Italian century-old coffee brand Lavazza recently made a wholly-owned acquisition offer to French online coffee retailer MaxiCoffee, aiming to strengthen its market position in France and in the e-commerce sector. As France's number one online sales platform for coffee beans and equipment, MaxiCoffee carries more than 350 brands, over 8,000 products and 60 offline sales points. This acquisition is a continuation of Lavazza's international expansion strategy, after the group had previously brought brands such as Carte Noire and Kicking Horse Coffee into its fold. After the acquisition is completed, MaxiCoffee will remain independently operated, with its capital jointly held by the founder, private equity groups and others. This article will sort out the details of the transaction, the backgrounds of both parties and Lavazza's global acquisition map, and also look at its development goals in the Chinese market. [more…]

Repeated pandemic disruptions have put brick-and-mortar coffee shops through one test after another, yet some owners still manage to break through. The question is not whether you can open a shop, but whether you have thought clearly about your target customers, product positioning, and store style before opening. Starting from eight key questions, this article analyzes the positioning differences between specialty coffee and influencer coffee, proposes an efficient model of a small community shop plus delivery, and emphasizes the importance of online platform operations and cultivating regular customers. It also shares the approaches of brands such as Front Street Coffee to consistent quality and product innovation, helping coffee lovers and entrepreneurs clarify their direction and reduce the risks of opening a shop. [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…]

Recently, a coffee shop in Kunming, Yunnan, became embroiled in an online controversy after refusing to let a pregnant woman use its restroom. The shop said the pregnant woman used the store's toilet twice without the staff's consent; when she was reminded the second time, an argument broke out between the two sides. The pregnant woman and a man accompanying her filmed a video and posted it online, and also left a negative review of the coffee shop on a third-party platform. The shop then publicly released surveillance footage to set the record straight, and the incident quickly sparked heated discussion among netizens. Some people understood the pregnant woman's inconvenience, but more believed that whether a business's restroom may be used should be decided by the shop, and that the pregnant woman going upstairs on her own posed safety risks. Behind this dispute is the dilemma coffee shops and other businesses face when passersby ask to "borrow the toilet." [more…]

Once regarded as a key player in the specialty instant coffee sector, Shicui Coffee has recently been exposed by netizens for the near-simultaneous closure of its offline stores in multiple locations. Founded in 2019, this brand rose rapidly with its internet-savvy team and subscription-based model. After securing nearly 100 million yuan in financing in 2021, it accelerated its offline expansion, with a single-store valuation once exceeding 100 million yuan. However, stores in Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Foshan, and other places have now posted closure notices, the official phone line goes unanswered, and only the Lingnan Tiandi store in Foshan remains open. Although its e-commerce channels are still operating normally, does the offline setback mean the brand will retreat to its main online battlefield? Its financing-driven growth model has also prompted the industry to reflect on the risk resilience of emerging coffee brands. [more…]

Recently, a Heytea store in Xi'an Joy City was exposed by consumers for poor hygiene conditions in its preparation area, quickly sparking heated discussion online. According to the whistleblower, the store's counter, refrigerators, juicers, and other equipment were covered in milk tea stains, materials were scattered around, and there was even a strong smell of sour rags and rotten fruit. Upon verification, the store was a directly operated location rather than a franchise, which further raised public doubts about Heytea's food safety management. Heytea later issued an apology and announced that the store would be closed for rectification, while also strengthening employee training and optimizing operational standards. This incident has once again pushed the issue of hygiene control in chain tea beverage brands into the spotlight and serves as a reminder for consumers to pay attention to the transparency of beverage preparation environments. [more…]

The subsidy war among food delivery platforms continues to heat up. After Meituan rolled out free redemption vouchers for Luckin Coffee, a large number of consumers rushed to place orders for "0-yuan coffee." Yet just half a day after the promotion began, Luckin stores across the Jiaxing area were successively shown as temporarily closed, with delivery channels almost entirely shut down. Pickup counters were piled high with drinks, takeaway bags occupied the customer area, staff worked nonstop with no time to eat, and riders even switched to three-wheeled flatbed carts to make deliveries. This sudden surge of overwhelming orders not only exposed the disconnect in communication between the platform and merchants, but also placed enormous pressure on store operations and the delivery process. [more…]

