Luckin Coffee opened its 100th store in Singapore in Bugis on September 28, marking another milestone in the Chinese coffee chain’s overseas expansion. Since making the city-state its first international market in 2023, Luckin has served more than 1.9 million customers locally and become an increasingly familiar name in Singapore’s coffee market. The company now operates more than 38,000 stores across China, Singapore, Malaysia and the U.S.
As Chinese consumer brands move into a new phase of global expansion – shifting beyond simply selling products overseas toward building broader operating capabilities – Luckin has spent the past three years developing a localized model in Singapore spanning product adaptation, standards alignment, supply-chain coordination and community engagement. Its Singapore operations now stand as a benchmark for overseas expansion, illustrating how Chinese brands are moving from product-led expansion toward a more deeply rooted, system-based presence overseas.
Representatives from the Chinese Embassy in Singapore, the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil), Temasek, CapitaLand Investment and the Institute of Mental Health (IMH), along with other government, business, investment and industry representatives, attended the opening ceremony with Luckin’s executive team.
Singapore combines a mature coffee market and diverse consumer culture with an open, innovation-friendly business environment, making it an important gateway between Asia and global markets. That was one of the key reasons why Luckin chose the city-state as the first stop in its international expansion in 2023.
Luckin Coffee Chairman David Li said at the 100th store opening ceremony: “In 2023, it became our very first home outside China, guided by our vision to build a world-class coffee brand, woven into everyone’s daily life. Three years on, that bold step has paid off. Today, Luckin is proud to stand as Singapore’s second-largest coffee chain by store count. Our growth is driven by deep localization — adapting our digital capabilities, continuous product innovation, and global supply chain to Singapore’s unique market. Singapore also proves that our model travels well.”
100 stores in three years
Over the past three years, Luckin has grown from a new entrant in Singapore to a 100-store chain, while building a localized operating model spanning product innovation, community engagement and sustainable development.
That localization is most evident in its products. Tailored to local consumer preferences, Luckin has launched over 130 innovative products in Singapore, including locally exclusive, Southeast Asian flavor-inspired offering such as the pandan, brown sugar and Milo series, which have earned favorable market feedback. Two of its signature drinks — Coconut Latte and Little Butter Latte — have each surpassed 2 million cups in cumulative local sales. Luckin has also adapted its product offerings to meet local wellness preferences and comply with Singapore's mandatory Nutri‑Grade grading system, introduced by the Ministry of Health (MOH). Since January 2026, all beverages on Luckin Coffee's menu in Singapore have been rated from Grade C and above.
Its store network in Singapore now spans prime commercial zones, residential estates, transport hubs, hospitals and universities, serving a diverse mix of office workers, local residents and international tourists. Luckin’s 100th store is in Bugis, a key transport nexus blending historic heritage and modern vibrancy. The area’s diverse and youthful customer profile closely aligns with Luckin’s brand positioning, demonstrating the brand’s growing local roots and closer connections with diverse consumer groups.
The 100-store milestone also provided an opportunity for Luckin to deepen its ties with the local community. The company established a long-term charitable partnership with the Institute of Mental Health (IMH), an institution under Singapore’s Ministry of Health, and its affiliated charity, the Woodbridge Hospital Charity Fund (WHCF), to promote public awareness and understanding of mental health. Luckin had previously worked with WHCF and IMH to display and sell art merchandise created by users of mental health services at its stores, turning everyday purchases into a way to support the community.
The new Bugis store also highlights Luckin’s environmental practices. Built to LEED Gold certification standards, it extends the company’s green and low‑carbon commitments to its global operations. Together, its community initiatives and green operations represent an important overseas part of Luckin’s “Being a Force for a Brighter Future” sustainability strategy.
Ng Ming Liang, Vice President of Global Enterprises at the EDB said at the ceremony that he was pleased to see Luckin deepen its presence in Singapore, creating job opportunities and contributing to the community. “As Luckin grows as an international brand, we look forward to working closely with the company to strengthen Singapore’s role as a key hub supporting its global growth ambitions,” Ng Ming Liang said.
