[Trending News] China Fast food chain surpasses McDonald's in number of stores

A Mixue Ice Creamfrom China, became the largest network of food and drinks in the world in number of stores, above the McDonald’s and Starbucks. The brand sells ice cream and drinks for under $ 1 and is present throughout Asia and Australia, with 45,000 stores by the end of 2024, according to the research company Technomic.

+ Read more news from World west

Founded in 1997, the network of fast-food More than doubled the number of stores in the last three years. Mixue raised more than $ 400 million in the initial public offering (IPO) of its actions in Hong Kongheld last Monday, 24. The shares closed 43% rise on the price of IPO, which leaves Mixue valued at more than $ 10 billion.

In the IPO record, Mixue states the intention of becoming more global, but did not mention plans to enter the US. Approximately 90% of chain stores are in China, with the remainder in ten other Asian countries and Australia, according to information from the US newspaper Wall Street Journal.

Chinese firm #Mixue has made its debut on the #HongKong stock exchange on Mar. 3. If you have never heard of the brand, just know it is the LARGEST food chain in the world in terms of number of stores (over 46,000). Also, here’s a bunch of its mascots dancing to its catchy… https://t.co/bcB6ZHoHqm pic.twitter.com/adu9OafhO0

— ShanghaiEye🚀official (@ShanghaiEye) March 3, 2025

From China to the World, the secret of Mixue's expansion

The founder of the network of fast-foodZhang Hongchao started with a scratching store in Henan, a province in the interior of China. This simplicity of the stores and the menu became a Mixue signature.

Restaurants offer ice cream and drinks with prices of 6 Yuans Chinese, about $ 0.83. Something very interesting in China, which faces an economic recession, in which the population reduced spending due to a collapse real estate market and other problems.

“People are looking for more economical products,” says Ernan Cui, analyst at the Gavekal Dragonomics, based in Beijing, WSJ. She states that Mixue is popular in smaller cities, where the company has concentrated its expansion.

The simplicity of bright red stores, often kiosks alongside cell phone repair booths or stores cupcakesIt was another factor that contributed to the growth of Mixue. On the menu, there is a famous ice cream cone, bubble tea variations and a lemonade that made the company the largest buyer of lemons in China.

In addition, Mixue charges below average franchise fees. The company generates most of its revenue from selling supplies for franchisees.

But low prices in themselves do not explain how Mixue gained a place in Chinese pop culture. The merit goes to the company's fat mascot, the snow king, and the jingle.

The King of Snow has become a national icon, almost a Chinese version of Ronald McDonald. Both the mascot and the jingle Mixue are ubiquitous in stores.