From milk tea to chili sauce: Can Sexy Tea (茶颜悦色) catch up with CHAGEE (霸王茶姬)?
Founded in 2013 in Changsha, Hunan, Sexy Tea (茶颜悦色) built its brand around “New Chinese-style Fresh Tea”(新中式鲜茶) focusing primarily on light milk tea (轻乳茶). Thanks to its distinctive flavor and exclusive local business model, it quickly gained popularity. However, while its reputation soared, Sexy Tea remained cautious about expansion and only ventured beyond Changsha […]
China’s winter apparel market: What Chinese wore for their “New Year Battle Outfits” (新年战袍)
In 2024, China’s winter apparel market held the largest share in the Asia Pacific region, which accounted for 35.4% of the global market revenue. Drivers for winter apparel purchases include the growing popularity of winter tourism and winter sports. Around 313 million people have participated in ice and snow sports or other winter-related leisure activities […]
Starbucks in China: Will it lose the battle against Luckin Coffee?
Starbucks’s history began in 1971 with its first store opened in Seattle. Since then, the chain has continuously developed and, as of 2023, it has over 32,000 stores in 80 countries. In China, it opened its first store in Beijing, which was also the first ever foreign coffee shop to enter China. It grew so popular that, […]
Standing out in the competitive market through branding in China
In the huge, complex, and highly competitive market, the role of branding in China in building a successful business has become increasingly crucial. Not only is there more pressure from other brands, but people’s needs and desires are also becoming more diverse and many are preferring local brands as reflected in the Guochao marketing trends. […]
Key considerations for foreign brands’ co-branding in China
In recent years, co-branding in China has become very popular, with a wide variety of co-branding targets, from food and drink, clothing, anime, and IP to games. This type of strategic alliance is highly effective in boosting sales and raising brand visibility. To tap into the Chinese market, international brands are diligently navigating the dos […]
Following the vibes of music streaming platforms in China
The musical market in China is one of the fastest-growing markets worldwide. In 2023, the sector’s revenue increased by around 25% compared to the previous year. The digital music industry represents the backbone of the music market. As of 2023, it had a revenue of more than RMB 32.2 billion (USD 4.5 billion). The trend […]
Brewing a remarkable resurgence: Luckin Coffee’s tale of innovation and redemption
In the hyper-competitive Chinese coffee market, few stories are as gripping as that of Luckin Coffee (瑞幸咖啡). Once embroiled in a scandal that led to its expulsion from Wall Street in 2020, Luckin Coffee has not just clawed back to its former glory but has also eclipsed some of the industry giants. As of early […]
French brands shine in the 60th anniversary of Sino-French relations
The year 2024 will mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and France. Presently, China holds the position of France’s third-largest trading partner after the EU and the US. From a modest beginning of USD 100 million in 1964, the annual bilateral trade volume has surged remarkably, reaching USD 81.2 billion in 2022 […]
Yum China’s weaving success through digitalization, localization, and CSR
Yum China holds a pivotal position in China’s F&B industry, being a key player with a diverse portfolio of well-established brands. The company, formerly known as Yum! Brands China Division, became independently listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 2016, under the ticker symbol YUMC, with its headquarters in Shanghai. As of February 8, […]
From Genki Forest to Chi Forest: a Chinese soda brand planning to become the “Coca-Cola” of China
Founded in 2016, Chi Forest (previously known as Genki Forest) is a Chinese soft drink brand that specializes in sparkling water and instant tea. It is also renowned for its low-calorie, low-sugar products, catering to the Chinese Generation Z and Millennials, who seek healthier consumer options. Being only 7-year-old Chi Forest became the fastest-growing beverage brand in […]
Walmart in China: How the world’s largest retailer is trying to win local consumers back?
Founded in the US by Sam Walton in 1962, Walmart has now grown to be the largest retailer in the world with over 10,500 stores across 19 countries. The brand’s story with the Chinese market started in 1996 with Walmart’s first location in Shenzhen. Walmart became one of the earliest foreign companies that set foot in the […]
Tesla in China: Dominating the EV market with 0 marketing budget
Since its establishment in 2003, Tesla has aimed to create Electric Vehicles (EVs) for the wider market, focusing on practical value. This includes features like extended range, rechargeability, energy efficiency, reasonable pricing, and solid performance—all woven into modern design. Tesla strategically positions itself across market segments, addressing the premium luxury market with models like the […]