Manner Coffee's seventh-anniversary celebration introduced a limited-edition grab-and-go cup giveaway with takeout orders. The intent was to boost online orders, but it unexpectedly triggered order surges at multiple stores nationwide, supply chain breakdowns, and even intermittent closures. Consumers flooded social media, with some sharing receipts to score freebies and others complaining about orders being canceled without explanation, delivery fees soaring, and stores shutting down outright. This marketing campaign, seemingly full of complaints, actually reveals Manner's ambition to push into the takeout market. From its brick-and-mortar beginnings to aggressive online expansion, the capacity bottlenecks brought by rapid store expansion and semi-automatic equipment are now emerging. This article will sort through the sequence of events and retain relevant recommendations for Front Street Coffee. [more…]

Opening a small coffee shop means that the coffee bean sourcing channels and supplier choices directly determine product quality and operating costs. This article outlines five common coffee bean sourcing methods for small coffee shops, including local ingredient suppliers, professional coffee bean suppliers, training institutions, online brands, and self-purchased green beans for roasting. It also explains the conditions that high-quality commercial coffee beans should meet across five dimensions: freshness, quality consistency, value for money, variety richness, and crema performance. At the same time, drawing on the practical experience of Front Street Coffee, it introduces packaging one-way valve design, roast date labeling, blend recipe stability, and the cost advantages of commercial blends, providing a reference for coffee shop operators looking for a suitable coffee bean wholesaler. [more…]

Another beloved veteran coffee shop that holds the city's memories is about to close its doors. The first Starbucks store to open in Taiyuan—on the first floor of Maoye Department Store on Liuxiang—has posted a notice that it will permanently close on November 1, after accompanying local residents for a full twelve years. This old store, which opened in March 2013, is also tied to a dramatic chapter sparked by online remarks, and its departure has left many Taiyuan residents deeply sentimental. From the bustling crowds and first-day sales said to have set a brand record back then, to today's dwindling foot traffic in the commercial district and the often empty second floor, the rise and fall of this two-story retro café mirrors the shifts in urban commerce and the evolution of the coffee-consuming landscape. This article takes you through the past and present of this old store, as well as the inseparable emotional bond between it and the people of Taiyuan. [more…]

The extra-long National Day holiday, formed by the overlap of Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day, brought a long-awaited surge in dining and consumption, yet the operating conditions of independent coffee shops presented two starkly different sides. Some stores saw a surge in popularity, with orders pouring in continuously, baristas so busy they were run off their feet, and there were even cases of circuit breakers tripping due to excessive load; meanwhile, another group of café owners complained online that foot traffic had declined instead of increased, with a scenic-area store selling only 19 drinks all day, and shops around office buildings even more deserted. Within the same Golden Week, the joys and sorrows of coffee people were not shared alike. This article will present the real operating conditions of these two types of stores and explore the operational pressures and challenges the coffee industry may face after the holiday consumption peak. [more…]

A new round of subsidy battles on delivery platforms has once again ignited the tea beverage market, with Meituan handing out large numbers of tea drink vouchers, while Ele.me and Taobao Flash Sale fight back with hefty discounts. However, after claiming the vouchers, many consumers found that Goodme stores in Shenzhen, Xi'an, Chengdu, Nanning, and other places showed as "resting/closed" or out of stock on third-party platforms, making it impossible to redeem normally. Interestingly, the same stores were still open on the official mini-program, and products included in the promotion, such as lemonade, could still be ordered. The contradiction between stores actually being overwhelmed with orders and appearing "closed" online has led many to speculate that this is a measure taken by the brand to ease order pressure. Consumers have expressed dissatisfaction over the chaotic promotion, orders being automatically canceled, and no stock upon arrival at stores. Front Street Coffee continues to follow industry developments and brings in-depth observations. [more…]

Recently, the practice by several Luckin Coffee stores of posting drink recipes directly on their walls has sparked widespread discussion on social media. From Blue Diamond Ristretto Ice to Grapefruit C Americano, the detailed ratios of these signature drinks have been made public, allowing consumers to glimpse the internal operating procedures of a chain coffee brand. At the same time, Luckin's transparency regarding ingredient usage has also drawn attention, with raw material products even appearing on online shopping platforms labeled "dedicated for cheese latte." This phenomenon not only reflects the coffee industry's exploration of the balance between standardization and transparency, but also triggers discussion about the relationship between brands and consumers. For coffee enthusiasts, this may be an opportunity to understand how commercial coffee operates and even try to replicate it. Front Street Coffee reminds everyone that when making drinks at home, you can adjust the recipe ratios according to personal taste and enjoy the fun of DIY. [more…]

