BUSINESS

General Mills to Sell Häagen-Dazs China Shops to Local Investor Group

Published: Jun. 2, 2026 10:52 p.m. GMT+8

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A Häagen-Dazs store in Hangzhou on June 2, 2026. Photo: VCG

General Mills Inc. has agreed to sell its Häagen-Dazs storefront and gifting business in the Chinese mainland to an investor group that includes local beverage chain Ningji.

The divestiture underscores the U.S. food giant’s ongoing portfolio overhaul to focus on higher-growth categories like pet care, while allowing local operators to revitalize the struggling premium ice cream brand amid intensifying domestic competition.

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Explore the story in 30 seconds

General Mills sells Häagen-Dazs storefront and gifting business in China to investor group including Ningji.
Ningji gets exclusive license to operate shops; General Mills retains retail/food-service channels. Deal closes 2026.
Häagen-Dazs struggles in China with store closures and competition; Ningji, backed by Tencent, expands into ice cream.

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Who’s Who

General Mills Inc.: General Mills Inc. has agreed to sell its Häagen-Dazs storefront and gifting business in mainland China to an investor group including Ningji. The move is part of a portfolio overhaul focusing on higher-growth categories like pet care. General Mills retains Häagen-Dazs retail and food-service channels in China.

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What Happened When

1996：: Häagen-Dazs entered China as a luxury brand.

Since fiscal 2018：: General Mills has turned over roughly a third of its revenue base.

March 2026：: General Mills sold its North American yogurt business to Lactalis.

March 2026：: General Mills offloaded its Brazilian operations.

As of May 2026：: Häagen-Dazs operated 262 stores in China, nearly half of its peak count.

In 2026：: Executives noted double-digit declines in foot traffic for Häagen-Dazs storefronts in China; the company has been closing underperforming stores; the Chinese tea drink sector faces saturation; Ningji operates nearly 1,800 stores.

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