If you asked Americans to name the world’s largest fast-food chain, the answers would likely include McDonald’s, Subway or possibly Starbucks.
All three would be wrong.
The chain with the most global locations is not a burger, sandwich or coffee giant—it is an ice cream and tea chain based in China.
According to recent financial filings, Mixue Bingcheng, also known as Mixue Ice Cream & Tea, has surpassed the global location counts of its competitors. Mixue now boasts over 45,000 locations worldwide, exceeding McDonald’s count of approximately 44,000 locations and Starbucks’ total of around 40,200 locations.
Its name translates to “Honey Snow Ice City.”
As Foodie notes, “Mixue Bingcheng is big in the boba business, slinging bubble tea and soft serve at ridiculously low prices. When converted from yuan to American dollars, most items clock in at under $2, meaning that customers can give themselves a sweet treat minus a big financial hit.”
The chain, which operates primarily through a franchise model, has experienced explosive growth across Asia – and those looking to find a Mixue store in North America may soon be in luck.
The first U.S. location is slated to open in New York City’s Chinatown area on Canal Street, although no other U.S. expansion plans have been announced thus far.
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