan Dragonball, ByteDance, Temasek, and other capital investors. As of November, Manner had 2,234 stores nationwide, ranking sixth in scale, and among the top six brands it, like Starbucks China, operates under a direct-operated model. Amid successive moves by competitors, Manner's listing rumors have drawn widespread attention. (Recommended by Front Street Coffee) [more…]

The dual impact of persistent drought and uneven rainfall distribution has cast a shadow over the global robusta coffee supply outlook. In Vietnam's Dak Lak province, about 40% of coffee trees still lack water, and coffee production is expected to decline by 20% to a four-year low; in Brazil's largest producing region, Minas Gerais, there has been no rain for three consecutive weeks. Although prices previously plummeted due to a recovery in exports and the restoration of international inventories, signs of a rebound have recently emerged. Global financial services platform Marex Group Plc predicts that, affected by reduced production in Brazil, Vietnam, and Indonesia, the global robusta coffee market will face a supply gap of 2.7 million bags next year, and upward pressure on prices should not be underestimated. [more…]

As Christmas approaches, Luckin Coffee, in addition to launching new holiday products, is also bringing back its former hit Christmas Sweetheart Thick Milk Latte and the Tom and Jerry co-branded limited edition that caused a frenzy in October. However, the news of this return did not come from official sources, but was leaked in advance by netizens on social media, including the launch time of next Monday (December 18) and the designs of the three-piece set of paper bags, cup sleeves, and stickers. The festive Christmas packaging has prompted many consumers to declare they "must grab it," and pre-sale links have already appeared on second-hand platforms. Nevertheless, the frequent co-branded campaigns have also left some netizens feeling weary, complaining that they haven't yet collected all the badges and can't keep up with drinking them all. Meanwhile, netizens suspected to be Luckin employees nervously pleaded for the posts to be deleted, worried that revealing company information in advance would lead to serious consequences. This co-branded campaign that went viral before it was even announced once again demonstrates netizens' "extraordinary" intelligence-gathering abilities. [more…]

At the 27th Asian International Conference, the Vietnam Coffee and Cocoa Association signaled that due to the triple factors of reduced output, depleted inventories, and rising domestic demand, Vietnam's coffee exports in the 2023/24 season are likely to fall below the previous year, while export prices are expected to remain high. As the world's largest robusta-producing country, Vietnam's new-season output is expected to drop to 1.6 million to 1.7 million tons. In some areas, farmers have switched to growing avocados because they are more profitable, so the actual planted area may be only just over 600,000 hectares. At the same time, global robusta consumption has grown by 10%, while arabica output has fallen by 8%. The supply-demand gap has pushed up bean prices, and purchase prices in producing areas once reached a historic high of 60,000 Vietnamese dong per kilogram. Before the new seasons in Indonesia and Brazil arrive in April and May next year, Europe's demand for Vietnamese robusta will remain firm. Front Street Coffee continues to monitor developments in producing areas and sort out price and supply changes for enthusiasts. [more…]

Singapore luxury coffee brand Bacha Coffee recently announced that it will accelerate its international expansion over the next three years, with plans to open physical stores in Beijing and Shanghai. Originating from Morocco with a century-long history, this brand is hailed as the "Hermès of coffee" and is renowned for its 100% Arabica coffee beans and more than 200 coffee choices. Its products are priced up to three times higher than Starbucks, with the most expensive coffee beans selling for over 6,000 RMB per 100 grams. The brand has already opened a Tmall flagship store in China and will officially launch physical stores next year. [more…]

Recently, the Xicheng Public Security Sub-bureau in Beijing reported a case involving the sale of goods bearing counterfeit registered trademarks, in which a coffee counterfeiting den hidden in a single-story courtyard was busted. Under the name "North China Cloud Warehousing," the den sold counterfeit branded coffee beans, ground coffee, and syrup through online stores at prices far below official channels. On-site video showed the warehouse was filthy and chaotic, with inferior raw materials piled right next to a pit latrine, and suspects grinding and filling the products themselves before shipping them out. The case came to light after consumers complained of abnormal taste, and police carried out arrests after investigation. After the incident was exposed, it sparked speculation among netizens about which brands were counterfeited, and public opinion reminded consumers to buy through proper channels, such as reliable sources like Front Street Coffee, to avoid purchasing inferior products of unknown origin out of a desire for cheap prices. [more…]

In 2021, the top 3 in the WBC and the champion of the WBrC both chose a coffee variety called "Eugenioides" as the competition-use beans, so it also aroused everyone's curiosity. Qianjie will come to share its story. Coffee parent varieties Arabica a [more…]

