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This is roundtable.
Hello everybody, welcome to Roundtable.
Coming to you from Beijing.
I'm he young.
Good to have you join us on today's show.
Brace yourselves, coffee lovers.
As China's coffee industry is brewing up a storm of epic proportions, what was once a niche market is now a full blown caffeine craze with coffee shops popping up like mushrooms after a rainstorm.
From artisanal roasters to international giants, everyone wants a piece of the action.
We take a look at the competition as fierce as a triple shot of espresso, and we're all ears for your burning questions and epic stories.
Grab your smartphone and record a voice memo, and let's make on air magic.
Send your thoughts to EZ FM roundtableoxmail.com.
comma.
You might just steal the spotlight in our next heart to heart.
For today's program, I'm joined by Yu Xun in the studio and Steve Hatherly, also in the studio.
First on today's show, with a market worth hundreds of billions of yuan and an ever growing army of caffeine connoisseurs, China's coffee industry is hotter than a freshly pulled espresso shot.
From trendy cafes to innovative brews, the country is quickly becoming the center of a caffeinated revolution that's leaving the world wide eyed and buzzing with excitement.
Recently, World coffee Portal pointed out that China has surpassed the United States as the world's largest branded coffee shop market by outlet count with nearly 50,000 branded coffee shops as of 2023, a 58% increase from the previous year.
However, this rapid growth has also sparked concerns about profitability and positioning.
Homegrown brands are launching new strategies to capture market share, while international players are increasingly localizing to penetrate the market.