China’s Starbucks Challenger Eyes Middle Eastern Foray

ABOUT US

CX Tech is Caixin Global's real-time tech news portal, featuring 24-hour news, short-form analysis, and roundups from business and tech media in China.

TRENDING: Recruitment Data Suggests AI Has Yet to Hurt Hiring of Coders in China; AMD Bets on Edge Computing in Race for AI PC Market; Alibaba Expands AI Push With Model Update, New Chip

LATEST: Alibaba Expands AI Push With Model Update, New Chip; Recruitment Data Suggests AI Has Yet to Hurt Hiring of Coders in China; AMD Bets on Edge Computing in Race for AI PC Market; Robot-Dog Maker Deep Robotics Seeks $370 Million Shanghai IPO; Unitree Unveils ‘World’s First’ Production-Ready Mecha; China Establishes New Agency for the Low-Altitude Economy; Baidu CEO Says AI Agents Will Be the Measure of AI Success; Tencent Wins Regulatory Approval to Acquire Audio Platform Ximalaya; Kuaishou Weighs Seeking Outside Money for AI Video Unit; China Issues Guidelines to Standardize AI Agent Development; Cover Story: How AI Is Mining Worker Data to Reshape the Labor Market; ByteDance Plans Subscriptions for AI Chatbot Doubao; U.S. Chipmaker Onsemi Reaffirms Commitment to China as Demand Rises From EV Shift; U.S. Moves to Block Chinese Labs From Certifying Electronics; Cover Story: AI Drives Markets as Valuations Race Ahead of Earnings; Insta360 Profit Falls as R&D Surge Meets Rising DJI Competition; Beijing to Impose Sweeping Drone Sales Ban From May 1; Lightelligence Sets Record IPO Gain with 383% Surge on Hong Kong Debut; Robot Era Raises Over $200 Million as Humanoid Robot Race Heats Up; DeepSeek Launches New AI Model as Funding Rumors Spread

By Shen Xinyue and Tang Ziyi / Jul 22, 2019 06:59 PM / Business & Tech

Photo: VCG

Upstart Chinese coffee brand Luckin said Monday that it plans to launch a joint venture with Kuwait-based food company Americana Group.

The move aims to expand Luckin’s retail business to the Greater Middle East and India, according to the company’s statement. Luckin did not offer further details about the venture.

Touted as a domestic challenger to market leader Starbucks, Beijing-based Luckin has been rapidly expanding its model of minimalist stores and heavily discounted beverages. Since its establishment in 2017, it has opened over 3,000 cafes in China and plans to roll out another 1,500 by the end of this year, the company said in the statement.

That number would top Starbucks, which has said it aims to have 4,200 locations in China by then.

Americana Group mainly engages in food manufacturing and distribution, according to its website. It currently operates 1,900 restaurants in 13 countries across the Middle East and North Africa.

Contact reporter Tang Ziyi (ziyitang@caixin.com)

Share this article

Open WeChat and scan the QR code