Chinese giant that promotes Brazilian coffee expands operations around the world and threatens Starbucks

Luckin Coffee announced that it reached the milestone of 30 thousand units worldwide just over eight years after its founding, consolidating one of the fastest expansions ever recorded in the coffee shop sector. The milestone was reached with the opening of a flagship store in Shenzhen last Sunday, according to information released by the newspaper Valor Econômico.

Created in October 2017, the Chinese chain quickly expanded its presence in the domestic market and now operates in more than 300 cities in China, where the majority of its stores are located. The company also began international expansion and maintains units in countries such as Singapore, Malaysia and the United States.

The most recent data indicates that the company has grown more than 30% since the end of 2024, when it had 22,340 points of sale. The advance was driven by a strategy based on competitive prices and offering differentiated products, including exclusive drinks, such as combinations of coffee and fruit juice, which expanded reach among new consumers.

The speed of growth draws attention when compared to Starbucks’ trajectory. The North American chain, founded in 1971 in Seattle, took around 48 years to reach the same level of 30 thousand units, a number only reached in 2019. At the end of 2025, Starbucks had 41,118 stores globally.

Luckin’s performance also reflects changes in the Chinese competitive landscape, where local chains have expanded their participation and put pressure on foreign companies. Last fall, Starbucks announced the sale of 60% of its operations in China to a local investment fund, signaling strategic adjustments in the face of the advance of domestic competitors.

Analysts point out that Luckin’s accelerated expansion highlights a structural transformation in the global coffee shop market, marked by the rise of Asian companies, digitalization of sales and new consumption formats. The trajectory of the Chinese chain began to be seen as an emblematic case of accelerated growth in international retail.