China’s local fast-food industry: The next battleground for foreign and local brands in lower-tier cities
China’s fast-food market was valued at RMB 1.28 trillion in 2023, and it expected to grow, particularly driven by the rising demand from lower-tier city consumers. With higher-cities reaching saturation, international fast-food chains are expanding to third- and fourth-tier cities. Similarly, in the local fast-food industry in China, brands like Wallace and Tastien have stronger […]
“Why Chinese fast food is becoming less affordable as well?”: Trending hashtag on Chinese social media
Over the decades following the opening of the first KFC in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square in 1987, Western fast food was typically perceived as higher-end or even luxurious. This was attributed to its pricing and China’s economic conditions at that time. However, there has been a notable shift in the general perception of both Western and […]
“The stock price of Three Squirrels has dropped by 80% compared to its peak”: Trending hashtag on Chinese social media
The spotlight turned towards China’s snack industry as the hashtag #the stock price of Three Squirrels has dropped by 80% compared to its peak# (三只松鼠股价较巅峰时跌80%) started trending in the 2nd week of December on Weibo. Once renowned as “the best-performing share of national snacks,” Three Squirrels seems to have lost its prominence with a steady […]
COVID-19 impact on Chinese consumption
COVID-19 impact on Chinese consumption had unique outcomes in every industry. For example, mobile games and short-video markets experienced tremendous growth, while restaurants and services struggled to make ends meet. What Chinese people did at home during the epidemic The main lock-downs of the Coronavirus epidemic in China lasted over two months. However, as China’s […]
China Paradigm 87: Learning business innovation in China through cooking
Matthieu David interviews Sandrine Delabrière, Innovation & Strategic marketing consultant, Food expert – certified Chef, instructor & author. Is innovation something that can be taught? In this episode, we learn about teaching innovation through cooking and how Sandrine has managed to build her company by helping other companies think strategically and creatively. Her workshops are […]
[Podcast] China paradigm #15: How to successfully run a coffee shop chain in China
In this episode of China paradigm, Matthieu David, CEO of Daxue Consulting, catches up with Carol Liu, who managed up to 5 coffee shops in China she co-created with her husband. Liu’s Coffee chain “Big Sur” is serving 500 coffee cups a day and emphasizes high quality, using top-notch coffee machines and bean-grinding machinery from […]