What's Next for China's Tea Beverage Industry? Vote for Your Favorite Tea Entrepreneur of the Year!

The "Salute to China's Economy – Entrepreneurs' Night 2025" event officially launched on December 17, and the voting campaign is now in full swing.

Amid the surging wave of new consumer trends, the tea beverage industry stands at the forefront. However, facing challenges such as intensifying price wars, severe product homogenization, and heightened overseas competition, major brands are playing their "trump cards" to reshape the industry landscape through innovation, efficiency, and cultural reinvention.

Should brands prioritize extreme affordability or focus on product innovation? Where is the future of China's tea beverage industry? Who is your pick for the Tea Entrepreneur of the Year—Zhang Hongchao of MIXUE GROUP, Peng Xin of NAYUKI, Li Hui of Luckin Coffee, Nie Yunchen of Heytea, or Zhang Junjie of Chagee Holdings Limited? Click the link to cast your vote.

Zhang Hongchao, founder and chairman of MIXUE GROUP, has led the brand to remarkable growth in 2025. This year, MIXUE GROUP surpassed 50,000 stores globally, achieving strong performance both domestically and overseas, with significant expansion in Southeast Asia. On December 20, the brand opened its first store in Hollywood, Los Angeles, marking a key milestone in its global strategy.

Peng Xin, founder and CEO of NAYUKI, has continued to drive the premium tea beverage trend in 2025. The brand's membership exceeded 80 million, with online orders steadily increasing. Innovatively, NAYUKI introduced a new concept store combining tea, light meals, and social spaces, offering consumers a diversified experience. The brand also collaborated with popular IPs to launch limited-edition co-branded products, attracting young consumers.

Li Hui, the new chairman of Luckin Coffee since April, has been instrumental in the company's turnaround from near-bankruptcy to industry leadership. In Q3 2025, Luckin reported total net revenue of RMB 15.287 billion, up 50.2% YoY, with GAAP operating profit reaching RMB 1.777 billion and an operating margin of 11.6%. Monthly transacting customers hit 112 million, while store count expanded to 29,214. The company has diversified into a "coffee + tea" dual-drive model and extended into breakfast and bakery segments.

Nie Yunchen, founder and chairman of Heytea, maintained the brand's leadership in the new tea beverage trend in 2025 through sharp product innovation and strong branding. Heytea launched several groundbreaking products and expanded overseas, opening a store in Cupertino, California—home to Apple's headquarters. Its overseas store count now exceeds 100, with over 30 in the U.S., supported by a self-operated delivery system.

Zhang Junjie, founder and CEO of Chagee Holdings Limited, has positioned the brand as an "Oriental New Tea House" in 2025. By Q3, Chagee Holdings Limited had 7,338 stores across 15 countries and regions. In April, Zhang rang the bell on a U.S. stock exchange, making Chagee Holdings Limited the first Chinese new tea brand to list in the U.S.

Today's tea beverage market is fiercely competitive, with consumers demanding greater diversity, quality, health consciousness, and experience. Brands face tough choices—should they focus on affordability and mass appeal or innovation and niche markets? Striking the right balance is key to success.

Click the link to vote for outstanding entrepreneurs in the industry.