3 years, 100 stores in Singapore: Luckin charts a new path for Chinese coffee brands going global

SINGAPORE — On the morning of Sept 28, Luckin Coffee opened its 100th store in Singapore, inside the Bugis — a key transport nexus blending historic heritage and modern vibrancy. Three years after the Chinese chain chose the city-state as its first market abroad, it has grown into the second-largest coffee chain by store count locally, served more than 1.9 million local customers, and become a routine stop in the country's daily coffee habits.

Luckin's global network passed 38,000 stores across China, Singapore, Malaysia, and the United States, with more than 500 million customers served altogether.

A hundred stores is a corporate milestone, but it is also a window into how Chinese consumer brands adapt their well-established operational systems for overseas markets. Beyond the store count, the road to becoming a "world-class coffee brand" is only beginning.

A proving ground called Singapore

The hard part of going global is not selling a product. It is packaging a company's R&D, supply chain, operations, and standards into a system that can be replicated overseas. Luckin was the first Chinese coffee brand to reach 10,000 stores. With more than 500 million customers served, it is close to a household name at home. Yet, in Singapore — a cosmopolitan market that is also fiercely contested — reaching 100 stores in just three years is not only about the count. It is about how Luckin has turned the full playbook of methodology and experience honed in China into a replicable model overseas.

From the start, Luckin's experience in Singapore has been guided by its "customer-first" philosophy while adding a localization-first approach. Across the full cycle — market research, market entry, and long-term operations — the team ran deep local listening, weighing consumption habits, cultural nuance, and regulatory compliance to shape distinct product, operations, and brand strategies. As a brand born in China, Luckin wants to lean on the country's manufacturing muscle and efficiency, plus its own digital know-how, to serve customers worldwide: a good cup of coffee that tastes right and does not break the bank.

Since arriving in 2023, Luckin has launched more than 130 products in Singapore. Its Coconut Latte and Little Butter Latte have each sold past two million cups locally, while limited Southeast Asian editions built around pandan, brown sugar, and Milo proved popular. The chain also moved early on Singapore's mandatory Nutri‑Grade grading system for healthier drinks. From January 2026, every beverage on its local menu has been rated Grade C or above. Stores follow the "pickup" and "relax" dual store type developed in China. Luckin Coffee's store network in Singapore spans prime commercial zones, residential estates, transport hubs, hospitals, and universities, serving a diverse mix of office workers, local residents, and international tourists.

"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," chairman David Li said at the 100th-store ceremony.

Rewind to 2023. The logic behind picking Singapore as a first step abroad was not complicated. The city-state has a mature coffee market, a rich cafe culture, an open and innovation-friendly business climate, and sits at the crossroads of Southeast Asia and the wider world. For a brand yet to prove itself overseas, Singapore is both sufficiently "typical" — its diverse ethnic communities and international clientele encapsulate the shared traits of major Asia-Pacific markets — and highly "challenging", where a mature market and discerning consumers have forged genuine resilience in operational capability.

The deeper backdrop lies in the stable framework of bilateral relations between the two countries. China and Singapore established diplomatic ties in 1990, and 2026 marks the 36th year of their diplomatic relationship. China has also remained Singapore's largest trading partner for many consecutive years. According to Chinese official data, the bilateral trade volume between China and Singapore reached $119.25 billion in 2025, up 7.5 percent year-on-year. In November 2024, China and Singapore signed a cooperation plan on jointly advancing the Belt and Road Initiative, and the Protocol on Upgrading the China–Singapore Free Trade Agreement took effect on Dec 31, 2025, offering more favorable policy safeguards for companies of both countries. This stable bilateral relationship offers a valuable foundation for consumer brands to pursue localized operations, standards alignment, and people-to-people bonds in Singapore.

Beyond the store count: A benchmark for sustainability going global

The 100th store is more than a number; it is a reference point for pushing Luckin's sustainability strategy into global markets.

Since unveiling its "Being a Force for a Brighter Future" sustainability strategy in October 2023, Luckin has built a responsibility framework spanning factories, stores, sourcing regions, and community programs. At the Bugis milestone, green operations were written into the store's construction standard.

The Bugis outlet was constructed to LEED Gold certification standards, folding energy and water savings and environmentally sound materials into both its design and daily running — low-carbon choices baked into the bricks and fittings. Far from being an isolated effort, the Singapore store is part of Luckin's green-store framework in China: the company's 20,000th store, a flagship outlet in Beijing, has been certified LEED v4 ID+C Platinum, while a number of other locations hold LEED Gold. It is a system covering water, energy, indoor air quality, siting, and waste — one that the Singapore store now extends overseas. The Singapore effort does not stand alone; it is part of Luckin's green-store system at home, where its 20,000th flagship store in Beijing Zhongguancun earned LEED v4 ID+C Platinum and several outlets hold LEED Gold. This green system covers water, energy, indoor air quality, siting and waste — one that the Singapore store now extends overseas.

On the community side, the 100th store opening brought a long-term charity partnership with Singapore's Institute of Mental Health and its affiliated charity, Woodbridge Hospital Charity Fund, to promote public awareness of mental health. Earlier, Luckin Coffee collaborated with WHCF and IMH to showcase and sell art merchandise created by mental health service users at its outlets, turning everyday purchases into a way to support the community.

From Singapore to broader markets: Building a world-class brand

Luckin's stated vision is "to build a world-class coffee brand and become a part of everyone's daily life". International expansion is a core strategy for this stage, guided by a measured approach that combines patience with confidence. Its overseas expansion has followed a clear progression: Singapore became its first international market in 2023, then it entered Malaysia through a franchise model in the first quarter of 2025, and began trial operations in New York in the second quarter that year. By the end of the second quarter of 2026, Luckin ran 223 stores across its international markets. The goal is not speed for its own sake, but building a solid foundation in each market and refining a replicable business model that can support its continued global growth. Supporting this approach is a global supply chain spanning multiple markets. Luckin links its huge user base to quality origins worldwide, channeling beans from Brazil, Colombia, Ethiopia, and China's Yunnan, as well as quality ingredients such as coconuts from Indonesia to its massive consumer market. Through scaled procurement and deeper engagement with origin markets, Luckin seeks to foster greater collaboration across the global coffee value chain. In Brazil, the company signed a memorandum with the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency, with plans to procure 240,000 tons of coffee beans between 2025 and 2029. The company is also developing a roasting network in Qingdao, Kunshan, Pingnan in Fujian and Xiamen with planned annual roasting capacity above 155,000 tons. The established global supply chain serves both the domestic and international businesses, creating opportunities for greater value sharing across the coffee value chain.

Looking at broader markets, Luckin's international strategy can be understood through three priorities. First, it will continue to strengthen its foundation in China by advancing its product innovation, supply chain, and digital capabilities, providing a strong base for international expansion. Second, it will pursue international growth at a measured pace, respecting the consumption habits and operating dynamics of each market while developing products, operations, and store models tailored to local needs. Third, beyond its core business, Luckin will continue to explore new products and business opportunities driven by consumer needs, seeking areas that complement its core capabilities and can create long-term value.

On Sept 28, at Bugis Junction, Luckin marked the opening of its 100th store in Singapore — offering a tangible example of how a Chinese consumer brand can build a meaningful presence in a mature international market. "Our focus extends far beyond scale — we remain committed to creating lasting value and positive social impact in every community we serve," David Li said. "Looking ahead, we will continue deepening our presence in Singapore, elevating daily coffee experiences, and creating enduring value for our community."