Starbucks in China eyes growth through quality over quantity

Food & Beverage Starbucks in China eyes growth through quality over quantity Renovations and 'customers only' seating policy aimed at boosting appeal Starbucks is moving away from competing directly with rival Luckin Coffee over the expansion of store networks. (Photo by Kohei Fujimura) KOHEI FUJIMURA November 13, 2026 07:25 JST DALIAN, China -- Starbucks is reinventing itself in China after the U.S.-based coffee chain shifted operations to a joint venture with a local investment fund, aiming to compete on store quality rather than on scale or price. Read Next Food & Beverage Thai highland tribe coffee brews following at home and in Tokyo Food & Beverage Foreign coffee chains take fresh crack at China via new cities, formats Eat & Drink A taste of Myanmar's ethnic diversity comes to Tokyo Food & Beverage With China having fewer kids, dairies rethink milk for adults Companies Jollibee announces plan to list international spinoff in Hong Kong Food & Beverage A purple yam from the Philippines gives matcha a run for its money in Japan Food & Beverage Japan's Komeda's Coffee to open first Bangkok store in Southeast Asia push Food & Beverage Oriental Kopi founder wants to put Malaysia on the menu Latest on Food & Beverage Food & Beverage China bubble tea chain Mixue shuts more stores as growth model falters Food & Beverage Japan logistics startups expand cold food networks in Malaysia, Vietnam Food & Beverage McDonald's wages war on KFC in Japan as consumers crave chicken Sponsored Content About Sponsored Content This content was commissioned by Nikkei's Global Business Bureau.