Chinese brand Mixue overtakes McDonald’s as biggest food chain globally…
Mixue Ice Cream & Tea, a Chinese franchise best known for its affordable desserts and iced drinks, has officially surpassed both McDonald’s and Starbucks to become the largest food service chain in the world by number of locations.
As of June 2025, Mixue operates over 46,000 outlets across 24 countries — outpacing McDonald’s (just over 41,000) and Starbucks (around 38,000). The brand’s explosive expansion was fueled by aggressive franchising, a minimal startup cost for franchisees, and high popularity in developing markets.
Founded in 1997 in Zhengzhou, Henan province, the company started as a modest ice cream stand. In less than three decades, it has evolved into a global empire of compact shops serving bubble tea, milk-based beverages, and soft-serve ice cream. Many Mixue stores operate in spaces under 20 square meters and require minimal kitchen infrastructure, making rapid expansion easier and cheaper than that of traditional fast-food chains.
In the last two years alone, Mixue has added over 10,000 new stores, most of them outside China. Its footprint has grown rapidly in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, where the brand’s low prices and sweet menu have made it a hit with younger demographics.
Although Mixue remains relatively unknown in the West, the company has announced plans to enter the European and Latin American markets in 2026. Industry analysts say its ability to localize flavors, adapt to regional tastes, and simplify operations gives it a major edge over legacy Western chains. Mixue has also been listed among China’s fastest-growing brands by Fortune China, and its founder Zhang Hongzhe has climbed the ranks of the country’s wealthiest entrepreneurs.
