The Chinese bubble tea giant who beat Starbucks, McDonald’s to become the largest fast food chain in the world – Firstpost

This bubble tea chain has more locations than McDonald’s and Starbucks.

Chinese society operates across Asia and Australia.

He has now passed McDonald’s and Starbucks to become the largest food and drinking chain in the world by the number of stores.

Read also | Sirot Sirage: Meet Yun’an Wang, Bubble tea magnate which is the last billionaire in China

Last September, he had more than 45,000 points of sale
China And 11 other countries, including Thailand, Singapore and Australia.

Meanwhile, McDonald’s has more than 43,000 restaurants in more than 100 countries, while Starbucks operates around 40,000 stores worldwide.

What company is it? And how did he become the largest food and drinking chain in the world?

The largest food chain in the world is …

Mix ice and tea.

He is pronounced as “Me-Schway”.

According to Technomic research firm, the channel ended last year with 45,000 stores, which has more than doubled its locations in just three years.

The mixture (pronounced Meschway) began as a store in 1997, selling shaved ice (Indian Gola). Collected $ 400 million in its IPO Monday. Exceeded McDonalds in terms of number of points of sale. It is the spirit that blows that many people in the world have hardly heard the name of the brand. pic.twitter.com/mjqhfbpaws

– Bhupeh Pangti (@bpangti) March 4, 2025

This bubble and ice cream tea chain was founded in 1997 in the Chinese province of Henan and made its debut on the Hong Kong stock market on Monday. He offered nearly 17.1 million shares, increasing $ 3.45 billion in Hong Kong.

A key factor behind its success is affordability. In particular, Mixue sells frozen and sweet drinks for less than $ 1.

Often considered to be China’s largest chain for frozen drinks, milk tea and ice cream, the mixture works differently from a typical drink brand.

Instead of focusing only on retail, it works more as a supplier of raw materials.

Unlike Starbucks, which directly manages 53% of its stores, Mixue is based almost entirely on crossing, with more than 99% of its locations operated by franchisees.

Mixue growth arrives at a time when many in China face
economic difficultiesIncluding a real estate crisis and the decline in the confidence of consumers and businesses.

How mixed has become the largest fast food chain in the world

Mixue is now the largest fast food chain in the world by the number of stores.

Its affordability is its greatest draw, as customers said in Singapore Initiate of Business. The chain has approximately 20 points of sale in Singapore, all operating like take -out counters.

Founded in 1997 by Zhang Hongchao, Mixue began as a small shaved ice store in Henan, a province with Chinese heart.

Its rapid expansion is attributed to the simplicity of its bright red stores, often found like small stands alongside telephone repair kiosks or balls.

The menu is short and sweet, with its signature ice cream horn, various bubble tea options and lemonade, which makes China’s largest lemons buyer. It also maintains the lower franchise costs than those of the competitors, generating most of its income by providing ingredients with franchisees.

Affairs remains a key factor in its success, especially since the Chinese economy is faced with challenges. In a point of sale to mix in the bay of the caseway of Hong Kong, said Wang Li, 42, Wang Li Cnn She likes her treats for the budget.

“I don’t even bother to check the price,” she said.

However, low prices alone do not explain the cultural impact of mix in
China. The brand’s mascot, Snow King and its catchy theme song helped cement its place in popular culture.

According to The Wall Street JournalSnow King – A round and cartoon character, has become as recognizable in China as Ronald McDonald or Colonel Sanders. The theme song of mix, which plays in its stores, has an equally strong brand reminder, with an English version which says: “I love you. You love me. Mix ice and tea. »»

In its IPO, Mixue has declared its intention to develop on a global scale but has not mentioned the plans to enter the United States currently, around 90% of its stores are in China, the remaining outlets distributed in 10 other Asian countries and Australia.

Ernan Cui, an analyst based in Beijing at the research firm Givekal Dragonomics, told the newspaper: “People are pursuing more profitable products.” She added that Mixue is particularly popular in small towns, where she concentrated her expansion.

According to Initiate of BusinessThe cheapest item in the Singapore menu is King Cone ice cream, at the price of SGD 1.50 (approximately RS 97.40). The most expensive is the sgd 4 strawberry cheese drink (RS 259.72), while most drinks range from 2.50 SGD to 3.50 SGD (RS 162.33 to Rs 227.26).

Eden Loke, 23, who works in communications, has heard of a mix for the first time when a person disguised as snow King has become viral to make a sales complex in Singapore. The mascot buffoonery, including a dance with the mascot of another brand, have become viral on Tiktok.

“Viral marketing, the sympathetic brand, the word of the family and the unbeatable prices have resonated with me,” Loke told the media.

Its essential order is Kiwi Oolong tea, which costs 3.50 SGD (RS 227.26). She said that the low price was the main reason why she chose mixed rather than other brands.

The story behind the mixture of Zhang

Founded in Zhengzhou, the capital of Henan province, Mixue began as a small ice cream store shaved in 1997. However, success did not come immediately.

Zhang Hongchao and his brothers came from an agricultural family, Caijing reported. As a student in financial difficulty, Zhang built a shaved ice machine and began to sell his creations under the name of Coldnap.

This adventure failed, preventing him from going to the opening of a restaurant called mix. In 2005, he installed a snack counter at the front of the restaurant, selling 1 -year ice cream horn.

Read also | Bye bye Burberry: why China abandons luxury for dupes

The affordable flexible service was an instant success. Customers flocked to his shop and he quickly extended to 20 points of sale.

Its pricing strategy has helped mix low -income students and consumers, especially in small Chinese cities.

As bubble tea has gained popularity, mixed added it to its menu. In 2017, Zhang launched a coffee brand called Lucky Cup.

In 2007, Zhang’s younger brother Zhang Hongfu joined Mixue as a co-founder. He is now the CEO of the company, while their older brother is no longer involved in daily operations.

According to the Bloomberg billionaires indexThe company’s IPO gave Honghao and Hongfu a combined fortune of $ 8.1 billion. This makes them richer than the former CEO of Starbucks, Howard Schultz, whose net value exceeds $ 6 billion.

With agency entries