Behind the Singapore benchmark
Across Luckin management's statements, the word that comes up most often is "systematic capability," referring to a shift in how Chinese companies compete overseas – from relying mainly on the pricing and distribution of individual products to drawing on a broader mix of digital capabilities, continuous product innovation, and global supply chain. The key test is whether a company can build sustainable operations and integrate into the communities it serves.
The approach also aligns with China’s policy push to support consumer brands going global. The 2026 Government Work Report called for further expanding high-standard opening-up, while encouraging companies to optimize their global market presence and strengthen overseas service systems. In 2025, the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) and four other government departments issued guidelines on improving such systems, calling on companies to prioritize localized operations, actively fulfill social responsibilities and build a positive international brand image, while stressing the need to integrate corporate development with local social development.
Together, these policies point to a broader shift in overseas expansion of Chinese brands – from simply entering new markets to putting greater emphasis on localized operations, service systems and brand building.
Singapore has become an important market for this model, supported by its location and strong economic and trade ties with China. According to China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, bilateral trade between the two countries reached $119.25 billion in 2025, up 7.5 percent year-on-year. China had remained Singapore’s largest trading partner for 11 consecutive years as of 2024. In November 2024, China and Singapore signed a cooperation plan on jointly advancing the Belt and Road Initiative. A month later, on December 31, the protocol to further upgrade the China-Singapore Free Trade Agreement took effect, expanding market access in trade and investment for companies from both countries.
Against this backdrop, Luckin’s 100-store milestone in Singapore marks more than progress in the brand’s overseas expansion. It also offers an example of how Chinese consumer brands are pursuing localized operations in a highly open market.
The milestone also comes as 2026 marks the 36th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and Singapore. Luckin Coffee was invited by the Chinese Embassy in Singapore to serve as the coffee partner for its National Day reception commemorating the 77th anniversary of the Chinese National Day.
A cup of coffee connects consumers, while also serving as a bridge for Chinese brands to participate in broader economic, trade and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries. Luckin has gained a foothold in a market with mature consumer habits, intense brand competition and stringent regulatory standards. For Chinese brands expanding overseas, a model that proves itself in such a high-standard market carries greater credibility when scaled across markets.
Inside a global coffee supply chain
Supply chains form another key pillar of Luckin’s systematic overseas expansion capabilities. According to the company, Luckin draws on its large consumer base to connect high-quality coffee-growing and other raw ingredient-producing regions around the world with a vast consumer market. It sources premium coffee beans from Brazil, Colombia, Ethiopia and Southwest China’s Yunnan Province, as well as quality raw materials such as coconut products from Indonesia. Through large-scale procurement and deeper engagement with producing regions, the company drives the collaborative development of the global coffee value chain.
Victor Queiroz, chief representative of ApexBrasil for the APAC region, said: “Luckin Coffee has been a reliable partner for ApexBrasil and a vital conduit bringing Brazil’s coffee and culture to Chinese and global markets. With a diverse consumer base and open business environment, Singapore serves as an ideal gateway for Brazilian coffee to reach broader markets across the Asia-Pacific. Moving ahead, we aim to use coffee as a bridge to collaborate with Luckin and other regional partners to unlock greater value across the coffee sector.”
“Our focus extends far beyond scale — we remain committed to creating lasting value and positive social impact in every community we serve,” David Li noted, adding Luckin will continue to deepen its presence in Singapore and enhance the everyday coffee experience for consumers, while steadily advancing its global expansion toward its goal of becoming a world-class coffee brand.
The guidelines issued by MOFCOM and four other government departments describe the desired model for companies expanding overseas as one that “integrates corporate development with local social development.” For Luckin, after reaching the 100-store milestone in Singapore, the real test is whether this model can be carried to other markets. For Chinese consumer brands, the case shows that a business model built on deep local roots can take hold, remain sustainable and support long-term expansion.
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