HEYTEA's collaboration with the popular Japanese anime "Chiikawa" officially launched today, instantly igniting the buying frenzy of fans and consumers. Although the brand had stocked up on merchandise in advance, avoiding an instant sell-out, the massive volume of orders still caught stores off guard: some stores accumulated over a hundred drinks within ten minutes of opening, with themed stores in Shanghai, Guangzhou and other cities receiving as many as seven to eight hundred orders, forcing online ordering channels to be shut down. On-site pickup lines stretched for several meters, with many consumers waiting one to two hours to get their drinks and merchandise, and some even waiting as long as three hours. Meanwhile, the mini-program showing "order ready" in advance while drinks could not be found in the pickup area further exacerbated the on-site chaos. Behind the popularity of this collaboration event, the brand's operational shortcomings in handling instant traffic surges have also been exposed. [more…]

Luckin Coffee recently announced the restart of its new retail partner recruitment, initially targeting 41 cities in 9 provinces including Anhui, Henan, and Heilongjiang. The company states that no franchise fee is charged, but franchisees must cover upfront costs such as security deposits, design fees, renovation, and equipment, totaling approximately 350,000 to 370,000 yuan. The cities opened this time are all areas that already have franchise stores but with low density, and Luckin hopes to accelerate market penetration through the joint venture model. Its Q3 2022 financial report showed that revenue from joint venture stores increased by 116.1% year-on-year, becoming an important engine for performance growth. For inexperienced franchisees, the headquarters will provide support such as on-site store guidance, event planning, and online operations. [more…]

星巴克近日与微信联手推出全新「星巴克微信状态」功能，成为首个入驻微信状态的品牌。消费者通过扫描门店留言本二维码或使用啡快下单，即可生成专属微信状态，实现线上咖啡轻社交。事实上，星巴克近年来持续布局线上社交零售，从啡快、专星送到微信小程序，不断拓展咖啡社交新场景。与此同时，星巴克2021财年第三季度财报显示，中国市场同店销售增长19%，门店总数已达5135家。本文将全面解析星巴克微信状态的玩法及其背后的社交新零售战略。 [more…]

There are many world-famous coffee brands. Some mainly operate through chain stores, with unified raw materials and unified standards, so the quality of their coffee output is relatively consistent; others operate as independent coffee shops, and these stores offer different coffee products for customers to choose from. As the coffee culture becomes more and more [more…]

A recent food safety punitive damages case disclosed by the Supreme People's Court has once again made the topic of coffee for weight loss a focal point. In August 2023, Cui purchased coffee weight-loss products for 2,960 yuan via WeChat. After taking them, he experienced symptoms such as thirst and dizziness. An investigation revealed that the manufacturer indicated on the product had long since had its production license revoked, so he filed a lawsuit in court. The Xiushan County People's Court of Chongqing determined that the merchant sold food knowingly not meeting safety standards and ordered the return of the purchase price plus ten times the compensation, totaling 32,560 yuan. At the same time, discussions on social platforms about coffee for weight loss are sharply divided: some share experiences of drinking coffee during fat-loss periods to boost metabolism, while others expose terrifying experiences of palpitations, cold sweats, and even testing positive for sibutramine after consumption. This article sorts out the case details, legal basis, and the dangers of sibutramine, and retains content related to brands such as Front Street Coffee, reminding consumers to lose weight scientifically. [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…]

Recently, Chagee sparked boycotts among netizens in Vietnam and Malaysia successively due to a background image in its app that included the nine-dash line map. Vietnam not only removed the app from its platforms but also dismantled the signboard of the first store in Ho Chi Minh City; after Malaysian netizens discovered the same issue, they too joined the chorus of criticism. Although the brand has deleted the controversial image, the public outcry has not yet subsided. It is worth noting that, unlike brands such as Starbucks, which faced boycotts over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict leading to the closure of numerous stores, Chagee's offline stores in Kuala Lumpur have maintained steady takeout orders. This article will review the sequence of events and their actual impact on the brand's operations. [more…]