Luckin’s 30,000th store milestone adds buzz to China’s brewing coffee battle

Luckin Coffee, mainland China’s largest coffee chain by store count, marked its milestone 30,000th outlet on Sunday in Shenzhen, with plans to boost global supply chain integration by sourcing premium beans from top producing regions worldwide.Headquartered in Xiamen, southeast China’s Fujian province, Luckin’s store network spans more than 300 cities nationwide, and its international footprint is expanding fast, with operations in overseas markets like Singapore, Malaysia and the US. It operated 118 overseas stores as of the third quarter of 2025, the company said.The new outlet also marks the brand’s first flagship store themed around global coffee origins, reflected in its design and exclusive premium menu. Luckin chairman Li Hui said at the opening ceremony that the company was committed to bringing authentic flavours from Indonesia, Brazil, Colombia and other world-renowned producing regions to consumers.“This is more than just savouring a cup of coffee – it is the start of a genuine journey through global coffee flavours, which represents a pivotal elevation of Luckin’s corporate vision and mission,” Li said.Large-scale operations often allowed for centralised procurement, which could lead to better cost management through increased bargaining power, according to Sandy Lim, director at S&P Global Ratings. As companies grew, ensuring a reliable supply of high-quality ingredients could become more challenging. It was common for them to move upstream to gain more control, Lim added.“A global supply network provides some resilience against disruptions like climate-related harvest issues, and also allows for a wider range of product offerings to appeal to different consumer preferences,” Lim said.The new outlet marks the brand’s first flagship store themed around global coffee origins, reflected in its design and exclusive premium menu, according to the company. Photo: Handout