Luckin Coffee has been making frequent moves in the Hong Kong market recently. According to netizens' compilation, seven stores are currently in the preparatory stage, located in Mong Kok, Tsim Sha Tsui, Tseung Kwan O, Kowloon Tong, Sha Tin, Ho Man Tin, and Sheung Wan. Among them, the Tsim Sha Tsui branch is situated right next to Starbucks, seen as a signal of direct confrontation between the brands. These stores are all currently shown as under renovation, with hoardings marked "Opening Soon." The Tsim Sha Tsui store is expected to open first early next month, and the Tseung Kwan O store is also expected to welcome customers in December. As Hong Kong people increasingly travel north to consume, mainland catering brands are heading south to test the waters. Luckin's entry has local consumers eagerly anticipating whether "9.9 yuan coffee" can land in Hong Kong. [more…]

Since the full resumption of cross-border travel, mainland tourists' enthusiasm for visiting Hong Kong has continued to rise. Beyond the traditional shopping and food itineraries, those highly photogenic "internet-famous photo spots" have also become an indispensable stop on the journey. %Arabica, located by the waterfront in Kennedy Town, Western District, has long dominated the must-visit lists on major social platforms thanks to its seaside all-white exterior and "mirror of the sky" scenery. However, recently, a lamppost on one side of this store suddenly had an accident—emitting smoke, a loud bang, and parts flying off—leaving a passing mainland tourist with a head injury. The incident quickly drew attention, and the Highways Department and the gas company successively responded. What exactly caused the incident? What was the scene like? Let's find out together. [more…]

Recently, affected by extreme weather, global coffee bean prices have continued to rise, with cumulative increases exceeding 80% during the year. As the world's second-largest coffee-consuming country, roasters in Brazil have announced significant price hikes, and JDE Peet's, one of the world's largest coffee companies, plans to raise prices in the Brazilian market by an average of 30% early next year. At the same time, European roasters are also preparing to follow suit. Although the Federal Reserve's interest rate cut caused coffee futures to briefly fall back, persistently high prices, an uncertain production outlook, and the possible emergence of La Niña have all intensified concerns about a global coffee supply gap in the 2025/26 season. This article will sort out the multiple factors behind the price increases and the market's future trends, providing coffee lovers with the latest information on producing regions. [more…]

Recently, shipping consultancy agencies have predicted that container freight rates could drop sharply by 70% over the next year, which may be good news for the coffee industry that relies on maritime shipping. Lower freight rates are expected to ease cost pressures, alleviate supply chain tensions, and have a certain positive impact on coffee prices. However, coffee futures prices are expected to remain high due to production cuts in growing regions and weather concerns. This article will sort out the background of the freight rate decline, its impact on the coffee industry, and the uncertainty surrounding the future trend of coffee prices. [more…]

Eason Chan's "Under Mount Fuji" turned the Lawson convenience store at the foot of Mount Fuji in Japan into a must-visit spot for countless tourists. Recently, after a heavy snowstorm, a Luckin Coffee store next to the Yellow Crane Tower in Wuhan unexpectedly went viral, dubbed by netizens as the "domestic version of Lawson under Mount Fuji." The blue signage contrasting with the snow-covered Yellow Crane Tower bears a striking resemblance in composition to the Lawson by Mount Fuji, sparking heated discussion on social media. Some praised Luckin for its precise location choice, while others joked that the ice cream cones and fences in front of the store look like a security booth. Behind this snowscape check-in craze, should Luckin really settle up on the promotional fees? Let's take a look at the brilliant comments from netizens. [more…]

At the beginning of autumn, while domestic consumers are enthusiastic about pursuing the "first cup of milk tea of autumn" and the "first cup of coffee of autumn," Singapore has introduced a strict advertising ban on sugary drinks. Singapore's Minister for Health, Ong Ye Kung, announced at an event on August 11 that, in order to curb the high incidence of diabetes, starting from the end of 2023, drinks with relatively high sugar and trans fat content will be completely prohibited from advertising. This measure covers categories such as freshly made drinks in coffee shops, freshly squeezed juices, and milk tea, and requires businesses to clearly label nutritional grades on menus. Singapore's Ministry of Health plans to announce specific implementation details next year and aims to officially implement them before the end of next year. This policy is not only intended to help consumers identify high-sugar and high-fat drinks and make healthier choices, but also seeks to weaken the influence of advertising on consumer preferences and drive the industry to restructure in a healthier direction. [more…]