Chagee, Mixue, Scarlett, Xiang Xiang: Expanding in Singapore’s cut-throat F&B business

[SINGAPORE] In 2025, eateries have shut down faster than you can say “menu please”. Even industry leaders such as Eggslut and Haidilao have been forced to exit or dial back expansion plans.

But amid a brutal food and beverage environment marked by sudden closures and high churn, some brands have bucked the trend and expanded across Singapore.

These businesses run the gamut from homegrown brands aiming to seize greater market share to international chains that view Singapore as a strategic springboard to the region.  

Here are some F&B businesses that have grown in recent years: 

1. Chagee

The Chinese tea maker known for traditional oriental beverages has grown to 29 local outlets since it returned to Singapore in August 2024, with the launch of three outlets at Orchard Gateway, Plaza Singapura and Raffles Place. 

Chagee first entered Singapore in 2019, the same year it opened stores in Thailand and Malaysia. Operating under a franchise model, it expanded to 12 stores before exiting Singapore in January 2024. 

It returned months later under a non-franchise arrangement, with the Singapore outlets directly managed by the brand. 

The Nasdaq-listed tea brand opened its first store in November 2017 in Yunnan and has since expanded to more than 6,000 stores globally.  

Chagee has stayed firm to its strategy of premium products at high prices amid falling sales, even as rival chains offer ultra-cheap prices. 

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2. Mixue

The Hong Kong-listed bubble tea major is reported to have grown to more than 30 stores in Singapore since it launched in February 2022, with outlets at Grantral Mall in Clementi and Bugis Village. 

Known for affordable bubble tea and ice cream, Mixue was founded in 1997 in China’s Henan province. It started as a street stall selling shaved ice and later added pearl milk tea to its menu. 

After it adopted a pricing strategy focused on affordability and shifted to selling soft serve cones, the company found success and ventured into franchising in 2008. 

By March 2025, Mixue had surpassed McDonalds as the world’s largest fast-food chain with more than 46,000 stores globally – of which more than 41,000 are in China. 

3. Luckin Coffee

China’s upstart coffee chain, which is widely regarded as a Starbucks rival, has grown its tally of Singapore outlets to 68 stores as of November, just two years since it opened locally. 

Its Singapore debut in March 2023, where it launched two stores at Marina Square and Ngee Ann City, marked its maiden overseas expansion. 

Founded in 2017 in Xiamen, where it is still headquartered, Luckin Coffee is known as the Starbucks of China. 

The company dethroned Seattle-based Starbucks as China’s largest coffee retailer in 2023. It opened its first US locations in June and as of November, had more than 29,000 stores globally, most of which are in China.

It has plans to relist in the US, having been ousted from the Nasdaq in 2020 for inflating over US$300 million in revenue. 

4. Scarlett Supermarket

Chinese speciality supermarket chain Scarlett Supermarket is an ubiquitous sight these days. In just five years, it has grown to over 40 outlets here. 

Known for affordable products and China-focused brands, the Singapore-headquartered chain opened its first store at Trengganu Street in the Chinatown in October 2020.  

It adopts a hybrid business format, providing F&B services while also functioning as a supermarket store that sells products such as snacks, noodles, confectionery, beverages, frozen food and daily essentials.

5. Nong Geng Ji

The Chinese restaurant chain specialising in Hunan cuisine has expanded to nine outlets in Singapore since it entered the local dining scene in October 2023 with its first international outlet at Collyer Quay. 

Founded in 2017 in Shenzhen, the China-based restaurant has more than 100 stores across its home country. 

Having picked Singapore as its first international location, it joined a growing list of China F&B firms that entered the local market as tough operating conditions in China drive brands to expand abroad. 

6. Xiang Xiang Hunan Cuisine

The homegrown restaurant known for its signature Hunan fare – with dishes such as Hunan-style stir-fried pork and spicy fish – has grown its Singapore presence to 20 outlets. 

The casual dining restaurant has also expanded to Malaysia, with outlets in Johor and Penang. 

Founded in 2009, it first launched in Chinatown under the name Mi Si Xiang Cai Guan, but was rebranded as Xiang Xiang Hunan Cuisine in 2023. 

It opened a second outlet in Bugis in 2013, while the Chinatown outlet expanded to take up two additional units in 2016. 

7. A Hot Hideout

The Singapore-style Mala chain has grown to nine stores since it first launched in August 2020. It aims to open its 10th outlet by end-2025. 

Its origins can be traced to Nanyang Technological University (NTU), where its founder Lee Ray Sheng first established a fried beehoon supper store called Raydy Beehoon while he was a student. 

Raydy Beehoon’s success prompted Lee to venture into mala to expand his F&B business beyond supper offerings. 

A Hot Hideout opened its first store in NTU at a time when Singapore’s mala scene was heating up, with new entrants like Zhang Liang Mala Tang and Yang Guo Fu. 

Offering a range of collagen broths, A Hot Hideout takes a different spin on the mala soup base, which, Lee observed, tended to be too oily. 

8. Cai Ca

The new bubble tea chain that has taken over six former Gong Cha outlets aims to take a healthier spin on the popular drink. 

Founded by ex-Gong Cha Singapore chief executive Kang Puay Seng, Cai Ca employs all of the more than 20 former full-time Gong Cha staff.

Kang had resolved to create a Singapore tea brand as quickly as possible when Gong Cha exited Singapore in October. 

Offering soya milk-tea fusion beverages as a lighter alternative to dairy-based milk tea, Cai Ca aims to cater to lactose-intolerant customers while serving up distinctive flavours. 

With plans to sell healthier beverages in line with the Nutri-Grade labelling system, all 32 drinks on its menu – except for brown sugar items – have a B or C rating under the system.