Starbucks

Five Guys eyes Beijing as US chains hunger for success in China

12 Jul 2026 - 7:07PM

After hooking China on coffee, Starbucks ramps up consumer strategy

Now that the chain has Chinese consumers hooked on coffee, it is attempting to become part of local consumer culture, analysts say.

5 Jul 2026 - 9:00AM

A woman checks her phone next to a Starbucks cart in Beijing. Photo: AFP

The Philippines

‘Purple gold rush’: Philippine ube farming looks to cash in on craze

Philippine ube exports reached over US$3 million in 2025, more than double the US$1.4 million figure recorded in 2024.

1 Jul 2026 - 1:19PMvideocam

Global brands in China seek local partners amid market squeeze

Slower consumer spending and cutthroat competition are pushing global brands such as Pizza Hut and Starbucks to reshape their China business.

17 Jun 2026 - 5:02PM

Starbucks’ South Korean staff to receive history lesson after ‘Tank Day’ blunder

The coffee giant will close all stores for half a day so employees can ‘receive education in historical awareness and social sensitivity’.

23 Jun 2026 - 1:03PMvideocam

An activist smashes Starbucks tumblers and mugs during a protest against its “Tank Day” campaign on May 21. Photo: Yonhap/Reuters

Mergers & Acquisitions

China’s fast-changing consumers force MNCs to adapt via local alliances

General Mills and Mölnlycke follow Starbucks, Burger King in forging partnerships to better tap local market insights.

10 Jun 2026 - 8:06AM

China market is the ‘world’s toughest gym’ for global brands: McKinsey

Innovation, speed, and entrepreneurial agility are needed in China; foreign firms must adapt or lose ground, says McKinsey’s Joe Ngai.

8 Jun 2026 - 2:21PM

US-China relations

How Chinese drink chains are testing the limits of soft power

New tea and coffee brands from China are winning customers across America, but their broader influence remains unclear.

6 Jun 2026 - 8:18AMvideocam

The big scoop: lemon tea chain to revamp Haagen-Dazs’ struggling China business

General Mills is offloading the ice cream brand’s mainland China stores, as foreign businesses revamp models amid heated domestic competition.

4 Jun 2026 - 11:48AMvideocam

Haagen-Dazs currently operates nearly 200 stores in mainland China. Photo: Handout

‘My fault’: tycoon takes blame to quell fury over Starbucks Korea ad blunder

Chung Yong-jin’s apology came as backlash deepened over the coffee chain’s marketing campaign mocking South Korea’s pro-democracy history.

26 May 2026 - 12:03PMvideocam

Video | Starbucks Korea boss sacked as Tank Day promo misfires

Sohn Jeong-hyun was fired after the campaign caused public outrage for evoking painful memories of the Gwangju Uprising.

20 May 2026 - 9:02PM

Starbucks Korea boss loses job after ‘Tank Day’ promotion misfires

Sohn Jeong-hyun was fired following public anger over the campaign that was seen as mocking the anniversary of the Gwangju uprising.

20 May 2026 - 9:06PMvideocam

A Starbucks outlet in Busan, South Korea. Photo: Shutterstock

Food and Drinks

Viral ube drinks and desserts are taking over South Korean cafes

Ube, a vibrant purple yam, is the latest craze in South Korean cafes. Here’s where to go for lattes, cakes, shakes, ice cream and more.

25 Apr 2026 - 3:15PM

Ube-flavoured drinks from Korean coffee chain A Twosome Place. Photo: Instagram/atwosomeplace_official

Chinese coffee brands need more than low prices to compete globally: analysts

Luckin, Lucky Cup, Cotti and Nowwa are expanding quickly overseas, but analysts warn success depends on consumer experience and quality.

31 Mar 2026 - 7:30AM

Singapore

How Southeast Asia’s coffee chains are brewing cross-border success

Home-grown brands such as Zus Coffee are betting on cultural fluency, halal positioning and digital tools to make further inroads.

5 Mar 2026 - 4:47PM

Luckin’s 30,000th store milestone adds buzz to China’s brewing coffee battle

Xiamen-headquartered chain pushes to integrate supply network worldwide and accelerate growth in markets from Asia to the US.

9 Feb 2026 - 7:04PM

Luckin Coffee’s store network spans more than 300 cities across mainland China. Photo: Handout

How Western brands are adapting to China’s changing consumer landscape

Starbucks’ China stake sale signals a seismic shift, as global firms retreat amid rising competition, price wars and evolving consumer tastes.

7 Feb 2026 - 10:07AM

Art

The unicorn has been revered for 4,000 years. It still has us under its spell

From ancient Indus Valley seals to Starbucks cups, the unicorn has long served as a symbol of magic and hope.

6 Feb 2026 - 10:59AM

China trade

Opinion | From tea to TikTok: the middleman’s return is reshaping China trade

The old Canton system is re-emerging in a new guise as the likes of TikTok and Starbucks look to middlemen to navigate a divided global economy.

16 Jan 2026 - 9:30AMvideocam

Customers flock to the opening of the first McDonald’s restaurant in Xining, the capital of northwest China’s Qinghai province, on December 21, 2025. Photo: Xinhua

China economy

Opinion | China’s new property pivot is coming. Expect full stabilisation ahead

As property curbs to boost spending hit practical limits, a push to stabilise assets is now being seen as a prerequisite for consumer confidence.

14 Jan 2026 - 5:43PMvideocam

Home buyers shop at a pre-sale property in Yangxin county, Binzhou city, in eastern China’s Shandong province, on February 23. Photo: CFOTO/Future Publishing via Getty Images

Mergers & Acquisitions

Johnnie Walker maker Diageo mulls options for China assets including sale: sources

Goldman Sachs and UBS are reviewing Diageo’s operations and are sounding out interest from local strategic buyers and private equity firms.

13 Jan 2026 - 5:48PM

Social media

At 75, Snoopy has conquered the Gen Z market. How did the beagle do it?

Snoopy’s enduring appeal continues to boost Peanuts’ brand now – it has more than 1,200 licensees around the world.

4 Jan 2026 - 7:15AMvideocam

Singapore

How Singapore’s unforgiving food scene can go hot and cold on brands

Over 3,000 eateries shut their doors last year, the highest since 2005, in one of the world’s most competitive dining markets.

21 Dec 2025 - 1:41PM

The opening of Chick-fil-A’s first outlet in Singapore on December 11 drew a long queue. Photo: YouTube/Chick-fil-A

Flash in the pan: how China’s plant-based meat craze fizzled

The closure of Beyond Meat’s China business, despite heavy financing and marketing, underscores challenges that scuppered many vegan meat firms.

6 Dec 2025 - 7:00PMvideocam

Beyond Meat burger patties on sale in New York. Photo: Reuters

Fame and celebrity

Who plays Stranger Things’ Karen Wheeler? Meet prolific actress Cara Buono

The actress behind ‘Karen wine ‘em down Wheeler’ has appeared in Mad Men and The Sopranos, among over 80 other acting credits – she is also a Columbia grad.

2 Dec 2025 - 6:00PMvideocam